1933 Act File No. 333-186987
1940 Act File No. 811-22808
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-2
¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
¨ PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. _
þ POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2
¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
þ AMENDMENT NO. 5
PREDEX
Principal Executive Offices
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2
Omaha, NE 68130
(402) 493-4603
Agent for Service
The Corporation Trust Company
Corporation Trust Center
1209 Orange St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
Copies of information to:
JoAnn Strasser, Esq.
Thompson
Hine LLP
Columbus,
Ohio 43215
|
James Ash, Esq. Gemini Fund Services, LLC 80 Arkay Drive Hauppauge, NY 11788 (631) 470-2619 |
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:
As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Registration Statement.
If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box. þ
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check applicable box):
¨ when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c), or as follows:
¨ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 486.
þ on September 1, 2016 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 486.
¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486.
¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486.
PROSPECTUS
(PRDEX)
Shares of Beneficial
Interest
September 1, 2016
PREDEX (the "Fund") is a newly operational, continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, that is operated as an interval fund.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus concisely provides the information that a prospective investor should know about the Fund before investing. You are advised to read this prospectus carefully and to retain it for future reference. Additional information about the Fund, including a Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") dated September 1, 2016, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SAI is available upon request and without charge by writing PREDEX at c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130, or by calling toll-free 1-877-940-7202. The table of contents of the SAI appears on page 27 of this prospectus. You may request the Fund's SAI, annual and semi-annual reports and other information about the Fund or make shareholder inquiries by calling 1-877-940-7202. The Fund does not offer these documents through a website because it presently does not maintain a website. The SAI, which is incorporated by reference into (legally made a part of) this prospectus, is also available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The address of the SEC's website is provided solely for the information of prospective shareholders and is not intended to be an active link.
Investment Objective. The Fund's primary investment objective is to seek consistent current income while secondarily seeking long-term capital appreciation with moderate volatility.
Securities Offered. The Fund engages in a continuous offering of shares. The Fund has registered 4,000,000 shares and is authorized as a Delaware statutory trust to issue an unlimited number of shares. The Fund is offering to sell, through its principal underwriter, Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor"), under the terms of this prospectus, 4,000,000 shares of beneficial interest, at net asset value ("NAV") without any load or sales charge. The initial NAV was $25.00 per share. The minimum initial investment by a shareholder is $1,000,000 for all types of accounts. However, investment advisers may aggregate client accounts for the purpose of meeting the minimum investment. Also, the Fund or the Adviser may waive the minimum investment at either's discretion. Subsequent investments may be made in any amount. The Fund is offering to sell its shares, on a continual basis, through the Distributor. The Distributor is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the Fund's shares. Monies received will be invested promptly and no arrangements have been made to place such monies in an escrow, trust or similar account. During the continuous offering, shares of the Fund will be sold at the next determined NAV See
"Plan of Distribution." The Fund's continuous offering is expected to continue indefinitely in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act").
Privately Offered Real Estate Funds . The Fund invests up to 95% of its net assets (measured on a quarterly basis), under normal circumstances, in privately offered securities of non-traded institutional real estate funds ("Institutional Private Funds"). Because the majority of Institutional Private Funds only accept investors quarterly (the others are more frequent), the Fund may have over 25% of its assets invested in "Public Funds" (as defined below) between quarter ends or, with respect to the non-traded publicly-offered subset of Public Funds, as part of its long-term strategy. Together, Institutional Private Funds and Public Funds are referred to as "Underlying Investment Vehicles." Institutional Private Funds employ leverage through borrowing, are illiquid, subject to significant loss, and difficult to value. In addition, these funds are not regulated by the SEC and are not subject to the protections of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"). The Fund may use leverage (i.e. borrowing money to make additional investments) and may indirectly use leverage because the Underlying Investment Vehicles in which it invests use leverage. The Fund attempts to limit its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles to those using leverage of 50% or less. However, because the Adviser's leverage calculations are based on information that can be as much as 90 days old, the actual leverage in the Underlying Investment Vehicles can, on any day, exceed 50%. Because the Fund concentrates its investments in real estate related funds, its portfolio will be significantly impacted by the performance of the real estate market and may experience more volatility and be exposed to greater risk than a portfolio exposed to more asset classes and economic sectors. The Fund's Institutional Private Fund investment strategy exposes shareholders to the possible risk of total loss on a shareholder's investment.
Publicly Offered Real Estate Funds . The Fund may also invest in publicly offered exchange-traded funds, non-traded funds that may offer daily liquidity, closed-end funds and mutual funds ("Public Funds") that invest the majority of their assets in real estate and real estate related industry securities. Public Funds are exchange-traded or those that may offer daily redemption to investors. The Fund may invest in Public Funds as a substitute for Institutional Private Funds while awaiting the quarterly investment window for Institutional Private Funds or, with respect to the non-traded publicly-offered subset of Public Funds, as part of its long-term strategy. The Fund may also invest in short-term liquid investments such as, money market mutual funds or T-Bills while awaiting the quarterly investment window.
Because the Fund is newly operational, its shares have limited pricing and performance history. Shares of the Fund will not be listed on any securities exchange, which makes them inherently illiquid. There is no secondary market for the Fund's shares, and it is not anticipated that a secondary market will develop. Moreover, shares of the Fund are not redeemable and not appropriate for investors requiring liquidity. Although the Fund will offer to repurchase at least 5% of its shares on a quarterly basis in accordance with the Fund's repurchase policy, the Fund will otherwise not be required to repurchase shares at a shareholder's option nor will shares be exchangeable for units, interests or shares of any security. Moreover, the Fund is not required to extend, and shareholders should not expect the Fund's Board of Trustees to authorize, repurchase offers in excess of 5% of outstanding shares. Accordingly, regardless of how the Fund performs, an investor may not be able to sell or otherwise liquidate his or her shares whenever such investor would prefer and, except to the extent permitted under the quarterly repurchase offer, will be unable to reduce his or her exposure on any market downturn. If and to the extent that a public trading market ever develops, shares of closed-end investment companies, such as the Fund, have a tendency to trade frequently at a discount from their NAV per share and initial offering prices. As a result of the foregoing, an investment in the Fund's shares is not suitable for investors who cannot tolerate risk of loss or who require liquidity. The Fund's payments to shareholders may consist in whole or in part of a return of capital and may result in potentially adverse tax consequences to the Fund and its shareholders.
Investing in the Fund's shares involves risks. See "Risk Factors" below in this prospectus.
Investment Adviser
PREDEX Capital Management, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Page
|
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | 1 |
FUND EXPENSES | 5 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | 6 |
THE FUND | 7 |
USE OF PROCEEDS | 7 |
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES AND STRATEGIES | 7 |
RISK FACTORS | 10 |
MANAGEMENT OF PREDEX | 13 |
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE | 17 |
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST | 18 |
QUARTERLY REPURCHASE OF SHARES | 18 |
DISTRIBUTION POLICY | 20 |
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT POLICY | 21 |
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS | 22 |
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND SHARES | 22 |
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS IN DECLARATION OF TRUST | 23 |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 23 |
CYBERSECURITY | 25 |
LEGAL MATTERS | 26 |
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS | 26 |
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 26 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 26 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 27 |
PRIVACY NOTICE | 28 |
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the shares. You should review the more detailed information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the SAI, particularly the information set forth under the heading "Risk Factors."
The Fund. The Fund is a newly operational, continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. See "The Fund." The Fund is an interval fund that will offer to make quarterly repurchases of shares at net asset value per share ("NAV"). See "Quarterly Repurchases of Shares."
Investment Objective and Policies. The Fund's primary investment objective is to seek consistent current income while secondarily seeking long-term capital appreciation with moderate volatility.
The Fund invests in privately offered, non-traded, perpetual-life institutional real estate funds ("Institutional Private Funds"). The majority of Institutional Private Funds only accept investors quarterly (the others are more frequent). Additionally, Institutional Private Funds may occasionally be temporarily closed to new investors or additional investments. As a result, when the Fund has cash in its portfolio, it invests that cash in publicly offered real estate funds or short-term liquid investments such as, money market mutual funds or T-Bills, until the quarterly investment "window" of the Institutional Private Funds open.
Publicly offered real estate funds consist of exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), non-traded publicly-offered funds that may offer daily liquidity, closed-end funds and mutual funds that invest the majority of their assets in real estate and real estate related industry securities ("Public Funds"). Together, Institutional Private Funds and Public Funds are referred to as "Underlying Investment Vehicles." The Fund refers to the Institutional Private Funds as "institutional" because, due to their unregistered status and high investment minimums, they are marketed and sold to institutional investors. Institutional Private Funds typically invest directly in real estate. Public Funds typically invest directly or indirectly in real estate by investing in securities, i.e. equity real estate investment trusts, commonly referred to as equity REITs. Investors in Underlying Investment Vehicles acquire common stock, partnership or membership interests, or shares of beneficial interest. Neither the Adviser nor any of its affiliates act as the investment adviser or the party responsible for operating any other funds. The Adviser selects Underlying Investment Vehicles without restriction as to capitalization.
The Fund concentrates investments in the real estate industry, because, under normal circumstances, it invests (through Underlying Investment Vehicles) at least 75% of its assets in real estate industry funds. This policy is fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. Based on SEC staff interpretations of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), a fund is considered concentrated if it invests 25% or more of its assets in securities of issuers in the same industry or group of industries. The Fund's SAI contains a list of all of the fundamental investment policies of the Fund, under the heading "Investment Objective and Policies."
The Fund may directly use leverage (i.e. borrowing money to make additional investments) and indirectly uses leverage because the Underlying Investment Vehicles in which it invests use leverage. The Fund attempts to limit its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles to those using leverage of 50% or less. However, because the Adviser's leverage calculations are based on information that can be as much as 90 days old, the actual leverage in the Underlying Investment Vehicles can, on any day, exceed 50%. When the Adviser makes investment decisions, it attempts to limit the Fund's indirect use of leverage. The Adviser's goal is to limit the average use of leverage by all of the Underlying Investment Vehicles in the Fund's portfolio (as measured by the weighted average of its portfolio) to 40% or less. Here too, because the Adviser's leverage calculations are based on information that can be as much as 90 days old, the actual weighted average leverage of the Fund's investment portfolio can, on any day, exceed 40%.
The Fund may borrow for investment purposes, for temporary liquidity and to satisfy repurchase requests from Fund shareholders. The Adviser monitors the Fund's investment portfolio to measure average leverage levels based upon the latest information available for each Underlying Investment Vehicle, which is reported at least quarterly for each Underlying Investment Vehicle. However, the Adviser does not have access to more frequent reports on leverage. Thus, the Fund is exposed to the risk of an unexpected increase in leverage by Underlying Investment Vehicles. If an Underlying Investment Vehicle leverage exceeds the Adviser's expectation, it will request daily leverage reports from that fund's manager. The Adviser will dispose of a position if it exceeds the Fund's leverage limits. See "Investment Objective, Policies and Strategies." The Fund invests, through Underlying Investment Vehicles, without restriction as to issuer capitalization.
Investment Strategy. The Fund invests in Institutional Private Funds and Public Funds. The Adviser selects Underlying Investment Vehicles based on the Adviser's assessment of each fund's ability to produce consistent current income while secondarily seeking long-term capital appreciation with moderate volatility.
Institutional Private Funds
The Adviser selects Institutional Private Funds that meet the following criteria:
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The Adviser relies upon quarterly or more frequent reports, if available, from Institutional Private Funds to monitor consistency with the criteria above and will adjust the Fund's investment portfolio to maintain the criteria above.
Public Funds
Because the majority of Institutional Private Funds only accept investors quarterly, the Fund may have over 25% of its assets invested in Public Funds between quarter ends. The Adviser may also select from the non-traded publicly-offered subset of Public Funds as part of its long-term investment strategy. The Adviser selects real estate Public Funds that the Adviser believes will deliver investment returns similar to Institutional Private Funds based on the Adviser's evaluation of fund expenses, management experience, investment objective and strategy. The Adviser sells Public Fund shares to make investments in Institutional Private Funds and to fund quarterly repurchases of the Fund's shares.
Underlying Investment Vehicles
Both Institutional Private Funds and Public Funds invest in interest rate swaps and caps to hedge interest rate risk.
Investment Adviser and Fee. PREDEX Capital Management, LLC, the investment adviser to the Fund, is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser was formed during January 2013 for the purpose of advising the Fund and has no other clients. The Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund's daily average net assets. The Adviser and the Fund have entered into a contractual expense limitation and reimbursement agreement (the "Expense Limitation Agreement") under which the Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its fees and to pay or absorb the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund (including organizational and offering expenses, but excluding interest (if any), acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses), to the extent that they exceed 1.20% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets (the "Expense Limitation") through August 31, 2017. Expenses may exceed 1.20% if the Fund incurs expenses not subject to the Expense Limitation. In consideration of the Adviser's agreement to limit the Fund's expenses, the Fund has agreed to repay the Adviser in the amount of any fees waived and Fund expenses paid or absorbed, subject to the limitations that: (1) the reimbursement for fees and expenses will be made only if payable not more than three years from the end of the fiscal year in which they were incurred; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the Expense Limitation to be exceeded. The Expense Limitation Agreement will remain in effect through August 31, 2017, unless and until the Board of Trustees (the "Board") approves its modification or termination. This agreement may be terminated only by the Fund's Board. After the initial term, the Expense Limitation Agreement may be renewed at the Adviser's and Board's discretion. See "Management of PREDEX."
Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent. Gemini Fund Services, LLC ("GFS") will serve as the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent of the Fund. See "Management of PREDEX."
Closed-End Fund Structure. Closed-end funds differ from open end management investment companies (commonly referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds do not typically redeem their shares at the option of the shareholder. Rather, closed-end fund shares typically trade in the secondary market via a stock exchange. Unlike many closed-end funds, however, the Fund's shares will not be listed on a stock exchange. Instead, the Fund will provide limited liquidity to shareholders by offering to repurchase a limited amount of shares (at least 5%) quarterly, which is discussed in more detail in the next paragraph regarding Investor Suitability.
Investor Suitability. An investment in the Fund involves a considerable amount of risk. The Fund's Institutional Private Fund investment strategy exposes shareholders to the possible risk of total loss on a shareholder's investment. An investment in the Fund is suitable only for investors who can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity where the only source of liquidity is the Fund's quarterly offer to repurchase 5% of the shares outstanding at NAV. The Fund's shares should be viewed as a long-term investment. Before making your investment decision, you should (i) consider the suitability of this investment with respect to your investment objectives and personal financial situation and (ii) consider factors such as your personal net worth, income, age, risk tolerance and liquidity needs.
Repurchases of Shares. The Fund is an interval fund and, as such, has adopted a fundamental policy to make quarterly repurchase offers, at NAV, of no less than 5% of the shares outstanding. There is no guarantee that shareholders will be able to sell all of the shares they desire in a quarterly repurchase offer, although each shareholder will have the right to require the Fund to purchase up to and
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including 5% of such shareholder's shares in each quarterly repurchase. Limited liquidity will be provided to shareholders only through the Fund's quarterly repurchases. The Fund maintains liquid securities (Public Funds, money market mutual funds, short-term U.S. T-Bills) or access to a bank line of credit in amounts sufficient to meet quarterly redemption requirements. From the time it sends a notification to shareholders of the repurchase offer until the repurchase pricing date, a percentage of the Fund's assets equal to at least 100% of the repurchase offer amount shall consist of liquid securities, or, in the alternative, access to a bank line of credit. For example, if the Fund offers to repurchase 5% of its shares, then at least 5% of its net assets will be represented by liquid securities, or, in the alternative, access to a bank line of credit. See "Quarterly Repurchases of Shares."
Summary of Risks.
Investing in the Fund involves risks. You may receive little or no return on your investment or you may lose your investment. Therefore, before investing you should consider carefully the following risks that you assume when you invest in the Fund's shares. See "Risk Factors." The following describes the principal investment risks faced by the Fund.
Distribution Policy Risk. The Fund's distribution policy may, under certain circumstances, have certain adverse consequences to the Fund and its shareholders because it may result in a payment that is a return of capital, rather than a distribution (i.e. dividend and capital gain distributions). A return of capital results in less of a shareholder's assets being invested in the Fund and, over time, increases the Fund's expense ratio. A return of capital may also reduce a shareholder's tax basis, resulting in higher taxes when the shareholder sells his shares, and may cause a shareholder to pay taxes even if he sells his shares for less than the original purchase price. The distribution policy also may cause the Fund to sell a security at a time it would not otherwise do so in order to manage the distribution of income and gain. The initial distribution will be declared on a date determined by the Board.
Institutional Private Fund Risk. Fund shareholders will bear two layers of fees and expenses: asset-based fees and expenses at the Fund level, and asset-based fees, incentive allocations or fees and expenses at the Institutional Private Fund level. The Fund's performance depends in large part upon the performance of the Institutional Private Fund managers and their selected strategies. The majority of Institutional Private Funds permit redemptions only quarterly (the others are more frequent) and these withdrawal limitations restrict the Adviser's ability to terminate investments in Institutional Private Funds. If values are falling, the Fund will not be able to sell its Institutional Private Funds and the value of Fund shares will decline. Institutional Private Funds are not publicly traded and therefore are not liquid investments. As a result, the Fund's Board will depend on the Institutional Private Funds to provide a valuation of the Fund's investment to the Adviser as part of the fair valuation process. These values could vary from the fair value of the investment that may be obtained if such investment were eventually sold to a third party. Each Institutional Private Fund relies upon independent third-party appraisals, the fund's asset manager and/or management to provide valuations. These managers may have a valuation conflict of interest because higher valuations generate higher management fees. In addition to valuation risk, shareholders of Institutional Private Funds are not entitled to the protections of the 1940 Act. For example, Institutional Private Funds may not require shareholder approval of advisory contracts, may employ high leverage, may engage in joint transactions with affiliates, and are not obligated to file financial reports with the SEC. The Fund's Institutional Private Fund investment strategy exposes shareholders to the possible risk of total loss on a shareholder's investment.
Issuer and Non-Diversification Risk. The value of a specific security can perform differently from the market as a whole for reasons related to the performance of the investment manager, the financial leverage of the issuer, and reduced demand for the properties and services of the issuer. The Fund's performance may be more sensitive to any single economic, business, political or regulatory occurrence because the Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers.
Liquidity Risk . There is currently no secondary market for Fund shares and the Fund expects that no secondary market will develop. Shares of closed-end investment companies, such as the Fund, that are traded on a secondary market may have a tendency to trade frequently at a discount from their NAV per share and initial offering prices. Limited liquidity is provided to shareholders only through the Fund's quarterly repurchase offers for no less than 5% of the shares outstanding at NAV. There is no guarantee that shareholders will be able to sell all of the shares they desire in a quarterly repurchase offer, regardless of market conditions, such as a downturn. As a result of the foregoing, an investment in the Fund's shares is not suitable for investors who cannot tolerate risk of total loss or who require liquidity, other than limited liquidity provided through the Fund's repurchase policy of offering to repurchase a limited amount of shares (at least 5%) quarterly. The Fund's Institutional Private Fund investments are also subject to liquidity risk because they generally offer only quarterly redemption. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations.
Management Risk. The Adviser's investment strategy is subject to risk because Underlying Investment Vehicles selected by the Adviser may have low or negative returns. The Fund's portfolio managers and the other officers of the Adviser have no experience managing a closed-end interval fund. The Adviser will not be able to invest all of the Fund's assets because some assets will be used to pay Fund operating expenses.
Market Risk. An investment in the Fund's shares is subject to investment risk. An investment in the Fund's shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down,
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sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Fund's Institutional Private Fund investment strategy exposes shareholders to the possible risk of total loss on a shareholder's investment.
New Offering with Limited Operating History . The Fund has recently commenced operations and may not be able to achieve favorable returns under inopportune market or economic conditions . The Fund will experience higher than expected expenses, subject to the Fund's Expense Limitation Agreement (see "Fund Expenses"), to the extent it is thinly capitalized.
Public Fund Risk . Fund shareholders will bear two layers of fees and expenses: asset-based fees and expenses at the Fund level, and asset-based fees and expenses at the Public Fund level. Investments in ETFs and closed-end funds cause the Fund to incur brokerage expense. Closed-end funds typically trade at discounts to their net asset value and this discount may worsen following an investment by the Fund. The Fund's performance depends, in part, upon the performance of the fund managers and their strategies. Each Public Fund is subject to its strategy-specific risks: varying amounts of leverage risk, illiquidity risk, concentration in real estate securities risk, small to medium capitalization issuer risk and market risk.
Real Estate Industry Concentration Risk. The Fund will not invest in real estate directly, but, because the Fund will concentrate its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles that invest principally in real estate and real estate related industry securities, its portfolio will be significantly impacted by the performance of the real estate market and may experience more volatility and be exposed to greater risk than a portfolio exposed to more asset classes and economic sectors. The Adviser monitors each Underlying Investment Vehicle, using the most currently available information, to assure adherence to the vehicle's real estate investment strategy as described in its offering materials. The Adviser will dispose of an investment if it fails to maintain a real estate investment strategy. The value of companies engaged in the real estate industry is affected by: (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing and (ix) changes in interest rates and leverage. There are also special risks associated with particular sectors, or real estate operations generally, as described below:
Retail Properties. Retail properties are affected by shifts in consumer demand due to demographic changes, changes in spending patterns and lease terminations.
Office Properties. Office properties are affected by a downturn in the businesses operated by their tenants.
Multifamily Properties. Multifamily properties are affected by adverse economic conditions in the locale, oversupply and rent control laws.
Industrial Properties. Industrial properties are affected by downturns in the manufacture, processing and shipping of goods.
Environmental Issues. Owners of properties that may contain hazardous or toxic substances may be responsible for removal or remediation costs.
REIT Risk. Equity REIT share prices may decline because of adverse developments affecting the real estate industry and real property values. In general, real estate values can be affected by a variety of factors: supply and demand for properties, the economic health of the country or of different regions, and the strength of specific industries that rent properties. An entity that fails to qualify as a REIT would be subject to a corporate level tax, would not be entitled to a deduction for dividends paid to its shareholders and would not pass through to its shareholders the character of income earned by the entity. Fund shareholders will also indirectly bear fees and expenses of equity REITs in addition to those at the Fund level.
Repurchase Policy Risks. Quarterly repurchases by the Fund of its shares typically will be funded from sales of portfolio securities. However, payment for repurchased shares may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio holdings earlier than the Adviser otherwise would liquidate such holdings, potentially resulting in losses, and may increase the Fund's portfolio turnover. If the Fund borrows to finance repurchases, interest on any such borrowing will negatively affect shareholders who do not tender their shares in a repurchase offer by increasing the Fund's expenses and reducing any net investment income. The Fund's quarterly repurchase offers are a shareholder's only means of liquidity with respect to his or her shares.
The Fund is indirectly exposed to the following risks though its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles.
Interest Rate Swap and Cap Risk . Interest rate swap and cap agreements are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the agreement will default on its obligation to pay the Underlying Investment Vehicle. These agreements are also subject to leverage risk, because payments are based "notional" amounts that exceed the amount invested, if any.
Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage (borrowing money to purchase properties or securities) will cause the Fund and an Underlying Investment Vehicle to incur additional expenses and significantly magnify losses in the event of underperformance of the assets purchased with borrowed money. In addition, a lender may terminate or refuse to renew any credit facility. If the Fund or the Underlying
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Investment Vehicle is unable to access additional credit, it may be forced to sell investments at inopportune times, which may further depress the returns of the Fund. When an Underlying Investment Vehicle uses leverage, the Fund indirectly uses leverage and is subject to the same risks. The Adviser receives quarterly reports on leverage. Thus, the Fund is exposed to the risk of an unexpected increase in leverage by Underlying Investment Vehicles. If an Underlying Investment Vehicle's leverage exceeds the Adviser's expectation that is based on offering documents and quarterly reports, it will request daily leverage reports from that fund's manager, but cannot compel daily reporting.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters.
The Fund intends to elect to be treated and intends to qualify each year for taxation as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company, it must meet an income and asset diversification test each year. If the Fund so qualifies and satisfies certain distribution requirements, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent it distributes its investment company taxable income and net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on regulated investment companies, such as the Fund, to the extent they do not meet certain distribution requirements by the end of each calendar year. The Fund anticipates meeting these distribution requirements. See "U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters."
Dividend Reinvestment Policy.
The Fund intends to make distributions of investment company taxable income after payment of the Fund's operating expenses quarterly and net capital gains annually. Unless a shareholder elects otherwise, the shareholder's distributions will be reinvested in additional shares under the Fund's dividend reinvestment policy. Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Fund's dividend reinvestment policy will receive all distributions in cash paid to the shareholder of record (or, if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee). See "Dividend Reinvestment Policy."
Custodian.
The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the Fund's custodian. See "Management of PREDEX."
FUND EXPENSES
Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares) | |
Management Fees | 0.55% |
Other Expenses 1 | 0.44% |
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 2 | 0.01% |
Total Annual Expenses | 1.00% |
1 Other Expenses are estimated for the current fiscal year.
2 Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ( e.g. , management fees, administration fees and professional and other direct, fixed fees and expenses). Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, which are estimated for the current fiscal year, are based on historic fees and expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund expects to invest. The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund's financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund. Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses would be higher if similar fees and expenses of Institutional Private Funds and equity REITs were included in this calculation as well.
The Fund's Expenses Table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. More information about management fees, fee waivers and other expenses is available in "Management of PREDEX" starting on page 13 of this prospectus.
The following example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming annual expenses attributable to shares remain unchanged and shares earn a 5% annual return:
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5% annual return | $10 | $32 | $55 | $122 |
If shareholders request repurchase proceeds be paid by wire transfer, such shareholders will be assessed an outgoing wire transfer fee at prevailing rates charged by GFS, currently $15. The Fund will also pay certain remaining organizational and offering costs in connection with the initial offering of the shares estimated to be approximately $5,000 (0. 000417 per share assuming twelve million shares are issued) for organizational costs; and estimated to be approximately $70,000 (0. 00583 per share assuming twelve million shares are issued) for offering costs. These expenses are subject to the 1.20% per annum limitation. In consideration of the Adviser's agreement to limit the Fund's other expenses through August 31 , 2017, the Fund has agreed to repay the Adviser in the amount of any fees waived and Fund expenses paid or absorbed, subject to the limitations that: (1) the reimbursement for fees and expenses will be made only if
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payable not more than three years from the end of the fiscal year in which they were incurred; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the Expense Limitation to be exceeded. The organizational expenses are recorded as they are incurred, while the offering expenses will be amortized over the first twelve months of the Fund's operations. The Fund's offering costs and organizational expenses are borne by the Fund's shareholders as an expense of the Fund. Expenses may be higher than 1.20% to the extent the Fund incurs expenses that are excluded from the Expense Limitation. The purpose of the above table is to help a holder of shares understand the fees and expenses that such holder would bear directly or indirectly. The example should not be considered a representation of actual future expenses. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The table below sets forth financial data for one share of capital stock outstanding through each period presented.
For
the
April 30, 2016 |
For
the
Year Ended April 30, 2015 |
For
the
Year Ended April 30, 2014 |
For
the
Period February 5, 2013 (1) to April 30, 2013 |
|||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | $25.00 | $25.00 | $25.00 | $ - | ||||
From Operations: | ||||||||
Net investment loss (a) | - | - | - | - | ||||
Net gain (loss) from investments | ||||||||
(both realized and unrealized) | - | - | - | - | ||||
Total from operations | - | - | - | - | ||||
Net Asset Value, End of Period | $25.00 | $25.00 | $25.00 | $ - | ||||
Total Return (b) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | (d) | |||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in 000's) | $100 | $100 | $100 | $ - | ||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets, | ||||||||
before reimbursement | 57.26% | 2.25% | 30.01% | 0.00% | (c)(e) | |||
net of reimbursement | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | (c) | |||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | (c) | |||
Portfolio turnover rate | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | (d) |
(1) | Date of organization of the Fund. |
(a) | Per share amounts are calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the period. |
(b) | Total returns are historical in nature and assume changes in share price, reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. |
(c) Annualized.
(d) | Not annualized. |
(e) There were no net assets at April 30, 2013.
The Fund's complete audited Financial Statements which include the Financial Highlights presented above, and independent registered public accounting firm's report thereon contained in the Fund's annual report dated April 30, 2016, are incorporated by reference in the Fund's SAI. The Fund's SAI, annual report and semi-annual report are available upon request, without charge, by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-877-940-7202.
THE FUND
The Fund is a newly operational, continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that is operated as an interval fund. The Fund was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 5, 2013 , but has limited operating history. The Fund's principal office is located at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130, and its telephone number is 1-402-493-4603.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds of the continuous offering of shares, will be invested in accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies (as stated below) as soon as practicable after receipt. The Fund will pay its organizational and offering expenses incurred with respect
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to its initial and continuous offering, less amounts advanced pursuant to the Expense Limitation Agreement. Pending investment of the proceeds in accordance with the Fund's Institutional Private Fund investment strategy the Fund will invest in Public Funds or short-term liquid investments such as, money market mutual funds or T-Bills. Investors should expect that before the Fund's Adviser has fully invested the proceeds in a combination of Institutional Private Funds and Public Funds that it considers optimal, the Fund's returns may be lower than expected.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES AND STRATEGIES
Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund's primary investment objective is to seek consistent current income while secondarily seeking long-term capital appreciation with moderate volatility.
The Fund's SAI contains a list of the fundamental investment policies (those that may not be changed without a shareholder vote) of the Fund under the heading "Investment Objective and Policies."
The Adviser's Strategy
The Fund invests up to 95% of its total assets in Institutional Private Funds under normal circumstances. Some Institutional Private Funds are included in the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries Open End Diversified Core Equity Index (the "NFI-ODCE Index" or "Index"). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 50% of its Institutional Private Fund assets in Index-members. The balance of its allocation to Institutional Private Funds is to non-Index members.
The Adviser selects non-Index Institutional Private Funds that it believes will provide investment returns similar to those funds that are in the Index, but are not included in the Index solely because they do not meet the leverage, diversification or timeliness of reporting requirements of the Index. The NFI-ODCE Index is not a mutual fund and would not be considered diversified under the 1940 Act. The Fund will invest in Institutional Private Funds only to the extent that, on average, the Fund's portfolio of Institutional Private Funds meets the investment criteria for the NFI-ODCE Index. The majority of Institutional Private Funds typically accept investments on a quarterly basis (the others are more frequent), and may occasionally be closed to new investors or additional investments. As a result, when the Fund has cash in its portfolio, it invests that cash in publicly offered real estate funds and/or short-term liquid investments such as, money market mutual funds or T-Bills, until the quarterly investment "window" of the Institutional Private Funds opens. The Adviser may also select from the non-traded publicly-offered subset of Public Funds as part of its long-term investment strategy. Publicly offered real estate funds are not Index-members.
These publicly offered real estate funds consist of exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), non-traded funds that may offer daily liquidity, closed-end funds and mutual funds that invest the majority of their assets in real estate and real estate related industry securities ("Public Funds"). Together, Institutional Private Funds and Public Funds are referred to as "Underlying Investment Vehicles." The Fund refers to the Institutional Private Funds as "institutional" because, due to their unregistered status and high investment minimums, they are marketed and sold to institutional investors. Institutional Private Funds typically invest directly in real estate and Public Funds typically invest directly or indirectly in real estate by investing the majority of their assets in equity real estate investment trusts, commonly referred to as equity REITs. Equity REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest the majority of their assets in income-producing real estate.
Because Institutional Private Funds are not publicly traded, they are not liquid investments. As a result, valuations provided by the asset manager to the Institutional Private Fund used by the Adviser to provide a valuation of the Fund's investment could vary from the fair value of the investment that may be obtained if such investment were sold to a third party. Each Institutional Private Fund relies upon independent third-party appraisals, the fund's asset manager and/or management to provide valuations. The Adviser will use reasonable due diligence to value securities and may consider information provided by the Institutional Private Funds. Quarterly unaudited financial statements are provided by Institutional Private Funds, which if inaccurate could adversely affect the Adviser's ability to value accurately the Fund's shares. In its evaluation of asset managers of Institutional Private Funds, the Adviser will have the same access to information as any other institutional investor. The Fund's Board of Trustees is responsible for the valuation process, but delegates execution of certain aspects of pricing to the Adviser. The Board of Trustees evaluates the reasonableness and accuracy of the fair value process and will adjust the valuation process if valuation problems arise.
The NFI-ODCE Index is maintained by National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF). NCREIF is a not-for-profit trade association that provides to its membership, and the academic and investment community, commercial real estate data. Its membership is composed of investment managers, plan sponsors, academicians, consultants, appraisers, CPAs and other service providers involved in institutional real estate investments. NCREIF is not regulated by any federal or state agency. Index returns and other information are available free of charge at www.ncreif.org. The NFI-ODCE Index is composed of privately offered, non-traded institutional real estate funds that do not have a set termination date or finite life. These funds offer periodic subscriptions and redemptions. To be in the Index, a fund must comply with the NCREIF Real Estate Information Standards, consisting of annual audits, quarterly valuations and time-weighted returns. Furthermore, a fund must submit information in accordance with the NCREIF data
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policies. Index returns are capitalization-weighted based on the size of the funds in the Index and reported gross of fees. The Index is reconstituted on a calendar quarter basis when a fund closes or no longer meets inclusion criteria or when NCREIF accepts new funds. There is no minimum fund capitalization for inclusion in the index and the range of capitalization of funds in the index is not publicly available. Neither NCREIF nor the NFI-ODCE Index are regulated by the SEC. NFI-ODCE Index criteria are determined by a committee of NCREIF and may be revised from time to time. If criteria are changed, the Fund will notify shareholders and revise its prospectus accordingly, including disclosing the impact on investment strategy and portfolio characteristics.
Quarterly returns for the last 10 calendar years for the NFI-ODCE Index are presented below. The NFI-ODCE Index returns are capitalization-weighted and reported gross of fees. Annual returns are computed from quarterly returns.
The Adviser selects Institutional Private Funds that meet the following criteria:
Institutional Private Funds . Institutional Private Funds are real estate investment funds managed by institutional asset managers with expertise in managing portfolios of real estate and real estate related industry securities. Institutional Private Funds are exempt from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"). Institutional Private Funds require large minimum investments and impose stringent investor qualification criteria intended to limit their direct investors mainly to institutions such as endowments, foundations and pension funds. By investing in such Institutional Private Funds, the Fund offers its shareholders access to institutional asset managers that may not be otherwise available to them.
The Fund's investments in Institutional Private Funds will be made through the purchase of common stock or limited partnership or membership interests in such funds. In addition, distributions received by the Fund from Institutional Private Funds may consist of dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Public Funds . The Adviser may use Public Funds when Institutional Private Funds are closed to new investments outright or between subscription periods. The Adviser may also select from the non-traded publicly-offered subset of Public Funds as part of its long-term investment strategy. When selecting individual Public Fund investments, the Adviser will evaluate Public Fund asset managers by reviewing their experience, track record, current portfolios, and ability to weather real estate cycles by employing effective risk management and mitigation strategies. The Adviser will also assess the likely risks and returns of the investment strategies utilized by the management of the Public Funds, and evaluate the potential correlation among the investment strategies under consideration. The Adviser generally will seek to invest in Public Funds whose expected returns are determined to be similar to those of the Institutional Private Funds. The Adviser sells Public Fund shares to make investments in Institutional Private Funds and to fund quarterly repurchases of Fund shares.
ETFs and Closed-End Funds. ETFs and closed-end funds are typically managed by professionals and provide investors with diversification, cost and potential tax efficiency, liquidity, and some provide quarterly dividends. An ETF typically holds a portfolio of securities or contracts designed to track a particular market segment or index. A closed-end fund may be designed to track a particular market segment or index or may be managed based on its adviser's strategy. Closed-end funds and ETFs are listed on major stock exchanges and are traded like common stocks.
Mutual Funds. Mutual Funds selected by the Adviser will be managed with an investment objective of seeking to replicate the performance of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) Index or the MSCI US REIT Index. Most index mutual funds are not actively managed and generally provide broad market exposure, low operating expenses and
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low portfolio turnover. The Adviser may also select mutual funds that are actively managed and that do not follow an index-based strategy.
Equity REITs Generally .
Distributions . Payments received indirectly by the Fund from equity REITs may consist of dividends, capital gains (distributions) and/or a return of capital. REITs are required by law to distribute 90% of their taxable income to shareholders each year in the form of dividends. Dividends paid by REITs will generally not qualify for the reduced federal income tax rates applicable to qualified dividends under the Code. See "U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters."
The Fund will invest through a mutual fund indirectly in real estate investment trusts. Equity REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest in income-producing real estate. The market value of equity REIT shares and the ability of equity REITs to distribute income may be adversely affected by numerous factors: rising interest rates, changes in the national, state and local economic climate and real estate conditions, perceptions of prospective tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the properties, compliance with environmental laws, changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses, adverse changes in governmental rules and zoning laws, and other factors beyond the control of the issuers.
The Fund concentrates investments in the real estate industry because, under normal circumstances, it invests over 75% of its net assets in real estate industry funds. This policy is fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval.
Underlying Investment Vehicles
Derivatives
Both Institutional Private Funds and Public Funds may invest in interest rate swaps and caps to hedge interest rate risk. An interest rate swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange periodic payments based on the difference between a fixed interest rate and a floating interest rate. An interest rate cap is similar except that one party pays the other for the right receive payments when a floating exceeds an agreed upon threshold level. These instruments are used to hedge an Underlying Investment Vehicle's portfolio against rising interest rates.
The SAI contains a list of the fundamental (those that may not be changed without a shareholder vote) investment policies of the Fund under the heading "Investment Objective and Policies."
Other Information Regarding Principal Investment Strategies
When awaiting investment in Institutional Private Funds, the Adviser may determine that the Fund should invest in short-term liquid investments such as, money market mutual funds or T-Bills. In these cases, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. The Adviser may invest the Fund's cash balances in any money market mutual funds it deems appropriate based on each money market mutual fund's expenses, management experience, and strategy. Any income earned from such investments is ordinarily reinvested by the Fund in accordance with its investment program. Many of the considerations entering into recommendations and decisions of the Adviser and the Fund's portfolio managers are subjective.
The Fund has adopted a fundamental policy prohibiting issuance of preferred shares. Additionally, the Fund has adopted a fundamental policy prohibiting issuance of debt securities. These policies may not be changed without shareholder approval. However, the Fund may borrow for investment purposes, for temporary liquidity or to meet shareholder repurchase requests.
The frequency and amount of portfolio purchases and sales (known as the "portfolio turnover rate") will vary from year to year. The portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed 100%. Higher rates of portfolio turnover may generate short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income.
There is no assurance what portion, if any, of the Fund's investments will qualify for the reduced federal income tax rates applicable to qualified dividends under the Code. As a result, there can be no assurance as to what portion of the Fund's distributions will be designated as qualified dividend income. See "U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters." If securities are not held for the applicable holding periods, dividends paid on them will not qualify for the advantageous federal tax rates. See "Tax Status" in the Fund's SAI.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Fund's shares is subject to risks. The value of the Fund's investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Fund's shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. By itself, the Fund does not constitute a complete investment program. Before investing in the Fund you should consider carefully the following risks the Fund faces through its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles as well as its direct
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risks. There may be additional risks that the Fund does not currently foresee or consider material. You may wish to consult with your legal or tax advisors, before deciding whether to invest in the Fund.
Distribution Policy Risk. The Fund's distribution policy may, under certain circumstances, have certain adverse consequences to the Fund and its shareholders because it may result in a distribution being reclassified as a return of capital resulting in less of a shareholder's assets being invested in the Fund and, over time, increase the Fund's expense ratio. The Fund's distributions may be reclassified such that they consist in whole or in part of a return of capital. A return of capital may also reduce a shareholder's tax basis, resulting in higher taxes when the shareholder sells his shares, and may cause a shareholder to pay taxes even if he sells his shares for less than the original purchase price. The distribution policy also may cause the Fund to sell a security at a time it would not otherwise do so in order to manage the distribution of income and gain. The initial distribution will be declared on a date determined by the Board.
Institutional Private Fund Risk. The Fund's shareholders will bear two layers of fees and expenses: asset-based fees and expenses at the Fund level, and asset-based fees, incentive allocations or fees and expenses at the Institutional Private Fund level. The Fund's performance depends in large part upon the performance of the Institutional Private Fund managers and their selected strategies. The majority of Institutional Private Funds have withdrawal limitations in the form of quarterly redemptions (the others are more frequent). These redemption provisions, also restrict the Adviser's ability to terminate investments in Institutional Private Funds. If values are falling, the Fund will not be able to sell its Institutional Private Funds and the value of Fund shares will decline. Institutional Private Funds are not publicly traded and therefore are not liquid investments. As a result, the Fund's Board of Trustees will depend on the Institutional Private Funds to provide a valuation of the Fund's investment to the Adviser as part of the fair valuation process. These values could vary from the fair value of the investment that may be obtained if such investment were eventually sold to a third party. Each Institutional Private Fund relies upon independent third-party appraisals, the fund's asset manager and/or management to provide valuations. These managers may have a valuation conflict of interest because higher valuations generate higher management fees. In addition to valuation risk, shareholders of Institutional Private Funds are not entitled to the protections of the 1940 Act. For example, Institutional Private Funds may not require shareholder approval of advisory contracts, employ leverage higher than other investment vehicles such as a mutual fund, may engage in joint transactions with affiliates, and are not obligated to file financial reports with the SEC. These characteristics expose shareholders to the possible risk of total loss on a shareholder's investment.
The Fund may not be able to invest in certain Institutional Private Funds that are oversubscribed or closed, or the Fund may be able to allocate only a limited amount of assets to an Institutional Private Fund. The Fund's investments in certain Institutional Private Funds may be subject to lock-up periods, during which the Fund may not withdraw its investment. Lock-up periods are minimum holding periods and periods when the issuer temporarily suspends redemptions, which typically occur during periods of market volatility or high levels of redemption requests by Institutional Private Fund investors. The Fund may invest indirectly a substantial portion of its assets in Institutional Private Funds that follow a particular type of investment strategy, which may expose the Fund to the risks of that strategy. Most of the Fund's assets will be priced in the absence of a readily available market and may be priced based on determinations of fair value, which may prove to be inaccurate.
Some of the Institutional Private Funds have made an election to be treated as a REIT for federal tax purposes or operative subsidiaries that have made such an election. Consequently, the tax risks described below under "REIT Tax Risk" also apply to these Institutional Private Funds or their subsidiaries.
Issuer and Non-Diversification Risk. The value of a specific security can perform differently from the market as a whole for reasons related to the investment manager or issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the respective properties and services. The Fund's performance may be more sensitive to any single economic, business, political or regulatory occurrence than the value of shares of a diversified investment company because as a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers.
Liquidity Risk . The Fund is a closed-end investment company structured as an "interval fund" and designed for long-term investors. Unlike many closed-end investment companies, the Fund's shares are not listed on any securities exchange and are not publicly traded. There is currently no secondary market for the shares and the Fund expects that no secondary market will develop. Shares of closed-end investment companies, such as the Fund, that are traded on a secondary market may have a tendency to trade frequently at a discount from their NAV per share and initial offering prices. Limited liquidity is provided to shareholders only through the Fund's quarterly repurchase offers for no less than 5% of the shares outstanding at NAV. There is no guarantee that shareholders will be able to sell all of the shares they desire in a quarterly repurchase offer, regardless of market conditions, such as a downturn. As a result of the foregoing, an investment in the Fund's shares is not suitable for investors who cannot tolerate risk of total loss or who require liquidity, other than limited liquidity provided through the Fund's repurchase policy of offering to repurchase a limited amount of shares (at least 5%) quarterly. The Fund's Institutional Private Fund investments are also subject to liquidity risk because the majority of Institutional Private Funds offer only quarterly redemption (the others are more frequent). Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations.
Management Risk. The Adviser's investment strategy is subject to risk because Underlying Investment Vehicles selected by the Adviser may have low or negative returns. The Fund's portfolio managers and the other officers of the Adviser have no experience managing a
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closed-end interval fund. The Adviser will not be able to invest all of the Fund's assets because some assets will be used to pay Fund operating expenses. The Adviser's selection of securities and allocation of assets may not produce the desired returns.
Market Risk. An investment in the Fund's shares is subject to investment risk. The Fund's Institutional Private Fund investment strategy exposes shareholders to the possible risk of total loss on a shareholder's investment. An investment in the Fund's shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Real estate related investments may be more volatile and/or lower than other segments of the securities market.
New Offering with Limited Operating History . The Fund is a closed-end investment company with a limited history of operations and may not be able to achieve favorable returns under inopportune market or economic conditions . The Fund will experience higher than expected expenses, subject to the Fund's Expense Limitation Agreement (see "Fund Expenses"), to the extent it is thinly capitalized.
Public Fund Risk . Fund shareholders will bear two layers of fees and expenses: asset-based fees and expenses at the Fund level, and asset-based fees and expenses at the Public Fund level. Investments in ETFs and closed-end funds cause the Fund to incur brokerage expense. Closed-end funds typically trade at discounts to their net asset value and this discount may worsen following an investment by the Fund. The Fund's performance depends, in part, upon the performance of the mutual fund managers and their strategies. Each Public Fund is subject to its strategy-specific risks: varying amounts of leverage risk, illiquidity risk, concentration in real estate securities risk, small to medium capitalization issuer risk and market risk. Index based Public Funds returns are lower than their respective index because of fees and expenses and are subject to investment strategy induced tracking risk.
Real Estate Industry Concentration Risk. The Fund will not invest in real estate directly, but, because the Fund will concentrate its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles that invest principally in real estate and real estate related industry securities, its portfolio returns will be significantly impacted by the performance of the real estate market and may experience more volatility and be exposed to greater risk than a more diversified portfolio. The Adviser monitors each Underlying Investment Vehicle, using the most currently available information, to assure adherence to the vehicle's real estate investment strategy as described in its offering materials. The Adviser will dispose of an investment if it fails to maintain a real estate investment strategy. The value of companies engaged in the real estate industry is affected by: (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing and (ix) changes in interest rates and leverage. There are also special risks associated with particular sectors, or real estate operations generally, as described below:
Retail Properties. Retail properties are affected by the overall health of the economy and may be adversely affected by, among other things, the growth of alternative forms of retailing, bankruptcy, departure or cessation of operations of a tenant, a shift in consumer demand due to demographic changes, changes in spending patterns and lease terminations.
Office Properties. Office properties are affected by the overall health of the economy, and other factors such as a downturn in the businesses operated by their tenants, obsolescence and non-competitiveness.
Multifamily Properties. The value and successful operation of a multifamily property may be affected by a number of factors such as the location of the property, the ability of the management team, the level of mortgage rates, the presence of competing properties, adverse economic conditions in the locale, oversupply and rent control laws or other laws affecting such properties.
Industrial Properties. Industrial properties are affected by downturns in the manufacture, processing and shipping of goods.
Other factors may contribute to the risk of real estate investments:
Development Issues. Certain Underlying Investment Vehicles may engage in the development or construction of real estate properties. These companies are exposed to a variety of risks inherent in real estate development and construction, such as the risk that there will be insufficient tenant demand to occupy newly developed properties, and the risk that prices of construction materials or construction labor may rise materially during the development.
Lack of Insurance. Certain of the Underlying Investment Vehicles may fail to carry comprehensive liability, fire, flood, earthquake extended coverage and rental loss insurance, or insurance in place may be subject to certain policy specifications, limits and deductibles. Should any type of uninsured loss occur, the portfolio company could lose its investment in, and anticipated profits and cash flows from, a number of properties and, as a result, adversely affect investment performance.
Dependence on Tenants. The value of properties and the ability to make distributions depends upon the ability of the tenants at their properties to generate enough income in excess of their operating expenses to make their lease payments. Changes beyond the control of real estate companies may adversely affect their tenants' ability to make their lease payments and, in such event, would substantially reduce both their income from operations.
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Financial Leverage. Underlying Investment Vehicles may be leveraged and financial covenants may affect the ability of Underlying Investment Vehicles to operate effectively.
Environmental Issues. In connection with the ownership (direct or indirect), operation, management and development of real properties that may contain hazardous or toxic substances, an Underlying Investment Vehicle may be considered an owner, operator or responsible party of such properties and, therefore, may be potentially liable for removal or remediation costs, as well as certain other costs: governmental fines and liabilities for injuries to persons and property. The existence of any such material environmental liability could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and cash flow of any such portfolio company and, as a result, the amount available to make distributions on shares of the Fund could be reduced.
REIT Risk. Equity REIT share prices may decline because of adverse developments affecting the real estate industry and real property values. In general, real estate values can be affected by a variety of factors: supply and demand for properties, the economic health of the country or of different regions, and the strength of specific industries that rent properties. Fund shareholders will also indirectly bear fees and expenses of equity REITs in addition to those at the Fund level.
REIT Tax Risk . Qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") in any particular year is a complex analysis that depends on a number of factors. There can be no assurance that the entities in which the Fund invests with the expectation that they will be taxed as a REIT will qualify as a REIT. An entity that fails to qualify as a REIT would be subject to a corporate level tax, would not be entitled to a deduction for dividends paid to its shareholders and would not pass through to its shareholders the character of income earned by the entity. If the Fund were to invest in an entity that failed to qualify as a REIT, such failure could significantly reduce the Fund's yield on that investment. Equity REITs invest in real property and earn rental income from leasing those properties. They may also realize gains or losses from the sale of properties. Equity REITs will be affected by conditions in the real estate rental market and by changes in the value of the properties they own. Equity REITs are dependent upon management skills, may not be diversified and are subject to the risks of financing projects.
Dividends paid by equity REITs will not generally qualify for the reduced U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to qualified dividends under the Code. See "U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters." The Fund's investments in equity REITs may include an additional risk to shareholders. Some or all of an equity REIT's annual distributions to its investors may constitute a nontaxable return of capital. Any such return of capital will generally reduce the Fund's basis in the equity REIT investment, but not below zero. To the extent the distributions from a particular equity REIT exceed the Fund's basis in such REIT, the Fund will generally recognize gain. In part because equity REIT distributions often include a nontaxable return of capital, Fund distributions to shareholders may also be deemed to be a nontaxable return of capital. Shareholders that receive such a payment will also reduce their tax basis in their shares of the Fund, but not below zero. To the extent the return of capital exceeds a shareholder's basis in the Fund's shares, such shareholder will generally recognize a capital gain.
Repurchase Policy Risks. Quarterly repurchases by the Fund of its shares typically will be funded from available cash or sales of portfolio securities. However, payment for repurchased shares may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio holdings earlier than the Adviser otherwise would liquidate such holdings, potentially resulting in losses, and may increase the Fund's portfolio turnover. The Adviser may take measures to attempt to avoid or minimize such potential losses and turnover, and instead of liquidating portfolio holdings, may borrow money to finance repurchases of shares. If the Fund borrows to finance repurchases, interest on any such borrowing will negatively affect shareholders who do not tender their shares in a repurchase offer by increasing the Fund's expenses and reducing any net investment income. To the extent the Fund finances repurchase proceeds by selling investments, the Fund may hold a larger proportion of its net assets in less liquid securities. The Fund's quarterly repurchase offers are a shareholder's only means of liquidity with respect to his or her shares.
Repurchase of shares will tend to reduce the amount of outstanding shares and, depending upon the Fund's investment performance, its net assets. A reduction in the Fund's net assets may increase the Fund's expense ratio, to the extent that additional shares are not sold. In addition, the repurchase of shares by the Fund may be a taxable event to those shareholders. The Fund's quarterly repurchase offers are a shareholder's only means of liquidity with respect to his or her shares. The shares are not traded on a national securities exchange and no secondary market exists for the shares, nor does the Fund expect a secondary market for its shares to exist in the future.
The Fund is indirectly exposed to the following risks though its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles.
Interest Rate Swap and Cap Risk . Interest rate swap and cap agreements are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the agreement will default on its obligation to pay the Underlying Investment Vehicle. These agreements are subject to leverage risk, because payments are based "notional" amounts that exceed the amount invested, if any. Leverage risk will amplify an Underlying Investment Vehicle's losses. Swap and cap agreements may also involve fees, commissions or other costs that may reduce an Underlying Investment Vehicle's gains from such an agreement or may cause the Underlying Investment Vehicle to lose money. Interest rate caps are subject to the loss of the total initial payment if the reference floating rate does not exceed the agreed upon threshold rate.
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Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as borrowing money to purchase properties or securities, will cause the Fund and an Underlying Investment Vehicle to incur additional expenses and significantly magnify losses in the event of underperformance of the assets purchased with borrowed money. Generally, the use of leverage also will cause the Fund and an Underlying Investment Vehicle to have higher expenses (mostly interest expenses) than those of funds that do not use such techniques. In addition, a lender may terminate or refuse to renew any credit facility. If the Fund or the Underlying Investment Vehicle is unable to access additional credit, it may be forced to sell investments at inopportune times, which may further depress the returns of the Fund. When an Underlying Investment Vehicle uses leverage, the Fund indirectly uses leverage and is subject to the same risks. The Adviser typically receives quarterly reports on leverage. Thus, the Fund is exposed to the risk of an unexpected increase in leverage by Underlying Investment Vehicles. If an Underlying Investment Vehicle's leverage exceeds the Adviser's expectation that is based on offering documents and quarterly reports, it will request daily leverage reports from that fund's manager, but cannot compel daily reporting.
Non-Principal Investment Strategy
Through its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles, the Fund may have an indirect allocation of up to 5% of its assets in debt securities. Both Institutional Private Funds and Public Funds invest in debt instruments (mortgage notes, secured notes, senior notes and subordinated notes) that will not be rated by a credit rating agency and can include debt that would be considered "junk." In the event of an increase in debt investments by an Underlying Investment Vehicle, the Adviser will evaluate whether disposing of the investment is in the best interests of the Fund, but will not necessarily sell the investment.
The Fund is indirectly exposed to the following debt risks though its investments in Underlying Investment Vehicles. When Underlying Investment Vehicles invest in debt securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will decline when interest rates rise. In general, the market price of debt securities with longer maturities will decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Junk debt instruments are highly speculative and risky, and have significant credit risk (the debtor may default). A decline in the credit quality of a debt security held by an Underlying Investment Vehicle will not require the Fund to dispose of the Underlying Investment Vehicle. However, the Adviser will evaluate such securities to determine whether to keep them in the Fund's portfolio. Debt securities also have prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments). During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment rates usually increase and the Fund may have to reinvest prepayment proceeds at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, prepayment rates usually decrease and the Fund may have fewer prepayment proceeds to reinvest at interest higher rates.
MANAGEMENT OF PREDEX
Trustees and Officers
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall management of the Fund. The Board supervises the duties performed by the Adviser. The Board is comprised of four trustees. The Trustees are responsible for the Fund's overall management. The Board is responsible for adopting the investment and other policies of the Fund, electing and replacing officers and selecting and supervising the Fund's investment adviser. The name and business address of the Trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, as well as a description of committees of the Board, are set forth under "Management" in the SAI. The Board consists of one individual who is an interested person of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act ("Interested Trustee") and three individuals each of whom, as defined under the 1940 Act, are not "interested persons" of the Trust, the Adviser, or the Trust's distributor ("Independent Trustees"). A profile of the Trustees follows:
Independent Trustees
Carol Broad | 32 years financial & management experience in strategic consulting to institutional real estate investors
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Addison (Tad) Piper | 43 years senior management experience in the Financial Services Industry
· | Formerly Chairman, Vice-Chairman and CEO at Piper Jaffray Companies in Minneapolis, 1983-2006. Joined the company in 1969 and served as Assistant Equity Syndicate Manager, Director of Securities Trading, and Director of Sales & Marketing. Director, Piper Jaffray Companies, 2006 to present. |
· | He is currently a Senior Regent at St. Olaf College and Chair of Minnesota Comeback. He also serves as board member of Minnesota Public Radio, MinnCAN, American Public Media Group, and the Leuthold Group. He is the former Chair of Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Washburn Child Guidance Center. Former Vice-Chair of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Board of Governors of the Securities Industry Association. Former Chair of the NYSE Regional Firms Advisory Group and former Trustee of the Stanford University Business School Trust. |
· | MBA: Stanford Business School, BA: Economics, Williams College. |
Dr. Kerry Vandell | 38 years of experience as professor of real estate and urban economics
Interested Trustee
William J. Chadwick | 40 years of real estate advisory, management & legal experience
· | Co-Founder & Managing Director, Chadwick Saylor & Co., Real Estate Investment Banking & Advisory, 1985 to present. |
· | Formerly: Chairman of Pension Real Estate Association, 1983-1988; Partner & Chairman of Tax Dept. Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, 1973-1974 and 1977-1985; Administrator, Pension & Welfare Benefit Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 1975-1977. |
· | Chairman, Exposition Park & California Science Center Board. 1999 to present; President, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, 2002 to present. |
· | J.D: Vanderbilt University School of Law BA: St. Lawrence University. |
Investment Adviser
PREDEX Capital Management, LLC, located at 18500 Von Karman Ave, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612, serves as the Fund's investment adviser. The Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company formed in January 2013 for the purpose of advising the Fund and has no other clients. The Adviser is indirectly controlled by J. Grayson Sanders because he indirectly owns over 25% of its interests.
Under the general supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Adviser will carry out the investment and reinvestment of the net assets of the Fund, will furnish continuously an investment program with respect to the Fund, and determine which securities should be purchased, sold or exchanged. In addition, the Adviser will supervise and provide oversight of the Fund's service providers. The Adviser will furnish to the Fund office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the management of the Fund. The Adviser will compensate all Adviser personnel who provide services to the Fund. In return for these services, facilities and payments, the Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser as compensation under the Management Agreement a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund's daily average net assets. The Adviser may employ research services and service providers to assist in the Adviser's market analysis and investment selection.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' re- approval of the Fund's Investment Management Agreement is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders dated April 30, 2016 .
Expense Limitation Agreement
The Adviser and the Fund have entered into an Expense Limitation Agreement under which the Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its fees and to pay or absorb the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund until at least August 31, 2017 (including organizational and offering expenses, but excluding interest (if any), acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses), to the extent that they exceed 1.20% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets, (the Expense Limitation). In consideration of the Adviser's agreement to limit the Fund's expenses, the Fund has agreed to repay the Adviser in the amount of any fees waived and Fund expenses
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paid or absorbed, subject to the limitations that: (1) the reimbursement will be made only for fees and expenses incurred not more than three years from the end of the fiscal year in which they were incurred; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the Expense Limitation to be exceeded. The Expense Limitation Agreement will remain in effect unless and until the Board approves its modification or termination.
Portfolio Managers
The management of the Fund's investment portfolio will be the responsibility of the Adviser and its Co-Portfolio Managers Grayson Sanders and Michael Achterberg.
J. Grayson Sanders – Mr. Sanders serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser, a position he has held since the inception of the Adviser. Additionally, Mr. Sanders serves as Managing Principal of Mission Realty Advisors, LLC, a position held since he founded the company in February 2011. Mr. Sanders served as President of CNL Fund Advisors, Co., from 2004 to 2009 where he created and managed a global REIT mutual fund. He served from 2000 to 2004 as a Managing Director with AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp. in New York, where he managed product development and capital formation for several international, opportunistic real estate funds for large institutional investors, investing in Europe, Asia and Mexico.
From 1991 to 1996 Mr. Sanders served as Director of Real Estate for the Ameritech Pension Trust in Chicago, where he managed the $1.5 billion real estate portfolio within the $13 billion defined benefit plan. Subsequently he was Executive Managing Director for CB Richard Ellis Investors where he was involved in product development and placement with institutional investors. In 1972, Mr. Sanders co-founded a real estate investment and consulting firm, The Landsing Corporation, which sponsored finite-life REITs and private partnerships. It grew to employ over 200 professionals. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy for four years, Mr. Sanders began his business career at Alex Brown & Sons, the Baltimore based investment banking firm.
Mr. Sanders served on the Boards of both the Pension Real Estate Association and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts where he was co-chairman of its Institutional Investor Committee. He was a lecturer at Stanford Business School in 1985 where he taught a course entitled, "Essentials of Real Estate Investment and Development". He also published an article in the Real Estate Finance Journal, "An Updated Look at Asset Allocation: Private and Public Real Estate in a Multi-Asset Class Portfolio." Mr. Sanders received a BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Stanford Business School where he was later President of the Alumni Association.
Michael D. Achterberg – Mr. Achterberg serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Adviser, a position held since March 2013, and has 27 years of experience in the fund management industry.
Previously, Mr. Achterberg served as Chief Financial Officer for more than two years at CITIC Securities International Partners ("CSIP") which conducted China focused investment banking and private equity from offices in Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong and Beijing. CSIP was formed as a strategic alliance with CITIC Securities Co., Ltd., China's largest securities firm, and Evercore Partners, a leading U.S.-based investment bank. Michael managed the valuations and investor reporting for the Hong Kong private equity advisor. He also was the FINOP for the U.S. broker-dealer which provided comprehensive advisory services relating to M&A and corporate finance for inbound and outbound transactions involving China.
Prior to that Mr. Achterberg was a partner for fifteen years at Strome Investment Management. The adviser's principal products were funds-of-funds and a global macro multi-manager strategy trading a wide variety of financial instruments including futures, swaps, currency options and forward contracts, repurchase agreements, various forms of debt obligations and numerous private placements. As Chief Financial Officer he managed the operations of their private funds and was involved in the due diligence and allocation of capital to other managers. At Strome he was also the FINOP for an affiliated broker-dealer operating a hedge fund hotel that provided office space, complete fund administration and operational support to other advisers and their clients.
Until 1994 he was an Audit Manager for Coopers & Lybrand working exclusively in the investment industry with advisers and funds. While there he served on the national quality review program for the Investment Company practice.
The SAI provides additional information about each co-portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of the Fund's shares.
Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent
Gemini Fund Services, LLC, with offices located at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130 and 80 Arkay Drive, Hauppauge, NY, 11788, serves as Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent. Gemini Fund Services, LLC receives an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets, subject to certain minimum charges expected to be approximately $70,000 per year , plus certain out of pocket expenses.
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Compliance Service Provider
Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC ("NLCS"), located at 80 Arkay Drive, NY 11788, an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Fund.
Custodian
The Bank of New York Mellon, with principal offices at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund's portfolio. Under a Custody Agreement, the custodian holds the Fund's assets in safekeeping and keeps all necessary records and documents relating to its duties.
Estimated Fund Expenses
The Adviser is obligated to pay expenses associated with providing the services stated in the Management Agreement, including compensation of and office space for its officers and employees connected with investment and economic research, trading and investment management and administration of the Fund. The Adviser is obligated to pay the fees of any Trustee of the Fund who is affiliated with it.
GFS is obligated to pay expenses associated with providing the services contemplated by a Fund Services Administration Agreement (administration, accounting and transfer agent), including compensation of and office space for its officers and employees and administration of the Fund.
The Fund pays all other expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, which consist of (i) expenses for legal and independent accountants' services, (ii) costs of printing proxies, share certificates, if any, and reports to shareholders, (iii) charges of the custodian and transfer agent in connection with the Fund's dividend reinvestment policy, (iv) fees and expenses of independent Trustees, (v) printing costs, (vi) membership fees in trade associations, (vii) fidelity bond coverage for the Fund's officers and Trustees, (viii) errors and omissions insurance for the Fund's officers and Trustees, (ix) any brokerage costs, (x) taxes, (xi) costs associated with the Fund's quarterly repurchase offers, (xii) servicing fees and (xiii) other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses and other expenses properly payable by the Fund. The expenses incident to the offering and issuance of shares to be issued by the Fund will be recorded as a reduction of capital of the Fund attributable to the shares.
On the basis of the anticipated size of the Fund, it is estimated that the Fund's annual operating expenses will be approximately $3 million (assuming the Fund has average net assets of $300,000,000) which includes offering costs and does not take into account the effect, if any, of the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser. However, no assurance can be given, in light of the Fund's investment objective and policies and the fact that the Fund's offering is continuous and shares are sold on an ongoing basis that actual annual operating expenses will not be substantially more or less than this estimate. The Fund may pay a monthly shareholder servicing fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
The initial operating expenses for a new fund, which include start-up costs, may be significant, and may be higher than the expenses of an established fund. Certain remaining costs incurred in connection with the organization of the Fund relating to offering of shares, estimated at $5,000 may be borne by the Fund's shareholders as an expense of the Fund, but are subject to the Expense Limitation Agreement. The Fund will pay organizational costs and offering expenses incurred with respect to the offering of its shares from the proceeds of the offering, less amounts advanced under the Expense Limitation Agreement. For tax purposes, offering costs cannot be deducted by the Fund or the Fund's shareholders. Therefore, for tax purposes, the expenses incident to the offering and issuance of shares to be issued by the Fund will be recorded as a reduction of capital of the Fund attributable to the shares.
The Management Agreement authorizes the Adviser to select brokers or dealers (including affiliates) to arrange for the purchase and sale of Fund securities, including principal transactions. Any commission, fee or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker or dealer is paid in compliance with the Fund's procedures adopted in accordance with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act. However, the Adviser anticipates brokerage commissions will be approximately zero because the Fund's investments are typically made without the services of a broker.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value (or NAV) of shares of the Fund is determined daily, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). During the continuous offering, the price of the shares will increase or decrease on a daily basis according to the net asset value of the shares. In computing net asset value, portfolio securities of the Fund are valued at their current market values determined on the basis of market quotations. Under some circumstances, the Fund, the Board, or the Adviser may determine, based on other information available, that an Underlying Investment Vehicle's reported valuation does not represent fair value. In such cases, the Fund would determine the fair value of such an investment based on any relevant information available at the time the Fund values its portfolio, including the most recent value reported by an Underlying Investment Vehicle. If market quotations are not readily available
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(as in the case of Institutional Private Funds), securities are valued at fair value as determined by the Board. As a general matter, fair value represents the amount that the Fund could reasonably expect to receive if the investment in the security were sold at the time of valuation to a third party or redeemed by the Institutional Private Fund, based on information reasonably available at the time the valuation is made and that the Board believes to be reliable. The Board has delegated the day to day responsibility for determining these fair values in accordance with the policies it has approved to its Fair Value Committee with the assistance of the Adviser, which each act under the Board's supervision. Fair valuation involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may differ materially from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security.
Institutional Private Funds will be difficult to value, particularly to the extent that their underlying investments are not publicly traded. The Adviser, acting under the Board's supervision via the Board's Fair Value Committee and pursuant to policies implemented by the Board, will determine the fair value of the investment based on the most recent value reported by the Institutional Private Fund, as well as any other relevant information available at the time the Fund values its investments. Following procedures adopted by the Board, in the absence of specific transaction activity in a particular investment fund, the Adviser and the Fair Value Committee will consider whether it is appropriate, in light of all relevant circumstances, to value the investment at the net asset value reported by the Institutional Private Fund at the time of valuation or to adjust the value to reflect a premium or discount.
There is no single standard for determining fair value of a security. Rather, the Adviser's and Fair Value Committee's fair value calculations will involve significant professional judgment in the application of both observable and unobservable attributes, and as a result, the calculated net asset values of the Institutional Private Funds' assets may differ from their actual realizable value or future fair value. In determining the fair value of a security for which there are no readily available market quotations, the Adviser, acting under the Board's supervision through the Fair Value Committee and pursuant to policies implemented by the Board, may consider several factors: fundamental analytical data relating to the investment in the security, the nature and duration of any restriction on the disposition of the security, the cost of the security at the date of purchase, the liquidity of the market for the security, prices of similar securities and the recommendation of the Fund's Portfolio Manager. The Adviser may also consider periodic financial statements (audited and unaudited) or other information provided by the issuer to investors or prospective investors. As part of its due diligence of Institutional Private Fund investments, the Adviser will attempt to obtain current information on an ongoing basis from market sources, asset managers and/or issuers to value all fair valued securities. However, it is anticipated that portfolio holdings and other value information of the Institutional Private Funds could be available on no more than a quarterly basis. Based on its review of all relevant information, the Adviser and the Fair Value Committee may conclude in certain circumstances that the information provided by the asset manager and/or issuer of an Institutional Private Fund does not represent the fair value of the investment in such a security. Institutional Private Funds, if any, that invest in publicly traded securities are more easily valued because the values of their underlying investments are based on market quotations.
Before investing in any Institutional Private Fund, the Adviser, under the oversight of the Board by way of the Fair Value Committee, will conduct a due diligence review of the valuation methodology utilized by the Institutional Private Fund, which as a general matter will utilize market values when available, and otherwise utilize principles of fair value that the Adviser and the Fair Value Committee reasonably believe to be consistent with those used by the Fund for valuing its own investments. After investing in an Institutional Private Fund, the Adviser will monitor the valuation methodology used by the asset manager and/or issuer of the Institutional Private Fund. Following procedures adopted by the Board, in the absence of specific transaction activity in a particular investment fund, the Board through the Fair Value Committee will consider whether it is appropriate, in light of all relevant circumstances, to value the investment at the net asset value reported by the Institutional Private Fund at the time of valuation or to adjust the value to reflect a premium or discount.
The Adviser, through the Fair Value Committee, will provide the Board of Trustees with periodic reports, no less frequently than quarterly, that discuss the functioning of the valuation process, if applicable to that period, and that identify issues and valuation problems that have arisen, if any. To the extent deemed necessary by the Adviser and the Fair Value Committee, the Board will review any securities valued by the Adviser in accordance with the Fund's valuation policies.
For purposes of determining the net asset value of the Fund, readily marketable portfolio securities listed on the NYSE, if any, are valued, except as indicated below, at the last sale price reflected on the consolidated tape at the close of the NYSE on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day or if market prices may be unreliable by the Adviser because of events occurring after the close of trading, then the security is valued by such method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Readily marketable securities not listed on the NYSE but listed on other domestic securities exchanges are valued in a like manner. Portfolio securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the business day as of which such value is being determined as reflected on the consolidated tape at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities. Securities trading on the NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price.
Readily marketable securities traded in the over-the-counter market, listed securities whose primary market is believed by the Adviser to be over-the-counter, are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the NASDAQ or, in the case of securities not reported by the NASDAQ or a comparable source, as the Board deems appropriate to reflect their fair market value. Where securities
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are traded on more than one exchange and also over-the-counter, the securities will generally be valued using the quotations the Board of Trustees believes reflect most closely the value of such securities. Mutual funds are valued at their daily net asset value.
With respect to any portion of the Fund's assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, each mutual fund's net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of those open-end management investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
The Fund's valuation procedures require the Board to consider all relevant information available at the time the Fund values its portfolio. The Board and/or the Adviser will consider such information, and may conclude in certain circumstances, that the information provided by the asset manager of an Institutional Private Fund or other Underlying Investment Vehicle does not represent the fair value of the Fund's investment. Although the procedures approved by the Board provide that the Adviser will review the valuations provided by the Underlying Investment Vehicles' managers, neither the Adviser nor the Board will be able to confirm independently the accuracy of valuation calculations provided by such Underlying Investment Vehicles' managers.
Following procedures adopted by the Board, in the absence of specific transaction activity in a particular investment fund, the Board will consider whether it is appropriate, in light of all relevant circumstances, to value its investment at the net asset value reported by the investment fund at the time of valuation or to adjust the value to reflect a premium or discount.
In general, fair value represents a good faith approximation of the current value of an asset and will be used when there is no public market or possibly no market at all for the asset. The fair values of one or more assets may not be the prices at which those assets are ultimately sold. In such circumstances, the Adviser and/or the Board will reevaluate its fair value methodology to determine what, if any, adjustments should be made to the methodology.
Situations involving uncertainties as to the value of portfolio positions could have an adverse effect on the net assets of the Fund if the judgments of the Board, the Adviser, or Underlying Investment Vehicle managers should prove incorrect.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The Fund does not believe the Adviser has any conflicts of interest because the Adviser has no other clients, the portfolio manager does not manage other accounts and is not permitted to invest in the securities held by the Fund. Nonetheless, although the Adviser has no intention of accepting other clients, the Adviser has adopted policies and procedures in a manner reasonably designed to safeguard the Fund from being negatively affected as a result of any potential conflicts related to the acceptance of another client or clients.
QUARTERLY REPURCHASES OF SHARES
Once each quarter, the Fund will offer to repurchase at NAV no less than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, unless such offer is suspended or postponed in accordance with regulatory requirements (as discussed below). The offer to purchase shares is a fundamental policy that may not be changed without the vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act). Shareholders will be notified in writing of each quarterly repurchase offer and the date the repurchase offer ends (the "Repurchase Request Deadline"). Shares will be repurchased at the NAV per share determined as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE no later than the 14th day after the Repurchase Request Deadline, or the next business day if the 14th day is not a business day (each a "Repurchase Pricing Date").
Shareholders will be notified in writing about each quarterly repurchase offer, how they may request that the Fund repurchase their shares and the "Repurchase Request Deadline," which is the date the repurchase offer ends. Shares tendered for repurchase by shareholders prior to any Repurchase Request Deadline will be repurchased subject to the aggregate repurchase amounts established for that Repurchase Request Deadline. The time between the notification to shareholders and the Repurchase Request Deadline is generally 30 days, but may vary from no more than 42 days to no less than 21 days. Payment pursuant to the repurchase will be made by checks to the shareholder's address of record, or credited directly to a predetermined bank account on the Purchase Payment Date, which will be no more than seven days after the Repurchase Pricing Date. The Board may establish other policies for repurchases of shares that are consistent with the 1940 Act and regulations thereunder.
Determination of Repurchase Offer Amount
The Board, or a committee thereof, in its sole discretion, will determine the number of shares that the Fund will offer to repurchase (the "Repurchase Offer Amount") for a given Repurchase Request Deadline. The Repurchase Offer Amount will be no less than 5% and no more than 25% of the total number of shares outstanding on the Repurchase Request Deadline. However, investors should not rely on repurchase offers being made in amounts in excess of 5% of Fund assets.
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If shareholders tender for repurchase more than the Repurchase Offer Amount for a given repurchase offer, the Fund will repurchase the shares on a pro rata basis. However, the Fund may accept all shares tendered for repurchase by shareholders who own less than one hundred shares and who tender all of their shares, before prorating other amounts tendered.
Notice to Shareholders
Approximately 30 days (but no less than 21 days and more than 42 days) before each Repurchase Request Deadline, the Fund shall send to each shareholder of record and to each beneficial owner of the shares that are the subject of the repurchase offer a notification ("Shareholder Notification"). The Shareholder Notification will contain information shareholders should consider in deciding whether or not to tender their shares for repurchase. The notice also will include detailed instructions on how to tender shares for repurchase, state the Repurchase Offer Amount and identify the dates of the Repurchase Request Deadline, the scheduled Repurchase Pricing Date, and the date the repurchase proceeds are scheduled for payment (the "Repurchase Payment Deadline"). The notice also will set forth the NAV that has been computed no more than seven days before the date of notification, and how shareholders may ascertain the NAV after the notification date.
Repurchase Price
The repurchase price of the shares will be the NAV as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the Repurchase Pricing Date. You may call 1-877-940-7202 to learn the NAV. The notice of the repurchase offer also will provide information concerning the NAV, such as the NAV as of a recent date or a sampling of recent NAVs, and a toll-free number for information regarding the repurchase offer.
Repurchase Amounts and Payment of Proceeds
Shares tendered for repurchase by shareholders prior to any Repurchase Request Deadline will be repurchased subject to the aggregate Repurchase Offer Amount established for that Repurchase Request Deadline. Payment pursuant to the repurchase offer will be made by check to the shareholder's address of record, or credited directly to a predetermined bank account on the Purchase Payment Date, which will be no more than seven days after the Repurchase Pricing Date. The Board may establish other policies for repurchases of shares that are consistent with the 1940 Act and regulations thereunder.
If shareholders tender for repurchase more than the Repurchase Offer Amount for a given repurchase offer, the Fund may, but is not required to, repurchase an additional amount of shares not to exceed 2% of the outstanding shares of the Fund on the Repurchase Request Deadline. If the Fund determines not to repurchase more than the Repurchase Offer Amount, or if shareholders tender shares in an amount exceeding the Repurchase Offer Amount plus 2% of the outstanding shares on the Repurchase Request Deadline, the Fund will repurchase the shares on a pro rata basis. However, the Fund may accept all shares tendered for repurchase by shareholders who own less than one hundred shares and who tender all of their shares, before prorating other amounts tendered.
Suspension or Postponement of Repurchase Offer
The Fund may suspend or postpone a repurchase offer only: (a) if making or effecting the repurchase offer would cause the Fund to lose its status as a regulated investment company under the Code; (b) for any period during which the NYSE or any market on which the securities owned by the Fund are principally traded is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or during which trading in such market is restricted; (c) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable, or during which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or (d) for such other periods as the Commission may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of the Fund.
Liquidity Requirements
The Fund must maintain liquid assets (liquid Public Funds, money market mutual funds, short-term (30 day or shorter maturity) U.S. T-Bills) or access to a bank line of credit equal to the Repurchase Offer Amount from the time that the notice is sent to shareholders until the Repurchase Pricing Date. The Fund will ensure that a percentage of its net assets equal to at least 100% of the Repurchase Offer Amount consists of securities that can be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at approximately the price at which the Fund has valued the investment within the time period between the Repurchase Request Deadline and the Repurchase Payment Deadline, or, in the alternative, that the Fund has access to a bank line of credit. For example, if the Fund offers to repurchase 5% of its shares, then at least 5% of its net assets will be represented by liquid securities or access to a bank line of credit. The Board of Trustees has adopted procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the Fund's securities are sufficiently liquid, or that it has access to a bank line of credit, so that the Fund can comply with the repurchase offer and the liquidity requirements described in the previous paragraph. If, at any time, the Fund falls out of compliance with these liquidity requirements, the Board of Trustees will take whatever action it deems appropriate to ensure compliance.
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Consequences of Repurchase Offers
Repurchase offers will typically be funded from available cash or sales of portfolio securities. Payment for repurchased shares, however, may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio holdings earlier than the Adviser otherwise would, thus increasing the Fund's portfolio turnover and potentially causing the Fund to realize losses. The Adviser intends to take measures to attempt to avoid or minimize such potential losses and turnover, and instead of liquidating portfolio holdings, may borrow money to finance repurchases of shares. If the Fund borrows to finance repurchases, interest on that borrowing will negatively affect shareholders who do not tender their shares in a repurchase offer by increasing the Fund's expenses and reducing any net investment income. To the extent the Fund finances repurchase amounts by selling Fund investments, the Fund may hold a larger proportion of its assets in less liquid securities.
Repurchase of the Fund's shares will tend to reduce the amount of outstanding shares and, depending upon the Fund's investment performance, its net assets. A reduction in the Fund's net assets would increase the Fund's expense ratio, to the extent that additional shares are not sold and expenses otherwise remain the same (or increase). In addition, the repurchase of shares by the Fund will be a taxable event to shareholders.
The Fund is intended as a long-term investment. The Fund's quarterly repurchase offers are a shareholder's only means of liquidity with respect to his or her shares. Shareholders have no rights to redeem or transfer their shares, other than limited rights of a shareholder's descendants to redeem shares in the event of such shareholder's death pursuant to certain conditions and restrictions. The shares are not traded on a national securities exchange and no secondary market exists for the shares, nor does the Fund expect a secondary market for its shares to exist in the future.
DISTRIBUTION POLICY
Distribution Policy
The Fund intends to make a dividend distribution each quarter, to its shareholders of the net investment income of the Fund after payment of Fund operating expenses. The Fund may establish a predetermined dividend rate, which may be modified by the Board from time to time. If, for any distribution, investment company taxable income (which term includes net short-term capital gain), if any, and net tax-exempt income, if any, is less than the amount of the predetermined dividend rate, then assets of the Fund will be sold and the difference will generally be a tax-free return of capital from the Fund's assets. The Fund's final distribution for each calendar year will include any remaining investment company taxable income and net tax-exempt income undistributed during the year, as well as all net capital gain realized during the year. If the total distributions made in any calendar year exceed investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt income and net capital gain, such excess distributed amount would be treated as ordinary dividend income to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Payments in excess of the earnings and profits would first be a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the adjusted tax basis in the shares. After such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, the payment would constitute capital gain (assuming the shares are held as capital assets). This distribution policy may, under certain circumstances, have certain adverse consequences to the Fund and its shareholders because it may result in a return of capital resulting in less of a shareholder's assets being invested in the Fund and, over time, increase the Fund's expense ratio. The distribution policy also may cause the Fund to sell a security at a time it would not otherwise do so in order to manage the distribution of income and gain. The initial distribution will be declared on a date determined by the Board.
Unless the registered owner of shares elects to receive cash, all dividends declared on shares will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. See "Dividend Reinvestment Policy."
The dividend distribution described above may result in the payment of approximately the same amount or percentage to the Fund's shareholders each period. Section 19(a) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19a-1 thereunder require the Fund to provide a written statement accompanying any such payment that adequately discloses its source or sources. Thus, if the source of the dividend or other distribution were the original capital contribution of the shareholder, and the payment amounted to a return of capital, the Fund would be required to provide written disclosure to that effect. As required under the 1940 Act, the Fund will provide a notice to shareholders at the time of a payment or distribution when such does not consist solely of net income. Additionally, each payment will be accompanied by a written statement which discloses the source or sources of each payment. The IRS requires you to report these amounts, excluding returns of capital, (such amounts will be reported by the Fund to shareholders on IRS Form 1099) on your income tax return for the year declared. The Fund will provide disclosures, with each payment, that estimates the percentages of the current and year-to-date payments that represent (1) net investment income, (2) capital gains and (3) return of capital. At the end of the year, the Fund may be required under applicable law to re-characterize payments made previously during that year among (1) ordinary income, (2) capital gains and (3) return of capital for tax purposes. Nevertheless, persons who periodically receive the payments may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits when they are not. Shareholders should read any written disclosure provided pursuant to Section 19(a) and Rule 19a-1 carefully and should not assume that the source of any payment from the Fund is net profit.
The Board reserves the right to change the quarterly distribution policy from time to time.
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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT POLICY
The Fund will operate under a dividend reinvestment policy administered by GFS (the "Agent"). Pursuant to the policy, the Fund's income dividends or capital gains or other distributions (each, a "Distribution" and collectively, "Distributions"), net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax, are reinvested in shares of the Fund.
Shareholders automatically participate in the dividend reinvestment policy, unless and until an election is made to withdraw from the policy on behalf of such participating shareholder. Shareholders who do not wish to have Distributions automatically reinvested should so notify the Agent in writing at PREDEX, c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130. Such written notice must be received by the Agent 30 days prior to the record date of the Distribution or the shareholder will receive such Distribution in shares through the dividend reinvestment policy. Under the dividend reinvestment policy, the Fund's Distributions to shareholders are reinvested in full and fractional shares as described below.
When the Fund declares a Distribution, the Agent, on the shareholder's behalf, will receive additional authorized shares from the Fund either newly issued or repurchased from shareholders by the Fund and held as treasury stock. The number of shares to be received when Distributions are reinvested will be determined by dividing the amount of the Distribution by the Fund's NAV per share.
The Agent will maintain all shareholder accounts and furnish written confirmations of all transactions in the accounts and information needed by shareholders for personal and tax records. The Agent will hold shares in the account of the shareholders in non-certificated form in the name of the participant, and each shareholder's proxy, if any, will include those shares purchased pursuant to the dividend reinvestment policy. Each participant, nevertheless, has the right to request certificates for whole and fractional shares owned. The Fund will issue certificates in its sole discretion. The Agent will distribute all proxy solicitation materials, if any, to participating shareholders.
In the case of shareholders, such as banks, brokers or nominees, that hold shares for others who are beneficial owners participating under the dividend reinvestment policy, the Agent will administer the dividend reinvestment policy on the basis of the number of shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder as representing the total amount of shares registered in the shareholder's name and held for the account of beneficial owners participating under the dividend reinvestment policy.
Neither the Agent nor the Fund shall have any responsibility or liability beyond the exercise of ordinary care for any action taken or omitted pursuant to the dividend reinvestment policy, nor shall they have any duties, responsibilities or liabilities except as expressly set forth herein. Neither shall they be liable hereunder for any act done in good faith or for any good faith omissions to act, without limitation, failure to terminate a participant's account prior to receipt of written notice of his or her death or with respect to prices at which shares are purchased or sold for the participant's account and the terms on which such purchases and sales are made, subject to applicable provisions of the federal securities laws.
The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends. See "U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters."
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the dividend reinvestment policy. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases under the dividend reinvestment policy; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the dividend reinvestment policy to include a service charge payable by the participants.
All correspondence concerning the dividend reinvestment policy should be directed to the Agent at PREDEX, c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130. Certain transactions can be performed by calling the toll free number 1-877-940-7202.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS
The following briefly summarizes some of the important federal income tax consequences to shareholders of investing in the Fund's shares, reflects the federal tax law as of the date of this prospectus, and does not address special tax rules applicable to certain types of investors, such as corporate, tax-exempt and foreign investors. Investors should consult their tax advisers regarding other federal, state or local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances, as well as any proposed tax law changes.
The following is a summary discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a shareholder of the Fund that acquires, holds and/or disposes of shares of the Fund , and reflects provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, existing Treasury regulations, rulings published by the IRS, and other applicable authority, as of the date of this prospectus. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Fund and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. For more detailed information regarding tax considerations, see the SAI. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular investors such as those holding shares in a tax deferred account such as an IRA or 401(k) plan. In addition, income earned through an investment in the Fund may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes.
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The Fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year for taxation as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company, it must meet an income and asset diversification test each year. If the Fund so qualifies and satisfies certain distribution requirements, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent it distributes its investment company taxable income and net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on regulated investment companies, such as the Fund, to the extent they do not meet certain distribution requirements by the end of each calendar year. The Fund anticipates meeting these distribution requirements. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify for the special tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, all of its taxable income will be subject to federal tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders). In such event, dividend distributions would be taxable to shareholders to the extent the Fund's earnings and profits, and would be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations.
The Fund intends to make distributions of investment company taxable income after payment of the Fund's operating expenses no less frequently than annually. Unless a shareholder is ineligible to participate or elects otherwise, all distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the dividend reinvestment policy. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, all dividends are generally taxable whether a shareholder takes them in cash or they are reinvested pursuant to the policy in additional shares of the Fund. Distributions of the Fund's investment company taxable income (including short-term capital gains) will generally be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions of the Fund's net capital gains ("capital gain dividends"), if any, are taxable to shareholders as capital gains, regardless of the length of time shares have been held by shareholders. Payments, if any, in excess of the Fund's earnings and profits will first reduce the adjusted tax basis of a holder's shares and, after that basis has been reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to the shareholder of the Fund (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset). A corporation that owns Fund shares generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to all of the dividends it receives from the Fund. Fund dividend payments that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Fund from certain domestic corporations may be designated by the Fund as being eligible for the dividends received deduction. There can be no assurance as to what portion of Fund dividend payments may be classified as qualifying dividends. The determination of the character for U.S. federal income tax purposes of any payment from the Fund ( i.e. ordinary income dividends, capital gains dividends, qualified dividends) or return of capital will be made as of the end of the Fund's taxable year.
The Fund expects that on or before January 31 st of each year, the Fund will inform its shareholders of the source and tax status of all distributions made during the previous calendar year.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND SHARES
The Fund is an unincorporated statutory trust established under the laws of the State of Delaware upon the filing of a Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of Delaware on February 5, 2013. The Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust") provides that the Trustees of the Fund may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The Trustees have authorized an unlimited number of shares. The Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of its shareholders. As of June 27 , 2016, of 4,000,000 shares registered, 4,000 shares were outstanding, of which none were owned by the Fund.
Title of Class | Amount Authorized | Amount Held By Fund | Amount Outstanding |
Shares of Beneficial Interest |
Unlimited 4,000,000 shares registered |
None |
4,000 shares
NAV $25.00 per share |
Shares
The Declaration of Trust, which has been filed with the SEC, permits the Fund to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest, no par value. Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets of the Fund with each other share in the Fund. Holders of shares will be entitled to the payment of dividends when, as and if declared by the Board. The Fund currently intends to make dividend distributions to its shareholders after payment of Fund operating expenses including interest on outstanding borrowings, if any, quarterly. Unless the registered owner of shares elects to receive cash, all dividends declared on shares will be automatically reinvested for shareholders in additional shares of the Fund. See "Dividend Reinvestment Policy." The 1940 Act may limit the payment of dividends to the holders of shares. Each whole share shall be entitled to one vote as to matters on which it is entitled to vote pursuant to the terms of the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC. Upon liquidation of the Fund, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Fund, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining assets of the Fund among its shareholders. The shares are not liable to further calls or to assessment by the Fund. There are no pre-emptive rights associated with the shares. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Fund's shareholders are not liable for any liabilities of the Fund. Although shareholders of an unincorporated statutory trust established under Delaware law, in certain limited circumstances, may be held
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personally liable for the obligations of the Fund as though they were general partners, the provisions of the Declaration of Trust described in the foregoing sentence make the likelihood of such personal liability remote.
The Fund generally will not issue share certificates. However, upon written request to the Fund's transfer agent, a share certificate may be issued at the Fund's discretion for any or all of the full shares credited to an investor's account. Share certificates that have been issued to an investor may be returned at any time. The Fund's transfer agent will maintain an account for each shareholder upon which the registration of shares are recorded, and transfers, permitted only in rare circumstances, such as death or bona fide gift, will be reflected by bookkeeping entry, without physical delivery. GFS will require that a shareholder provide requests in writing, accompanied by a valid signature guarantee form, when changing certain information in an account such as wiring instructions or telephone privileges.
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to change the composition of the Board of Trustees, and could have the effect of depriving the Fund's shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices, if any, by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. These provisions may have the effect of discouraging attempts to acquire control of the Fund, which attempts could have the effect of increasing the expenses of the Fund and interfering with the normal operation of the Fund. The Trustees are elected for indefinite terms and do not stand for reelection. A Trustee may be removed from office without cause only by a written instrument signed or adopted by a majority of the remaining Trustees. The Declaration of Trust does not contain any other specific inhibiting provisions that would operate only with respect to an extraordinary transaction such as a merger, reorganization, tender offer, sale or transfer of substantially all of the Fund's asset, or liquidation. Reference should be made to the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street Omaha, NE 68130, serves as the Fund's principal underwriter, within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and acts as the distributor of the Fund's shares, subject to various conditions. The Fund's shares are offered for sale through the Distributor at NAV. The Distributor also may enter into selected dealer agreements with other broker dealers for the sale and distribution of the Fund's shares. In reliance on Rule 415, the Fund intends to offer to sell an unlimited number of shares, on a continual basis, through the Distributor. No arrangement has been made to place funds received in an escrow, trust or similar account. The Distributor is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the Fund's shares. Shares of the Fund will not be listed on any national securities exchange and the Distributor will not act as a market marker in Fund shares.
The Adviser or its affiliates, in the Adviser's discretion and from their own resources (which may include the Adviser's legitimate profits from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), may pay additional compensation to brokers or dealers in connection with the sale and distribution of Fund shares (the "Additional Compensation"). In return for the Additional Compensation, the Fund may receive certain marketing advantages: access to a broker's or dealer's registered representatives, placement on a list of investment options offered by a broker or dealer, or the ability to assist in training and educating the broker's or dealer's registered representatives. The Additional Compensation may differ among brokers or dealers in amount or in the manner of calculation: payments of Additional Compensation may be fixed dollar amounts, or based on the aggregate value of outstanding shares held by shareholders introduced by the broker or dealer, or determined in some other manner. The receipt of Additional Compensation by a selling broker or dealer may create potential conflicts of interest between an investor and its broker or dealer who is recommending the Fund over other potential investments. Please visit the relevant financial intermediary's website for more information about this potential conflict of interest.
Prior to the initial public offering of shares, the Adviser purchased shares from the Fund in an amount satisfying the net worth requirements of Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act.
Purchasing Shares
Investors may purchase shares directly from the Fund in accordance with the instructions below. Investors will be assessed fees for returned checks and stop payment orders at prevailing rates charged by Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the Fund's administrator. The returned check and stop payment fee is currently $25. Investors may buy and sell shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries and their agents that have made arrangements with the Fund and are authorized to buy and sell shares of the Fund (collectively, "Financial Intermediaries"). Orders will be priced at the appropriate price next computed after it is received by a Financial Intermediary. A Financial Intermediary may hold shares in an omnibus account in the Financial Intermediary's name or the Financial Intermediary may maintain individual ownership records. The Fund may pay the Financial Intermediary for maintaining individual ownership records as well as providing other shareholder services. Financial intermediaries may charge fees for the services they provide in connection with processing your transaction order or maintaining an investor's account with them. Investors should check with their Financial Intermediary to determine if it is subject to these arrangements. Financial Intermediaries are responsible for placing orders correctly and promptly with the Fund, forwarding payment promptly. Orders transmitted with a Financial Intermediary before the close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on a day that the NYSE is open for business, will be priced based on the Fund's NAV next computed after it is received by the Financial Intermediary.
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By Mail
To make an initial purchase by mail, complete an account application and mail the application, together with a check made payable to PREDEX to:
PREDEX
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2
Omaha, NE 68130
All checks must be in US Dollars drawn on a domestic bank. The Fund will not accept payment in cash or money orders. The Fund also does not accept cashier's checks in amounts of less than $10,000. To prevent check fraud, the Fund will neither accept third party checks, Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler's checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares, nor post-dated checks, post-dated on-line bill pay checks, or any conditional purchase order or payment.
The transfer agent will charge a $25.00 fee against an investor's account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any payment that is returned. It is the policy of the Fund not to accept applications under certain circumstances or in amounts considered disadvantageous to shareholders. The Fund reserves the right to reject any application.
By Wire — Initial Investment
To make an initial investment in the Fund, the transfer agent must receive a completed account application before an investor wires funds. Investors may mail or overnight deliver an account application to the transfer agent. Upon receipt of the completed account application, the transfer agent will establish an account. The account number assigned will be required as part of the instruction that should be provided to an investor's bank to send the wire. An investor's bank must include both the name of PREDEX, the account number, and the investor's name so that monies can be correctly applied. If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1-877-940-7202 for wiring instructions and to notify the Fund that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. The Fund will normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the Fund's designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds. The bank should transmit funds by wire to:
ABA #: (number provided by calling toll-free
number above)
Credit: Gemini Fund Services, LLC
Account #: (number provided by calling toll-free number above)
Further Credit: PREDEX
(shareholder registration)
(shareholder account number)
By Wire — Subsequent Investments
Before sending a wire, investors must contact Gemini Fund Services, LLC to advise them of the intent to wire funds. This will ensure prompt and accurate credit upon receipt of the wire. Wired funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time to be eligible for same day pricing. The Fund, and its agents, the transfer agent and custodian, are not responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system, or from incomplete wiring instructions.
By Telephone
Investors may purchase additional shares of the Fund by calling 1-877-940-7202. If an investor elected this option on the account application, and the account has been open for at least 15 days, telephone orders will be accepted via electronic funds transfer from your bank account through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. Banking information must be established on the account prior to making a purchase. Orders for shares received prior to 4 p.m. Eastern time will be purchased at the appropriate price calculated on that day.
Telephone trades must be received by or prior to market close. During periods of high market activity, shareholders may encounter higher than usual call waits. Please allow sufficient time to place your telephone transaction.
In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, GFS will verify certain information on each account application as part of the Fund's Anti-Money Laundering Program. As requested on the application, investors must supply full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing only a P.O. Box will not be accepted. Investors may call Gemini Fund Services, LLC at 1-877-940-7202 for additional assistance when completing an application.
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If Gemini Fund Services, LLC does not have a reasonable belief of the identity of a customer, the account will be rejected or the customer will not be allowed to perform a transaction on the account until such information is received. The Fund also may reserve the right to close the account within five business days if clarifying information/documentation is not received.
Purchase Terms
The minimum initial investment by a shareholder is $1,000,000 for all types of accounts. However, investment advisers may aggregate client accounts for the purpose of meeting the minimum investment. Also, the Fund or the Adviser may waive the minimum investment at either's discretion. The Fund's shares are offered for sale through its Distributor at NAV. The price of the shares during the Fund's continuous offering will fluctuate over time with the net asset value of the shares.
Shareholder Service Expenses
The Fund has adopted a "Shareholder Services Plan" under which the Fund may compensate financial industry professionals for providing ongoing services in respect of clients with whom they have distributed shares of the Fund or provide shareholder services. Such services may include electronic processing of client orders, electronic fund transfers between clients and the Fund, account reconciliations with the Fund's transfer agent, facilitation of electronic delivery to clients of Fund documentation, monitoring client accounts for back-up withholding and any other special tax reporting obligations, maintenance of books and records with respect to the foregoing, and such other information and liaison services as the Fund or the Adviser may reasonably request. Under the Shareholder Services Plan, the Fund may incur expenses on an annual basis equal to up to 0.25% of its average net assets.
CYBERSECURITY
The computer systems, networks and devices used by the Fund and its service providers to carry out routine business operations employ a variety of protections designed to prevent damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and security breaches. Despite the various protections utilized by the Fund and its service providers, systems, networks, or devices potentially can be breached. The Fund and shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of a cybersecurity breach.
Cybersecurity breaches can include unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices; infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cybersecurity breaches may cause disruptions and impact the Fund's business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses; interference with the Fund's ability to calculate NAV; impediments to trading; the inability of the Fund, the Adviser, and other service providers to transact business; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs; as well as the inadvertent release of confidential information.
Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity breaches affecting issuers of securities in which the Fund invests; counterparties with which the Fund engages in transactions; governmental and other regulatory authorities; exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies, and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and service providers for the Fund's shareholders); and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred by these entities in order to prevent any cybersecurity breaches in the future.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the shares will be passed upon for the Fund by Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South High Street, 17th floor, Columbus, OH 43215.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Fund will send to its shareholders unaudited semi-annual and audited annual reports which include a list of investments held.
Householding
In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund intends to reduce the number of duplicate annual and semi-annual reports by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shared by two or more accounts and to shareholders reasonably believed to be from the same family or household. Once implemented, a shareholder must call 1-877-940-7202 to discontinue householding and request individual copies of these documents. Once the Fund receives notice to stop householding, individual copies will be sent beginning thirty days after receiving your request. This policy does not apply to account statements.
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
RSM US LLP is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and will audit the Fund's annual financial statements. RSM US LLP is located at 555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80202.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Prospectus and the SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement that the Fund has filed with the SEC (file No. 333-186987). The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC at www.sec.gov. See the cover page of this Prospectus for information about how to obtain a paper copy of the Registration Statement or SAI without charge.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
General Information and History | 2 |
Investment Objective and Policies | 2 |
Management of PREDEX | 11 |
Codes of Ethics | 16 |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures | 16 |
Control Persons and Principal Holders | 16 |
Investment Advisory and Other Services | 17 |
Portfolio Managers | 18 |
Allocation of Brokerage | 18 |
Tax Status | 18 |
Other Information | 21 |
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 22 |
Financial Statements | 22 |
Appendix – Adviser's Proxy Policy | 23 |
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PRIVACY notice March 2013 | |||
FACTS | WHAT DOES PREDEX DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION? | ||
Why? | Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do. | ||
What? | The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include: § Social Security number § Purchase History § Assets § Account Balances § Retirement Assets § Account Transactions § Transaction History § Wire Transfer Instructions § Checking Account Information When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice. | ||
How? | All financial companies need to share customers' personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers' personal information; the reasons PREDEX chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing. | ||
Reasons we can share your personal information | Does PREDEX share? | Can you limit this sharing? | |
For our everyday business purposes – such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus |
Yes | No | |
For our marketing purposes – to offer our products and services to you |
No | We don't share | |
For joint marketing with other financial companies | No | We don't share | |
For our affiliates' everyday business purposes – information about your transactions and experiences |
No | We don't share | |
For our affiliates' everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness |
No | We don't share | |
For nonaffiliates to market to you | No | We don't share |
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PROSPECTUS
PREDEX
Shares of Beneficial Interest
September 1, 2016
Investment Adviser
PREDEX Capital Management, LLC
All dealers that buy, sell or trade the Fund's shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus when acting on behalf of the Fund's Distributor.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The Fund has not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The Fund is not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
September 1, 2016
PREDEX
Principal Executive Offices
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2,
Omaha, NE 68130
1-877-940-7202
This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of PREDEX (the "Fund"), dated September 1, 2016 (the "Prospectus"), as it may be supplemented from time to time. The Prospectus is hereby incorporated by reference into this SAI (legally made a part of this SAI). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the meanings given to them in the Prospectus. This SAI does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing the Fund's securities.
You should obtain and read the Prospectus and any related Prospectus supplement prior to purchasing any of the Fund's securities. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-877-940-7202. The registration statement, of which the Prospectus is a part, can be reviewed and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. The Fund's filings with the SEC are also available to the public on the SEC's Internet web site at www.sec.gov . Copies of these filings may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC's Public Reference Section, 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Information and History | 2 |
Investment Objective and Policies | 2 |
Management of PREDEX | 11 |
Codes of Ethics | 16 |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures | 16 |
Control Persons and Principal Holders | 16 |
Investment Advisory and Other Services | 17 |
Portfolio Managers | 18 |
Allocation of Brokerage | 18 |
Tax Status | 18 |
Other Information | 21 |
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 22 |
Financial Statements | 22 |
Appendix – Adviser's Proxy Policy | 23 |
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GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY
The Fund is a continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that is operated as an interval fund (the "Trust"). The Fund was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 5, 2013 and commenced investment operations July 1, 2016. The Fund's principal office is located at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130 and its telephone number is 1-877-940-7202. The investment objective and principal investment strategies of the Fund, as well as the principal risks associated with the Fund's investment strategies, are set forth in the Prospectus. Certain additional investment information is set forth below.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Investment Objective
The Fund's primary investment objective is to seek consistent current income while secondarily seeking long-term capital appreciation with moderate volatility.
Fundamental Policies
The Fund's stated fundamental policies, which may only be changed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (the shares), are listed below. For the purposes of this SAI, "majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund" means the vote, at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, duly called, (a) of 67% or more of the shares present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy; or (b) of more than 50% of the outstanding shares, whichever is less. The Fund will not:
(1) Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), which currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets. The Fund may borrow for investment purposes, for temporary liquidity, or to finance repurchases of its shares.
(2) Issue preferred shares.
(3) Purchase securities on margin, sell securities short, write put options, nor write call options.
(4) Underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") in connection with the disposition of its portfolio securities. The Fund may invest in restricted securities (those that must be registered under the Securities Act before they may be offered or sold to the public).
(5) Invest 25% or more of the market value of its assets in the securities of companies or entities engaged in any one industry, or group of industries, except the real estate industry through "Underlying Investment Vehicles." This limitation does not apply to investment in the securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, as well as to investments in investment companies that primarily invest in such securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests, through Underlying Investment Vehicles, over 75% of its assets in the securities of issuers in the real estate industry.
(6) Purchase or sell commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments.
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(7) Make loans to others except by loaning portfolio securities; or entry into a repurchase agreement of up to 100% of assets in a manner consistent with the Fund's investment policies or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, when such a transaction is deemed to be a loan.
(8) Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate, except this limitation is not applicable to investments in securities, such as Underlying Investment Vehicles, that are secured by or represent direct or indirect interests in real estate.
In addition, the Fund has adopted a fundamental policy that it will make quarterly repurchase offers for no less than for 5% of the shares outstanding at net asset value ("NAV") less any repurchase fee, unless suspended or postponed in accordance with regulatory requirements, and each repurchase pricing shall occur no later than the 14th day after the Repurchase Request Deadline, or the next business day if the 14th is not a business day.
If a restriction on the Fund's investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in average duration of the Fund's investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund's total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by the 1940 Act.
Non-Fundamental Policies
The following is an additional investment limitation of the Fund and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
1. The Fund may not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in limitation (1) above through the grant of a security interest maintained by the Custodian.
If a restriction on the Fund's investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in average duration of the Fund's investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund's total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction.
Non-Diversified Status
Because the Fund is "non-diversified" under the 1940 Act, it is subject only to certain federal tax diversification requirements. Under federal tax laws, the Fund may, with respect to 50% of its total assets, invest up to 25% of its total assets in the securities of any issuer. With respect to the remaining 50% of the Fund's total assets, (i) the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer, and (ii) the Fund may not acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. These tests apply at the end of each quarter of the taxable year and are subject to certain conditions and limitations under the Code. These tests do not apply to investments in United States Government Securities and regulated investment companies.
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Non-Principal Investment Strategies
Special Investment Techniques
Underlying Investment Vehicles use interest rate swaps and caps to hedge against risks that affect the value of the Underlying Investment Vehicles' portfolio securities and assets. Underlying Investment Vehicles use these derivative transactions to hedge investment risks in pursuing their respective investment objectives. These hedging transactions may not perform as anticipated, and an Underlying Investment Vehicle may suffer losses as a result of its hedging activities.
Interest Rate Swaps and Caps
The Fund anticipates that interest rate swaps and caps will be a small part (less than 10%) of each Underlying Investment Vehicle's investment strategy . These derivatives can be volatile and involve certain types and degrees of risk. By using these derivatives, Underlying Investment Vehicles may be permitted to increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which their portfolios are exposed.
A small investment in these derivatives could have a substantial impact on an Underlying Investment Vehicle's performance. The market for these derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant and rapid changes in the prices for derivatives. If an Underlying Investment Vehicle were to invest in these derivatives at an inopportune time, or the Underlying Investment Vehicle manager evaluates market conditions incorrectly, the Underlying Investment Vehicle's derivative investment could negatively impact the Underlying Investment Vehicle's return, or result in a loss. In addition, an Underlying Investment Vehicle could experience a loss if its derivatives were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Underlying Investment Vehicle were unable to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market.
Swap Agreements . For hedging purposes, an Underlying Investment Vehicle may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Swap agreements are contracts entered into by two parties (primarily institutional investors) for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than a year. In a standard interest rate swap transaction, the parties agree to exchange periodic payments based on the difference between a fixed interest rate and a floating interest rate. The gross returns to be exchanged or "swapped" between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a "notional amount," i.e ., based on the value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate.
Interest Rate Cap Agreements . For hedging purposes, an Underlying Investment Vehicle may enter into interest rate cap agreements. An interest rate cap is similar to an interest rate swap except that one party pays the other for the right receive payments when a floating exceeds an agreed upon threshold level.
Generally, an Underlying Investment Vehicle's obligations (or rights) under a swap or cap agreement will be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement, based on the relative values of the positions held by the parties. The risk of loss is limited to the net amount of interest payments that a party is contractually required to make. As such, if the counterparty to a swap or cap defaults, an Investment Fund's risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that it is entitled to receive.
The use of derivatives that are subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") by Underlying Investment Vehicles could cause the Fund to be a commodity
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pool, which, absent an available exemption would require the Fund to comply with certain rules of the CFTC.
Regulation as a Commodity Pool Operator
PREDEX Capital Management, LLC (the "Adviser"), with respect to the Fund, has filed with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Fund's operations. Accordingly, neither the Fund nor the Adviser is subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator.
Debt Instruments
Institutional Private Funds in the Index may invest up to 20% of their net assets in debt instruments such as property-related debt such as a mortgage, public company or private company debt. However, the Fund does not anticipate that debt investing will be a significant source of returns (less than 10%) and does not expect Institutional Private Funds to invest up to the 20% limit. Mutual funds may also invest in debt instruments as disclosed in their respective Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information. Here too, the Fund does not anticipate that debt investing will be a significant source of returns (less than 10%) as the Adviser will not invest in a mutual fund that invests in debt instruments as a principal investment strategy. Underlying Investment Vehicles may invest in debt instruments without restriction as to issuer capitalization and in debt securities of any quality or maturity. When Underlying Investment Vehicles invest in debt securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of debt securities. In general, the market price of debt securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments).
Money Market Instruments
The Fund may invest some or all of its assets in money market instruments in such amounts as the Adviser deems appropriate under the circumstances. In addition, an Underlying Investment Vehicle may invest in money market instruments that are, typically, high quality, short-term fixed-income obligations, which generally have remaining maturities of one year or less and may include U.S. Government securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances issued by domestic branches of U.S. banks that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, repurchase agreements and money market mutual funds.
Additional Information About Principal Investment Strategies.
Mutual Funds
The Fund may invest in registered investment companies (open-end funds commonly referred to as mutual funds). The 1940 Act provides that the Fund may not: (1) purchase more than 3% of an investment company's outstanding shares; (2) invest more than 5% of its assets in any single registered investment company (the "5% Limit"), and (3) invest more than 10% of its assets in registered investment companies overall (the "10% Limit"), unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and
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Exchange Commission ("SEC"); and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order.
In addition, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of paragraph 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding stock of such investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii) the Fund has not, and is not proposing to offer or sell any security issued by it through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price which includes a sales load of more than 1.50%. The Fund does not charge any sales load. An investment company that issues shares to the Fund pursuant to paragraph 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment company's total outstanding shares in any period of less than thirty days. The Fund (or the Adviser acting on behalf of the Fund) must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from Fund shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.
Further, the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated investment companies to exceed the 5% Limitation and the 10% Limitation, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays ( i.e. , the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired funds) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by FINRA for funds of funds.
The Fund and any "affiliated persons," as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any investment company. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of an investment company, the Fund's ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an investment company whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the investment company's outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an investment company's outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities.
When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Securities
To reduce the risk of changes in securities prices and interest rates, the Adviser or an Underlying Investment Vehicle may purchase securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis. This means that delivery and payment occur a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable with respect to such purchases are determined when the investment commitment is made but, the purchaser does not make payment until it receives delivery from the seller. The Adviser or an Underlying Investment Vehicle may, if it is deemed advisable, sell the securities after it commits to a purchase but before delivery and settlement takes place.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis are subject to changes in value based upon the public's perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes (either real or anticipated) in the level of interest rates. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can present the risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery takes place may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis when the Fund or and Underlying
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Investment Vehicle is fully, or almost fully invested, results in a form of leverage and may cause greater fluctuation in the value of the net assets.
Repurchases and Transfers of Shares
Repurchase Offers
The Board has adopted a resolution setting forth the Fund's fundamental policy that it will conduct quarterly repurchase offers (the "Repurchase Offer Policy"). The Repurchase Offer Policy sets the interval between each repurchase offer at one quarter and provides that the Fund shall conduct a repurchase offer each quarter (unless suspended or postponed in accordance with regulatory requirements). The Repurchase Offer Policy also provides that the repurchase pricing shall occur not later than the 14 th day after the Repurchase Request Deadline or the next business day if the 14 th day is not a business day. The Fund's Repurchase Offer Policy is fundamental and cannot be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund may, for the purpose of paying for repurchased shares, be required to liquidate portfolio holdings earlier than the Adviser would otherwise have liquidated these holdings. Such liquidations may result in losses, and may increase the Fund's portfolio turnover.
Repurchase Offer Policy Summary of Terms
The Fund may not condition a repurchase offer upon the tender of any minimum amount of shares. The Fund may deduct from the repurchase proceeds only a repurchase fee that is paid to the Fund and is reasonably intended to compensate the Fund for expenses directly related to the repurchase. The repurchase fee may not exceed 2% of the proceeds. However, the Fund does not currently charge a repurchase fee. The Fund may rely on Rule 23c-3 only so long as the Board of Trustees satisfies governance standards defined in Rule 0-1(a)(7) under the 1940 Act.
Procedures: All periodic repurchase offers must comply with the following procedures:
Repurchase Offer Amount : Each quarter, the Fund may offer to repurchase at least 5% and no more than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Fund on the Repurchase Request Deadline (the "Repurchase Offer Amount"). The Board of Trustees shall determine the quarterly Repurchase Offer Amount.
Shareholder Notification : Generally, thirty days before each Repurchase Request Deadline, the Fund shall send to each shareholder of record and to each beneficial owner of the shares that are the subject of the repurchase offer a notification ("Shareholder Notification") providing the following information:
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The Fund must file Form N-23c-3 ("Notification of Repurchase Offer'') and three copies of the Shareholder Notification with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") within three business days after sending the notification to shareholders.
Notification of Beneficial Owners : Where the Fund knows that shares subject to a repurchase offer are held of record by a broker, dealer, voting trustee, bank, association or other entity that exercises fiduciary powers in nominee name or otherwise, the Fund must follow the procedures for transmitting materials to beneficial owners of securities that are set forth in Rule 14a-13 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Repurchase Requests : Repurchase requests must be submitted by shareholders by the Repurchase Request Deadline. The Fund shall permit repurchase requests to be withdrawn or modified at any time until the Repurchase Request Deadline, but shall not permit repurchase requests to be withdrawn or modified after the Repurchase Request Deadline.
Repurchase Requests in Excess of the Repurchase Offer Amount : If shareholders tender more than the Repurchase Offer Amount, the Fund may, but is not required to, repurchase an additional amount of shares not to exceed 2% of the outstanding shares of the Fund on the Repurchase Request Deadline. If the Fund determines not to repurchase more than the Repurchase Offer Amount, or if shareholders tender shares in an amount exceeding the Repurchase Offer Amount plus 2% of the outstanding shares on the Repurchase Request Deadline, the Fund shall repurchase the shares tendered on a pro rata basis. This policy, however, does not prohibit the Fund from:
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Suspension or Postponement of Repurchase Offers : The Fund shall not suspend or postpone a repurchase offer except pursuant to a vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund, and only:
If a repurchase offer is suspended or postponed, the Fund shall provide notice to shareholders of such suspension or postponement. If the Fund renews the repurchase offer, the Fund shall send a new Shareholder Notification to shareholders.
Computing Net Asset Value : The Fund's current NAV shall be computed no less frequently than weekly, and daily on the five business days preceding a Repurchase Request Deadline, on such days and at such specific time or times during the day as set by the Board of Trustees. Currently, the Board has determined that the Fund's NAV shall be determined daily following the close of the New York Stock Exchange. The Fund's NAV need not be calculated on:
Liquidity Requirements : From the time the Fund sends a Shareholder Notification to shareholders until the Repurchase Pricing Date, a percentage of the Fund's assets equal to at least 100% of the Repurchase Offer Amount (the "Liquidity Amount") shall consist of access to a line or credit and/or assets that individually can be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business, at approximately the price at which the Fund has valued the investment, within a period equal to the period between a Repurchase Request Deadline and the Repurchase Payment Deadline, or of assets that mature by the next Repurchase Payment Deadline. This requirement means that individual assets must be salable under these circumstances. It does not require that the entire Liquidity Amount must be salable. In the
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event that the Fund's assets fail to comply with this requirement, the Board of Trustees shall cause the Fund to take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure compliance.
Liquidity Policy : The Board of Trustees may delegate day-to-day responsibility for evaluating liquidity of specific assets to the Fund's investment adviser, but shall continue to be responsible for monitoring the investment adviser's performance of its duties and the composition of the portfolio. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees has approved this policy that is reasonably designed to ensure that the Fund's portfolio assets are sufficiently liquid so that the Fund can comply with its fundamental policy on repurchases and comply with the liquidity requirements in the preceding paragraph.
1. In evaluating liquidity, the following factors are relevant, but not necessarily determinative:
(a) | The frequency of trades and quotes for the security. |
(b) | The number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of potential purchasers. |
(c) | Dealer undertakings to make a market in the security. |
(d) | The nature of the marketplace trades ( e.g. , the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offer and the mechanics of transfer). |
(e) | The size of the Fund's holdings of a given security in relation to the total amount of outstanding of such security or to the average trading volume for the security. |
2. If market developments impair the liquidity of a security, the investment adviser should review the advisability of retaining the security in the portfolio. The investment adviser should report to the basis for its determination to retain a security at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
3. The Board of Trustees shall review the overall composition and liquidity of the Fund's portfolio on a quarterly basis.
4. These procedures may be modified as the Board deems necessary.
Registration Statement Disclosure : The Fund's registration statement must disclose its intention to make or consider making such repurchase offers.
Annual Report Disclosure : The Fund shall include in its annual report to shareholders the following:
Advertising : The Fund, or any underwriter for the Fund, must comply, as if the Fund were an open-end company, with the provisions of Section 24(b) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder and file, if necessary, with FINRA or the SEC any advertisement, pamphlet, circular, form letter, or other sales literature addressed to or intended for distribution to prospective investors.
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Involuntary Repurchases
The Fund may, at any time, repurchase at NAV shares of a shareholder, or any person acquiring shares from or through a shareholder, if: the shares have been transferred or have vested in any person other than by operation of law as the result of the death, dissolution, bankruptcy or incompetency of a shareholder; ownership of the shares by the shareholder or other person will cause the Fund to be in violation of, or require registration of the shares, or subject the Fund to additional registration or regulation under, the securities, commodities or other laws of the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction; continued ownership of the shares may be harmful or injurious to the business or reputation of the Fund or may subject the Fund or any shareholders to an undue risk of adverse tax or other fiscal consequences; the shareholder owns shares having an aggregate NAV less than an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees; or it would be in the interests of the Fund, as determined by the Board, for the Fund to repurchase the Shares. The Adviser may tender for repurchase in connection with any repurchase offer made by the Fund for Shares that it holds in its capacity as a shareholder.
Transfers of Shares
No person may become a substituted shareholder without the written consent of the Board, which consent may be withheld for any reason in the Board's sole and absolute discretion. Shares may be transferred only (i) by operation of law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution of a shareholder or (ii) with the written consent of the Board, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion. The Board may, in its discretion, delegate to the Adviser its authority to consent to transfers of shares. Each shareholder and transferee is required to pay all expenses, including attorneys and accountants fees, incurred by the Fund in connection with such transfer.
MANAGEMENT OF PREDEX
The Board has overall responsibility to manage and control the business affairs of the Fund, including the complete and exclusive authority to oversee and to establish policies regarding the management, conduct and operation of the Fund's business. The Board exercises the same powers, authority and responsibilities on behalf of the Fund as are customarily exercised by the board of directors of a registered investment company organized as a corporation. The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust's By-laws (the "Governing Documents"), each as amended from time to time, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available upon request. The Board consists of one individual who is an interested person of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. The Board consists of four individuals, three of whom are not "interested persons" (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust, the Adviser, or the Trust's distributor ("Independent Trustees"). Interested Persons generally include affiliates, immediate family members of affiliates, any partner or employee of the Fund's legal counsel, and any person who has engaged in portfolio transactions for the Fund or who has loaned the Fund money or property within the previous six months. Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Principal Executive Officer and a Principal Financial Officer. The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses, which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust's purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
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Board Leadership Structure
William J. Chadwick has served as the Chairman of the Board since March 2013. Additionally, under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent Trustees will meet in executive session, at least quarterly. Under the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, (c) execution and administration of Trust policies including (i) setting the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a non-executive Chairman of the Board, who together with the President, are seen by shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership. The Trust believes that its Chairman, the chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust and each shareholder.
Board Risk Oversight
The Board of Trustees is comprised of four Trustees including three Independent Trustees with a standing independent Audit Committee with a separate chair. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting risk within its area of responsibilities. Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.
Trustee Qualifications
Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mr. Chadwick holds a juris doctor degree and has over 30 years of business experience, including extensive experience in the area of investment advisory, securities brokerage, commercial real estate investment banking and real estate brokerage. He has developed considerable leadership and problem-solving skills as a result of his experience as the president of a real estate investment banking firm and in his years of law practice. Ms. Broad holds a master of business administration degree and has over 30 years of business experience focused in real estate and investment management business. Her background has been shaped by years of experience with an investment adviser, an operating company and a consultant directing a variety of investment management and marketing endeavors. Mr. Piper has over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry including serving Piper Jaffray Companies, a financial services holding company that includes a broker-dealer and investment adviser, from 1983 to 2006, including roles as CEO, Vice-Chairman and Chairman. He also has an understanding of the framework under which boards of directors must operate based on his years of service to various non-profit boards including the Board of Regents of St. Olaf College and Minnesota Public Radio as well as through his service as a mutual fund director with Leuthold Funds, Inc. He also holds an MBA from Stanford University. Mr. Vandell has over 30 years of experience in the real estate academic community including serving as Director, Center for Real Estate and Professor Real Estate Finance at the Merage School of Business, UC Irvine; and as Chair of the Department of Real Estate and Urban Land Economics at the University of Wisconsin. He also holds a Ph.D., Real Estate Finance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also has an understanding of the framework under which boards of directors must operate based on his years of service to various real estate investment trusts.
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The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee's qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.
Following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and their principal occupation over the last five years. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is c/o PREDEX, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130.
Independent Trustees
Name, Address and Age | Position/Term of Office* |
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships held by Trustee During Past 5 Years |
Carol A. Broad Born: 1955 |
Trustee since March 2013 | Trustee, San Diego City Employees' Retirement System, April 2015 to present; Retired, March 2011 to March 2015; Director-Private Real Estate, Russell Investments, Inc. (investment adviser), Nov. 1999 to Feb. 2011. | 1 | None |
Addison Piper Born: 1946 |
Trustee since May 2013 | Director, Piper Jaffray Companies 2006 to present. | 1 |
Leuthold Funds, Inc. (5 portfolios), Renaissance Learning, Inc., Piper Jaffray Companies |
Dr. Kerry Vandell Born: 1947 |
Trustee since March 2016 | Professor, University of California – Irvine, July 2006 to present | 1 |
Steadfast Apt. REIT (Oct. 2013 to present); Shopoff Properties Trust (Jan. 2010 to Feb. 2013); Steadfast Income REIT (Oct. 2012 to Jan. 2015) |
Interested Trustees and Officers
Name, Address*** and Age | Position/Term of Office* |
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships held by Trustee |
William J. Chadwick Born: 1948 |
Trustee since March 2013 | Managing Director, Chadwick, Saylor & Co., Inc. (real estate advisory and investment banking), 1985 to present. | 1 | None |
J. Grayson Sanders Born: 1940 |
President since March 2013 | President and Chief Investment Officer, Managing Principal, Mission Realty Advisors, LLC (real estate | n/a | n/a |
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advisory and investment banking), Feb., 2011 to present; None, Apr. 2010 to Jan. 2011; President, Steadfast Advisor Group, Mar. 2009 to Mar. 2010. | |||
Michael Achterberg Born: 1963 |
Treasurer since July 2013 | Chief Operating Officer, PREDEX Capital Management, Mar. 2013 to present; CFO/CCO, TriLinc Global (investment adviser), July 2012 to Oct. 2012; CFO, CSIP Group (private equity and investment banking), Nov. 2009 to Jan. 2012. | n/a | n/a |
James P. Ash Born: 1976 |
Secretary since March 2013 | Senior Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011 - 2012); Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2009 - 2011); Assistant Vice President of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2008 - 2011). | n/a | n/a |
William Kimme Born: 1962 |
Chief Compliance Officer since March 2013 | Senior Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (since 2011); Due Diligence and Compliance Consultant, Mick & Associates (August, 2009-September 2011). | n/a | n/a |
* The term of office for each Trustee and officer listed above will continue indefinitely.
** The term "Fund Complex" refers to the Fund.
*** The address for all officers is c/o PREDEX, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130.
Board Committees
Audit Committee
The Board has an Audit Committee that consists of three Trustees, each of whom is not an "interested person" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee's responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust's independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust's financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust's independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor's independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management's responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust's accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter. Due to the size of
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the Board, the Audit Committee is also responsible for seeking and reviewing nominee candidates for consideration as Independent Trustees as is from time to time considered necessary or appropriate. The Fund does not accept Trustee nominations from shareholders. During the last fiscal year the Audit Committee met once.
Trustee Ownership
The following table indicates the dollar range of equity securities that any Trustee beneficially owned in the Fund as of December 31, 2015.
Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies |
William J. Chadwick | $10,001 to $50,000 | $10,001 to $50,000 |
Compensation
Each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or Adviser or otherwise Independent will receive an annual fee of $20,000, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings. The Trustee who serves a Chairperson of the Audit Committee will receive an additional annual fee of $5,000. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.
The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees are expected to receive from the Trust for services performed during the fiscal year ending April 30, 2017. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plan.
Name and Position |
Aggregate Compensation From Fund |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses |
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement |
Total Compensation From Trust Paid to Directors |
Carol A, Broad, Trustee |
$25,000 | $0 | $0 | $25,000 |
Addison Piper, Trustee | $20,000 | $0 | $0 | $20,000 |
Kerry Vandell, Trustee |
$20,000 | $0 | $0 | $20,000 |
Fair Valuation Committee
While not a committee of Trustees, the Board has established a Fair Valuation Committee (the “FVC”) to which it has delegated certain securities pricing responsibilities. The FVC consists of a representative from the Adviser, the Trust's Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, a representative of the fund accountant (Gemini Fund Services, LLC "Gemini"), the Trust's CCO, as well as any additional participants as the Board deems appropriate. The FVC is authorized to act provided that at least two members are present. The FVC or Board may enlist third party consultants, such as an audit firm or fair value pricing specialist on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value or valuation method. In its capacity as fund accountant, Gemini receives or computes the value of each investment security and other asset held by the Fund and computes the NAV for the Fund.
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CODES OF ETHICS
Each of the Fund, the Adviser and the Trust's distributor has adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act (collectively the "Ethics Codes"). Rule 17j-1 and the Ethics Codes are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by covered personnel ("Access Persons"). The Ethics Codes apply to the Fund and permit Access Persons to, subject to certain restrictions, invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. Under the Ethics Codes, Access Persons may engage in personal securities transactions, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain Access Persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements. The Ethics Codes can be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. The codes are available on the EDGAR database on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures ("Policies") on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser, subject to the Board's continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser's Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser involving a conflict of interest.
Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the interests of the Adviser, any affiliated person(s) of the Adviser, the Fund's principal underwriter (distributor) or any affiliated person of the principal underwriter (distributor), or any affiliated person of the Trust and the Fund's or its shareholder's interests, the Adviser will resolve the conflict by voting in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the Trust's directive using the recommendation of an independent third party. If the third party's recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser will abstain from voting. A copy of the Adviser's proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-877-940-7202; and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling toll-free at 1-877-940-7202 and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
A principal shareholder is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control. A control person may be able to determine the outcome of a matter put to a shareholder vote. As of August 1, 2016, the Trustees and officers directly and indirectly owned 1.12% of the shares of the Fund. As of August 1, 2016, the following shareholder of record owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
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PREDEX Name & Address |
Percentages of Shares |
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, California 94105 |
98.47% |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
The Adviser
PREDEX Capital Management, LLC, located at 18500 Von Karman Ave, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612, serves as the Fund's investment adviser. The Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company formed in January 2013 for the purpose of advising the Fund and has no other clients. The Adviser is deemed to be controlled by J. Grayson Sanders because he indirectly owns over 25% of its interests.
Under the general supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Adviser will carry out the investment and reinvestment of the net assets of the Fund, will furnish continuously an investment program with respect to the Fund, will determine which securities should be purchased, sold or exchanged. In addition, the Adviser will supervise and provide oversight of the Fund's service providers. The Adviser will furnish to the Fund office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the management of the Fund. The Adviser will compensate all Adviser personnel who provide services to the Fund. In return for these services, facilities and payments, the Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser as compensation under the Management Agreement a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund's daily average net assets. The Adviser may employ research services and service providers to assist in the Adviser's market analysis and investment selection.
The Adviser and the Fund have entered into an expense limitation and reimbursement agreement (the "Expense Limitation Agreement") under which the Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its fees and to pay or absorb the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund (including all organization and offering expenses, but excluding management fees, interest and extraordinary expenses), to the extent that they exceed 1.20% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets (the "Expense Limitation"). In consideration of the Adviser's agreement to limit the Fund's expenses, the Fund has agreed to repay the Adviser in the amount of any fees waived and Fund expenses paid or absorbed, subject to the limitations that: (1) the reimbursement will be made only for fees and expenses incurred not more than three years from the end of the fiscal year in which they were incurred; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the Expense Limitation to be exceeded. The Expense Limitation Agreement will remain in effect through August 31, 2017, unless and until the Board approves its modification or termination.
Conflicts of Interest
The Fund does not believe the Adviser has any conflicts of interest because the Adviser has no other clients, the portfolio manager does not manage other accounts and he is not permitted to invest in the securities held by the Fund. Nonetheless, although the Adviser has no intention of accepting other clients, the Adviser adopted policies and procedures in a manner reasonably designed to safeguard the Fund from being negatively affected as a result of any potential conflicts related to the acceptance of another client or clients. Although the Adviser anticipates that the Institutional Private Fund and
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mutual fund managers will follow practices to prevent conflicts of interest, no guarantee or assurances can be made that practices will be followed or that an Institutional Private Fund or mutual fund manager will abide by, and comply with, its stated practices. An Institutional Private Fund manager or mutual fund manager may provide investment advisory and other services, directly or through affiliates, to affiliated entities and accounts other than the respective Institutional Private Fund or mutual fund.
No Participation in Investment Opportunities
Members, principals, officers, employees and affiliates of the Adviser may not buy or sell securities or other investments in which the Fund invests.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
As described in the prospectus, J. Grayson Sanders and Michael D. Achterberg serve as the co-portfolio managers and are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. As of April 30, 2016 and August 1, 2016, Mr. Sanders indirectly owned $10,001 to $50,000 of Fund shares. As of April 30, 2016, Mr. Achterberg owned no Fund shares. As of August 1, 2016, Mr. Achterberg directly owned $100,001 to $500,000 of Fund shares.
As of April 30, 2016, the co-portfolio managers were responsible for the management of no accounts except the Fund.
Distributor
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor"), located at 17605 Wright Street Omaha, NE 68130, is serving as the Fund's principal underwriter and acts as the distributor of the Fund's shares, subject to various conditions.
ALLOCATION OF BROKERAGE
The Adviser anticipates that the Fund's investments will be made without the services of a broker. However, the Adviser adopted best execution policies and procedures prior to using the services of any broker to execute securities trades with respect to the Fund's investment portfolio.
TAX STATUS
The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in the Fund.
The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, the Fund should not be subject to federal income or excise tax on its net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Code. Net investment income is made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund.
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The Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of net investment income will generally be made quarterly and net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.
To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund's assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the Fund's assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.
If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. As such, the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund's net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund's net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.
The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained in Section 4982 of the Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund's ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98% of its capital gain net income ( i.e. , the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus 100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances, the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.
The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Code.
Distributions of taxable net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.
Distributions of net capital gain ("capital gain dividends") generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shares of the Fund have been held by such shareholders.
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A redemption of Fund shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder's tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets. However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.
Distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment date.
All distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements. Investing in municipal bonds and other tax-exempt securities is not a principal investment strategy of the Fund. Nonetheless, to the extent the Fund invests in municipal bonds that are not exempt from calculations used to determine a taxpayer's status with respect to the alternative minimum tax, some shareholders may be subject to the alternative minimum tax. Investors should consult their tax advisers for more information.
Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Code, distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.
Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements
Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution ("FFI") or a non-financial foreign entity ("NFFE") within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA") may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a
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shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.
Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements as Employed by Underlying Investment Vehicles
Because the Fund will invest in Underlying Investment Vehicles, certain, if not all tax aspects of the Underlying Investment Vehicle's investments will indirectly affect or apply to the Fund. To the extent such investments are permissible for the Underlying Investment Vehicle, the Underlying Investment Vehicle's transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Underlying Investment Vehicle, defer losses to the Underlying Investment Vehicle, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Underlying Investment Vehicle's securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.
To the extent such investments are permissible, certain of the Underlying Investment Vehicle's hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Underlying Investment Vehicle's book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Underlying Investment Vehicle's remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient's basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Underlying Investment Vehicle's book income is less than taxable income, the Underlying Investment Vehicle could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regular investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
OTHER INFORMATION
Each share represents a proportional interest in the assets of the Fund. Each share has one vote at shareholder meetings, with fractional shares voting proportionally, on matters submitted to the vote of shareholders. There are no cumulative voting rights. Shares do not have pre-emptive or conversion or redemption provisions. In the event of a liquidation of the Fund, shareholders are entitled to share, pro rata, in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders after all expenses and debts have been paid.
Legal Counsel
Thompson Hine LLP, 41 S. High St., 17th Columbus, OH 43215, acts as legal counsel to the Fund.
Custodian
The Bank of New York Mellon (the "Custodian") serves as the primary custodian of the Fund's assets, and may maintain custody of the Fund's assets with domestic and foreign subcustodians (which may be banks, trust companies, securities depositories and clearing agencies) approved by the Trustees. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Adviser or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of a custodian in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian. The Custodian's principal business address is One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286.
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
RSM US LLP is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and will audit the Fund's annual financial statements. RSM US LLP is located at 555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80202.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016 are incorporated herein by reference to the Fund's Annual Report. These Financial Statements include the statement of assets and liabilities, statement of operations, statements of changes in net assets, financial highlights and notes. The Fund's annual reports and semi-annual reports are available upon request, without charge, by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-877-940-7202.
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APPENDIX
Adviser Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
Pursuant to the adoption by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of Rule 206(4)-6 (17 CFR 275.206(4)-6) and amendments to Rule 204-2 (17 CFR 275.204-2) under the Investment Adviser Act of 1940 (the "Act"), it is a fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative act, practice or course of business, within the meaning of Section 206(4) of the Act, for an investment adviser to exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, unless (i) the adviser has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interests of its clients, (ii) the adviser describes its proxy voting procedures to its clients and provides copies on request, and (iii) the adviser discloses to clients how they may obtain information on how the adviser voted their proxies.
In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Act, PREDEX Capital Management, LLC (hereinafter, "we" or "our") has adopted the following policies and procedures for proxy voting with regard to direct investments in companies held in investment portfolios of our clients.
KEY OBJECTIVES
The key objectives of these policies and procedures recognize that a company's management is entrusted with the day-to-day operations and longer term strategic planning of the company, subject to the oversight of the company's board of directors. While "ordinary business matters" are primarily the responsibility of management and should be approved solely by the corporation's board of directors, these objectives also recognize that the company's shareholders must have final say over how management and directors are performing, and how shareholders' rights and ownership interests are handled, especially when matters could have substantial economic implications to the shareholders.
Therefore, we will pay particular attention to the following matters in exercising our proxy voting responsibilities as a fiduciary for our clients:
Accountability. Each company should have effective means in place to hold those entrusted with running a company's business accountable for their actions. Management of a company should be accountable to its board of directors and the board should be accountable to shareholders.
Alignment of Management and Shareholder Interests. Each company should endeavor to align the interests of management and the board of directors with the interests of the company's shareholders. For example, we generally believe that compensation should be designed to reward management for doing a good job of creating value for the shareholders of the company.
Transparency. Promotion of timely disclosure of important information about a company's business operations and financial performance enables investors to evaluate the performance of a company and to make informed decisions about the purchase and sale of a company's securities.
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DECISION METHODS
We generally believe that portfolio managers that invest in and track particular companies have a unique perspective to make decisions with regard to proxy votes. Therefore, we rely on that perspective to make the final decisions on how to cast proxy votes.
No set of proxy voting guidelines can anticipate all situations that may arise. In special cases, we may seek insight and expertise from outside sources as to how a particular proxy proposal will impact the financial prospects of a company, and vote accordingly.
In some instances, a proxy vote may present a conflict between the interests of a client, on the one hand, and our interests or the interests of a person affiliated with us, on the other. In such a case, we will abstain from making a voting decision and will forward all of the necessary proxy voting materials to the client to enable the client to cast the votes.
SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
Election of the Board of Directors
We believe that good corporate governance generally starts with a board composed primarily of independent directors, unfettered by significant ties to management, all of whose members are elected annually. We also believe that some measure of turnover in board composition typically promotes more independent board action and fresh perspectives on governance. Of greater importance is the skill set of the proposed board member. We will also look at the backgrounds of the directors to gauge their business acumen and any special talent or experience that may add value to their participation on the board.
The election of a company's board of directors is one of the most fundamental rights held by shareholders. Because a classified board structure prevents shareholders from electing a full slate of directors annually, we will pay special attention to efforts to declassify boards or other measures that permit shareholders to remove a majority of directors at any time.
Approval of Independent Auditors
We believe that the relationship between a company and its auditors should be limited primarily to the audit engagement, although it may include certain closely related activities that do not raise an appearance of impaired independence.
We will evaluate on a case-by-case basis instances in which the audit firm has a substantial non-audit relationship with a company to determine whether we believe independence has been, or could be, compromised.
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PREDEX
PART C - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 25 . Financial Statements and Exhibits
1. Financial Statements
Part A: The financial highlights of PREDEX (the "Registrant") for the fiscal period ended April 30, 2013, fiscal year ended April 30, 2014, fiscal year ended April 30, 2015 and fiscal year ended April 30, 2016 are included in Part A of this registration statement in the section entitled "Financial Highlights.".
Part B: The Registrant's audited Financial Statements and the notes thereto in the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal period ended April 30, 2013, Registrant's audited Financial Statements and the notes thereto in the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2014, Registrant's audited Financial Statements and the notes thereto in the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2015, and Registrant's audited Financial Statements and the notes thereto in the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016; and each filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 30(b)(2) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are incorporated by reference into Part B of this registration statement.
2. Exhibits
a. | (1) Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant's Registration Statement on March 1, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
(2) Certificate of Trust, which was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant's Registration Statement on March 1, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference.
(3) Amended Certificate of Trust, which was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant's Registration Statement on March 1, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference.
b. | By-Laws, as amended (filed herewith). |
c. | Voting Trust Agreements: None |
d. | Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. See Article III, "Shares" and Article V "Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings" of the Registrant's |
Agreement and Declaration of Trust. See also, Article 12, "Meetings" of shareholders of the Registrant's By-Laws.
e. | Dividend reinvestment plan: None |
f. | Rights of subsidiaries long-term debt holders: Not applicable. |
g. | Investment Advisory Agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on April 28, 2016, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
h. | (1) Distribution Agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on April 28, 2016, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
(2) Selling Agreement Form, which was filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on July 22, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference.
i. | Bonus, profit sharing, pension and similar arrangements for Fund Trustees and Officers: None. |
j. | Custodian Agreement (filed herewith). |
k. | (1) Fund Services Agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on April 28, 2016, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
(2) Compliance Consulting Agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on April 28, 2016, is hereby incorporated by reference.
(3) Expense Limitation Agreement (filed herewith).
l. | (1) Opinion of Counsel, which was filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on July 22, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
(2) Consent of Counsel (filed herewith).
m. | Non-resident Trustee Consent to Service of Process: Not applicable. |
n. | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (filed herewith). |
o. | Omitted Financial Statements: None |
p. | Initial Capital Agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on July 22, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
q. | Model Retirement Plan: None |
r. | (1) Code of Ethics-Fund, which was filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on July 22, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
(2) Code of Ethics-Adviser, which was filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on July 22, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference.
(3) Code of Ethics-Principal Underwriter/Distributor (filed herewith)
s. | (1) Powers of Attorney, which were filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on July 22, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
(2) Form of Subscription Agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on July 22, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 26 . Marketing Arrangements
Not Applicable.
Item 27 . Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution (estimated)
Not Applicable.
Item 28 . Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant
None.
Item 29 . Number of Holders of Securities as of June 27, 2016
Title of Class Shares of Beneficial Ownership. |
Number of Record Holders 1 |
Item 30 . Indemnification
Reference is made to Article VIII, Section 2 of the Registrant's Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"), previously filed as an exhibit, Section 9
of the Registrant's Distribution Agreement, Section 5 of the Fund Services Agreement, each filed as an exhibit hereto . The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the indemnification provisions of the Declaration of Trust and agreements in a manner consistent with Release 40-11330 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), so long as the interpretation therein of Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of the 1940 Act remains in effect. The Registrant maintains insurance on behalf of any person who is or was an independent trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Registrant against certain liability asserted against and incurred by, or arising out of, his or her position. However, in no event will the Registrant pay that portion of the premium, if any, for insurance to indemnify any such person for any act for which the Registrant itself is not permitted to indemnify.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31 . Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
A description of any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which the investment adviser of the Registrant, and each member, director, executive officer, or partner of any such investment adviser, is or has been, at any time during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of member, trustee, officer, employee, partner or director, is set forth in the Registrant's prospectus in the section entitled "Management of PREDEX." Information as to the members and officers of the Adviser is included in its Form ADV as filed with the SEC (File No. 801-77936), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 32 . Location of Accounts and Records
Gemini Fund Services, LLC, PREDEX's administrator, maintains certain required accounting related and financial books and records of the Registrant at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130 and 80 Arkay Drive, Hauppauge, New York 11788. The Bank of New York, PREDEX's custodian, maintains certain required accounting
related and financial books and records of the Registrant at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286. Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, PREDEX's distributor, maintains certain required accounting related and financial books and records of the Registrant at 17605 Wright Street Omaha, NE 68130. The other required books and records are maintained by the Adviser at 18500 Von Karman Ave, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612.
Item 33 . Management Services
Not Applicable.
Item 34 . Undertakings
1. The Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of Shares until the prospectus is amended if (1) subsequent to the effective date of its registration statement, the net asset value of PREDEX declines more than ten percent from its net asset value as of the effective date of the registration statement or (2) the net asset value of PREDEX increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.
2. The Registrant undertakes to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement: (a) (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. (b) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) The Registrant undertakes to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (d) The Registrant undertakes that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the Securities Act, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness; provided however , that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of
first use. (e) The Registrant undertakes that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act, in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act; (ii) the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and (iii) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
3. For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. The Registrant undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
4. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, the Registrant's statement of additional information.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement pursuant to Rule 486(b) under the Securities Act. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this amendment to its registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on the 24th day of August 2016.
PREDEX
By: /s/ Michael V. Wible
Name: Michael V. Wible
Title: Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to Powers of Attorney (p reviously filed)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the following capacities and on August 24, 2016.
Name | Title(s) |
Carol Broad* | Trustee |
William J. Chadwick* | Trustee |
Addison Piper* | Trustee |
J. Grayson Sanders* | President |
/s/ Michael Achterberg | Treasurer |
By: /s/ Michael V. Wible
Michael V. Wible
*Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to Powers of Attorney (previously filed)
EXHIBIT INDEX
Description |
Exhibit
Number |
By-Laws | 99(b)(2) |
Custody Agreement | 99(j) |
Expense Limitation Agreement | 99(k)(3) |
Consent of Counsel | 99(l)(2) |
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 99(n) |
Code of Ethics Principal Underwriter/Distributor | 99(r)(3) |
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of May 10, 2013 between PREDEX, a Trust organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130 (the Fund) and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York corporation authorized to do a banking business having its principal office and place of business at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286 (Custodian).
W I T N E S S E T H:
that for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth the Fund and Custodian agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words shall have the meanings set forth below:
1. Administrator shall mean Gemini Fund Services, LLC and its successors or permitted assigns, in its role as custody administrator (see Appendix IV).
2. Authorized Person shall be any person, whether or not an officer or employee of the Fund and including officers or employees of the Administrator, duly authorized by the Funds board to execute any Certificate or to give any Oral Instruction with respect to one or more Accounts, such persons to be designated in a Certificate annexed hereto as Schedule I hereto or such other Certificate as may be received by Custodian from time to time.
3. Custodian Affiliate shall mean any office, branch or subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.
4. Book-Entry System shall mean the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-entry system for receiving and delivering securities, its successors and nominees.
5. Business Day shall mean any day on which Custodian and relevant Depositories are open for business.
6. Certificate shall mean any notice, instruction, or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Custodian, which is actually received by Custodian by letter or facsimile transmission and signed on behalf of the Fund by an Authorized Person or a person reasonably believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person.
7. Composite Currency Unit shall mean the Euro or any other composite currency unit consisting of the aggregate of specified amounts of specified currencies, as such unit may be constituted from time to time.
8. Depository shall include (a) the Book-Entry System, (b) the Depository Trust Company, (c) any other clearing agency or securities depository registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission identified to the Fund from time to time, and (d) the respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.
9. Foreign Depository shall mean (a) Euroclear, (b) Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, (c) each Eligible Securities Depository as defined in Rule 17f-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, identified to the Fund from time to time, and (d) the respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.
10. Instructions shall mean communications actually received by Custodian by S.W.I.F.T., tested telex, letter, facsimile transmission, or other method or system specified by Custodian as available for use in connection with the services hereunder.
11. Oral Instructions shall mean verbal instructions received by Custodian from an Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person.
12. Series shall mean the various portfolios, if any, of the Fund listed on Schedule II hereto, and if none are listed references to Series shall be references to the Fund.
13. Securities shall include, without limitation, any common stock and other equity securities, bonds, debentures and other debt securities, notes, mortgages or other obligations, and any instruments representing rights to receive, purchase, or subscribe for the same, or representing any other rights or interests therein (whether represented by a certificate or held in a Depository or by a Subcustodian).
14. Subcustodian shall mean a bank (including any branch thereof) or other financial institution (other than a Foreign Depository) located outside the U.S. which is utilized by Custodian in connection with the purchase, sale or custody of Securities hereunder and identified to the Fund from time to time, and their respective successors and nominees.
ARTICLE
II
APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN; ACCOUNTS;
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND COVENANTS
1. (a) The Fund hereby appoints Custodian as custodian of all Securities and cash at any time delivered to Custodian during the term of this Agreement, and authorizes Custodian to hold Securities in registered form in its name or the name of its nominees. Custodian hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to establish and maintain one or more securities accounts and cash accounts for each Series in which Custodian will hold Securities and cash as provided herein. Custodian shall maintain books and records segregating the assets of each Series from the assets of any other Series. Such accounts (each, an Account; collectively, the Accounts) shall be in the name of the Fund.
(b) Custodian may from time to time establish on its books and records such subaccounts within each Account as the Fund and Custodian may agree upon (each a Special
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Account), and Custodian shall reflect therein such assets as the Fund may specify in a Certificate or Instructions.
(c) Custodian may from time to time establish pursuant to a written agreement with and for the benefit of a broker, dealer, future commission merchant or other third party identified in a Certificate or Instructions such Accounts on such terms and conditions as the Fund and Custodian shall agree, and Custodian shall transfer to such Account such Securities and money as the Fund may specify in a Certificate or Instructions.
2. The Fund hereby represents and warrants, which representations and warranties shall be continuing and shall be deemed to be reaffirmed upon each delivery of a Certificate or each giving of Oral Instructions or Instructions by the Fund, that:
(a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement, and to perform its obligations hereunder,
(b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund, approved by a resolution of its board, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and there is no statute, regulation, rule, order or judgment binding on it, and no provision of its charter or by-laws, nor of any mortgage, indenture, credit agreement or other contract binding on it or affecting its property, which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;
(c) It is conducting its business in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and requirements, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory licenses, approvals and consents necessary to carry on its business as now conducted;
(d) It will not use the services provided by Custodian hereunder in any manner that is, or will result in, a violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Fund;
(e) Its board or its foreign custody manager, as defined in Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 40 Act), has determined that use of each Subcustodian (including any Replacement Custodian) which Custodian is authorized to utilize in accordance with Section 1(a) of Article III hereof satisfies the applicable requirements of the 40 Act and Rule 17f-5 thereunder,
(f) The Fund or its investment adviser has determined that the custody arrangements of each Foreign Depository provide reasonable safeguards against the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with such Foreign Depository within the meaning of Rule I7f-7 under the 40 Act;
(g) It is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with various methods of transmitting Instructions and Oral Instructions and delivering Certificates to Custodian, shall, and shall cause each Authorized Person, to safeguard and treat with extreme care any user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys, understands that there may be more secure methods of transmitting or delivering the same than the methods
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selected by it, agrees that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection therewith provide a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances, and acknowledges and agrees that Instructions need not be reviewed by Custodian, may conclusively be presumed by Custodian to have been given by person(s) duly authorized, and may be acted upon as given;
(h) It shall manage its borrowings, including, without limitation, any advance or overdraft (including any day-light overdraft) in the Accounts, so that the aggregate of its total borrowings for each Series does not exceed the amount such Series is permitted to borrow under the 40 Act;
(i) Its transmission or giving of, and Custodian acting upon and in reliance on, Certificates, Instructions, or Oral Instructions pursuant to this Agreement shall at all times comply with the 40 Act;
(j) It shall impose and maintain restrictions on the destinations to which cash may be disbursed by Instructions to ensure that each disbursement is for a proper purpose; and
(k) It has the right to make the pledge and grant the security interest and security entitlement to Custodian contained in Section 1 of Article V hereof, free of any right of redemption or prior claim of any other person or entity, such pledge and such grants shall have a first priority subject to no setoffs, counterclaims, or other liens or grants prior to or on a parity therewith, and it shall take such additional steps as Custodian may require to assure such priority.
3. The Fund hereby covenants that it shall from time to time complete and execute and deliver to Custodian upon Custodians request a Form FR U-l (or successor form) whenever the Fund borrows from Custodian any money to be used for the purchase or carrying of margin stock as defined in Federal Reserve Regulation U.
ARTICLE III
CUSTODY AND RELATED SERVICES
1. (a) Subject to the terms hereof, the Fund hereby authorizes Custodian to hold any Securities received by it from time to time for the Funds account. Custodian shall be entitled to utilize, subject to subsection (c) of this Section 1, Depositories, Subcustodians, and, subject to subsection (d) of this Section I, Foreign Depositories, to the extent possible in connection with its performance hereunder. Securities and cash held in a Depository or Foreign Depository will be held subject to the rules, terms and conditions of such entity. Securities and cash held through Subcustodians shall be held subject to the terms and conditions of Custodians agreements with such Subcustodians. Subcustodians may be authorized to hold Securities in Foreign Depositories in which such Subcustodians participate. Unless otherwise required by local law or practice or a particular subcustodian agreement, Securities deposited with a Subcustodian, a Depositary or a Foreign depository will be hold in commingled account, in the name of Custodian holding only Securities held by Custodian as custodian for its customers. Custodian shall identify on its books and records the Securities and cash belonging to the Fund, whether held directly or indirectly through Depositories, Foreign Depositories, or Subcustodians. Custodian shall, directly or indirectly through Subcustodians, Depositories, or Foreign Depositories, endeavor, to
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the extent feasible, to hold Securities in the country or other jurisdiction in which the principal trading market for such Securities is located, where such Securities are to be presented for cancellation and/or payment and/or registration, or where such Securities are acquired. Custodian at any time may cease utilizing any Subcustodian and/or may replace a Subcustodian with a different Subcustodian (the Replacement Subcustodian). In the event Custodian selects a Subcustodian or Replacement Subcustodian, Custodian shall not utilize such Subcustodian or Replacement Subcustodian until after the Funds board or foreign custody manager has determined that utilization of such Subcustodian or Replacement Subcustodian satisfies the requirements of the 40 Act and Rule 17f-5 thereunder.
(b) Unless Custodian has received a Certificate or Instructions to the contrary, Custodian shall hold Securities indirectly through a Subcustodian only if (i) the Securities are not subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of such Subcustodian or its creditors or operators, including a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or similar authority, except for a claim of payment for the safe custody or administration of Securities on behalf of the Fund by such Subcustodian, and (ii) beneficial ownership of the Securities is freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration.
(c) With respect to each Depository, Custodian (i) shall exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duties as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain Securities or financial assets deposited or held in such Depository, and (ii) will provide, promptly upon request by the Fund, such reports as are available concerning the internal accounting controls and financial strength of Custodian.
(d) With respect to each Foreign Depository, Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, prudence, and diligence (i) to provide the Fund with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Foreign Depository, and (ii) to monitor such custody risks on a continuing basis and promptly notify the Fund of any material change in such risks. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that such analysis and monitoring shall be made on the basis of, and limited by, information gathered from Subcustodians or through publicly available information otherwise obtained by Custodian, and shall not include any evaluation of Country Risks. As used herein the term Country Risks shall mean with respect to any Foreign Depository: (a) the financial infrastructure of the country in which it is organized, (b) such countrys prevailing custody and settlement practices, (c) nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions, (d) such countrys regulation of the banking or securities industry, (e) currency controls, restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations, and (f) market conditions which affect the order execution of securities transactions or affect the value of securities.
2. Custodian shall furnish the Fund with an advice of daily transactions (including a confirmation of each transfer of Securities) and a monthly summary of all transfers to or from the Accounts.
3. With respect to all Securities held hereunder, Custodian shall, unless otherwise instructed to the contrary:
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(a) Receive all income and other payments and advise the Fund as promptly as practicable of any such amounts due but not paid;
(b) Present for payment and receive the amount paid upon all Securities which may mature and advise the Fund as promptly as practicable of any such amounts due but not paid;
(c) Forward to the Fund copies of all information or documents that it may actually receive from an issuer of Securities which, in the opinion of Custodian, are intended for the beneficial owner of Securities;
(d) Execute, as custodian, any certificates of ownership, affidavits, declarations or other certificates under any tax laws now or hereafter in effect in connection with the collection of bond and note coupons;
(e) Hold directly or through a Depository, a Foreign Depository, or a Subcustodian all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to any Securities credited to an Account hereunder, and
(f) Endorse for collection checks, drafts or other negotiable instruments.
4. (a) Custodian shall notify the Fund of rights or discretionary actions with respect to Securities held hereunder, and of the date or dates by when such rights must be exercised or such action must be taken, provided that Custodian has actually received, from the issuer or the relevant Depository (with respect to Securities issued in the United States) or from the relevant Subcustodian, Foreign Depository, or a nationally or internationally recognized bond or corporate action service to which Custodian subscribes, timely notice of such rights or discretionary corporate action or of the date or dates such rights must be exercised or such action must be taken. Absent actual receipt of such notice, Custodian shall have no liability for failing to so notify the Fund.
(b) Whenever Securities (including, but not limited to, warrants, options, tenders, options to tender or non-mandatory puts or calls) confer discretionary rights on the Fund or provide for discretionary action or alternative courses of action by the Fund, the Fund shall be responsible for making any decisions relating thereto and for directing Custodian to act. In order for Custodian to act, it must receive the Funds Certificate or Instructions at Custodians offices, addressed as Custodian may from time to time request, not later than noon (New York time) at least two (2) Business Days prior to the last scheduled date to act with respect to such Securities (or such earlier date or time as Custodian may specify to the Fund). Absent Custodians timely receipt of such Certificate or Instructions, Custodian shall not be liable for failure to take any action relating to or to exercise any rights conferred by such Securities.
5. All voting rights with respect to Securities, however registered, shall be exercised by the Fund or its designee. Custodian will make available to the Fund Proxy voting services upon the request of, and for the jurisdictions selected by, the Fund in accordance with terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon by Custodian and the Fund.
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6. Custodian shall promptly advise the Fund upon Custodians actual receipt of notification of the partial redemption, partial payment or other action affecting less than all Securities of the relevant class. If Custodian, any Subcustodian, any Depository, or any Foreign Depository holds any Securities in which the Fund has an interest as part of a fungible mass, Custodian, such Subcustodian, Depository, or Foreign Depository may select the Securities to participate in such partial redemption, partial payment or other action in any non-discriminatory manner that it customarily uses to make such selection.
7. Custodian shall not under any circumstances accept bearer interest coupons which have been stripped from United States federal, state or local government or agency securities unless explicitly agreed to by Custodian in writing.
8. The Fund shall be liable for all taxes, assessments, duties and other governmental charges, including any interest or penalty with respect thereto (Taxes), with respect to any cash or Securities held on behalf of the Fund or any transaction related thereto. The Fund shall indemnify Custodian and each Subcustodian for the amount of any Tax that Custodian, any such Subcustodian or any other withholding agent is required under applicable laws (whether by assessment or otherwise) to pay on behalf of, or in respect of income earned by or payments or distributions made to or for the account of the Fund (including any payment of Tax required by reason of an earlier failure to withhold). Custodian shall, or shall instruct the applicable Subcustodian or other withholding agent to, withhold the amount of any Tax which is required to be withheld under applicable law upon collection of any dividend, interest or other distribution made with respect to any Security and any proceeds or income from the sale, loan or other transfer of any Security. In the event that Custodian or any Subcustodian is required under applicable law to pay any Tax on behalf of the Fund, Custodian is hereby authorized to withdraw cash from any cash account in the amount required to pay such Tax and to use such cash, or to remit such cash to the appropriate Subcustodian or other withholding agent, for the timely payment of such Tax in the manner required by applicable law. If the aggregate amount of cash in all cash accounts is not sufficient to pay such Tax, Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund of the additional amount of cash (in the appropriate currency) required, and the Fund shall directly deposit such additional amount in the appropriate cash account promptly after receipt of such notice, for use by Custodian as specified herein. In the event that Custodian reasonably believes that Fund is eligible, pursuant to applicable law or to the provisions of any tax treaty, for a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax which is otherwise required to be withheld or paid on behalf of the Fund under any applicable law, Custodian shall, or shall instruct the applicable Subcustodian or withholding agent to, either withhold or pay such Tax at such reduced rate or refrain from withholding or paying such Tax, as appropriate; provided that Custodian shall have received from the Fund all documentary evidence of residence or other qualification for such reduced rate or exemption required to be received under such applicable law or treaty. In the event that Custodian reasonably believes that a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax is obtainable only by means of an application for refund, Custodian and the applicable Subcustodian shall have no responsibility for the accuracy, or validity of any forms or documentation provided by the Fund to Custodian hereunder. The Fund hereby agrees to indemnify and bold harmless Custodian and each Subcustodian in respect of any liability arising from any underwithholding or underpayment of any Tax which results from the inaccuracy or invalidity of any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be a
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continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.
9. (a) For the purpose of settling Securities and foreign exchange transactions, the Fund shall provide Custodian with sufficient immediately available funds for all transactions by such time and date as conditions in the relevant market dictate. As used herein, sufficient immediately available funds shall mean either (i) sufficient cash denominated in U.S. dollars to purchase the necessary foreign currency, or (ii) sufficient applicable foreign currency, to settle the transaction. Custodian shall provide the Fund with immediately available funds each day which result from the actual settlement of all sale transactions, based upon advices received by Custodian from Subcustodians, Depositories, and Foreign Depositories. Such funds shall be in U.S. dollars or such other currency as the Fund may specify to Custodian.
(b) Any foreign exchange transaction effected by Custodian in connection with this Agreement may be entered with Custodian or a Custodian Affiliate acting as principal or otherwise through customary banking channels. The Fund may issue a standing Certificate or Instructions with respect to foreign exchange transactions, but Custodian may establish rules or limitations concerning any foreign exchange facility made available to the Fund. The Fund shall bear all risks of investing in Securities or holding cash denominated in a foreign currency.
(c) To the extent that Custodian has agreed to provide pricing or other information services in connection with this Agreement, Custodian is authorized to utilize any vendor (including brokers and dealers of Securities) reasonably believed by Custodian to be reliable to provide such information. The Fund understands that certain pricing information with respect to complex financial instruments ( e.g. , derivatives) may be based on calculated amounts rather than actual market transactions and may not reflect actual market values, and that the variance between such calculated amounts and actual market values may or may not be material. Where vendors do not provide information for particular Securities or other property, an Authorized Person may advise Custodian in a Certificate regarding the fair market value of, or provide other information with respect to, such Securities or property as determined by it in good faith. Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense incurred as a result of errors or omissions with respect to any pricing or other information utilized by Custodian hereunder.
10. Until such time as Custodian receives a certificate to the contrary with respect to a particular Security, Custodian may release the identity of the Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct communications between such issuer and shareholder.
ARTICLE
IV
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES;
CREDITS TO ACCOUNT
1. Promptly after each purchase or sale of Securities by the Fund, the Fund shall deliver or cause the Administrator to deliver to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions, or with respect to a purchase or sale of a Security generally required to be settled on the same day the purchase or sale is made. Oral Instructions specifying all information Custodian may reasonably request to
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settle such purchase or sale. Custodian shall account for all purchases and sales of Securities on the actual settlement date unless otherwise agreed by Custodian.
2. The Fund understands that when Custodian is instructed to deliver Securities against payment, delivery of such Securities and receipt of payment therefor may not be completed simultaneously. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, settlements, payments and deliveries of Securities may be effected by Custodian or any Subcustodian in accordance with the customary or established securities trading or securities processing practices and procedures in the jurisdiction in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivery to a purchaser or dealer therefor (or agent) against receipt with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Securities. The Fund assumes full responsibility for all risks, including, without limitation, credit risks, involved in connection with such deliveries of Securities.
3. Custodian may, as a matter of bookkeeping convenience or by separate agreement with the Fund, credit the Account with the proceeds from the sale, redemption or other disposition of Securities or interest, dividends or other distributions payable on Securities prior to its actual receipt of final payment therefor. All such credits shall be conditional until Custodians actual receipt of final payment and may be reversed by Custodian to the extent that final payment is not received. Payment with respect to a transaction will not be final until Custodian shall have received immediately available funds which under applicable local law, rule and/or practice are irreversible and not subject to any security interest, levy or other encumbrance, and which are specifically applicable to such transaction.
ARTICLE
V
OVERDRAFTS OR INDEBTEDNESS
1. If Custodian should in its sole discretion advance funds on behalf of any Series which results in an overdraft (including, without limitation, any day-light overdraft) because the money held by Custodian in an Account for such Series shall be insufficient to pay the total amount payable upon a purchase of Securities specifically allocated to such Series, as set forth in a Certificate, Instructions or Oral Instructions, or if an overdraft arises in the separate account of a Series for some other reason, including, without limitation, because of a reversal of a conditional credit or the purchase of any currency, or if the Fund is for any other reason indebted to Custodian with respect to a Series, including any indebtedness to The Bank of New York under the Funds Cash Management and Related Services Agreement (except a borrowing for investment or for temporary or emergency purposes using Securities as collateral pursuant to a separate agreement and subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this Article), such overdraft or indebtedness shall be deemed to be a loan made by Custodian to the Fund for such Series payable on demand and shall bear interest from the date incurred at a rate per annum ordinarily charged by Custodian to its institutional customers, as such rate may be adjusted from time to time. In addition the Fund hereby agrees that Custodian shall to the maximum extent permitted by law have a continuing lien, security interest, and security entitlement in and to any property, including, without limitation, any investment property or any financial asset, of such Series at any time held by Custodian for the benefit of such Series or in which such Series may have an interest which is then in Custodians possession or control or in possession or control of any third
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party acting in Custodians behalf. The Fund authorizes Custodian, in its sole discretion, at any time to charge any such overdraft or indebtedness together with interest due thereon against any balance of account standing to such Series credit on Custodians books.
2. If the Fund borrows money from any bank (including Custodian if the borrowing is pursuant to a separate agreement) for investment or for temporary or emergency purposes using Securities held by Custodian hereunder as collateral for such borrowings, the Fund shall deliver to Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each such borrowing: (a) the Series to which such borrowing relates; (b) the name of the bank, (c) the amount of the borrowing, (d) the time and date, if known, on which the loan is to be entered into, (e) the total amount payable to the Fund on the borrowing date, (f) the Securities to be delivered as collateral for such loan, including the name of the issuer, the tide and the number of shares or the principal amount of any particular Securities, and (g) a statement specifying whether such loan is for investment purposes or for temporary or emergency purposes and that such loan is in conformance with the 40 Act and the Funds prospectus. Custodian shall deliver on the borrowing date specified in a Certificate the specified collateral against payment by the lending bank of the total amount of the loan payable, provided that the same conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in the Certificate. Custodian may, at the option of the lending bank, keep such collateral in its possession, but such collateral shall be subject to all rights therein given the lending bank by virtue of any promissory note or loan agreement. Custodian shall deliver such Securities as additional collateral as may be specified in a Certificate to collateralize further any transaction described in this Section. The Fund shall cause all Securities released from collateral status to be returned directly to Custodian, and Custodian shall receive from time to time such return of collateral as may be tendered to it. In the event that the Fund fails to specify in a Certificate the Series, the name of the issuer, the title and number of shares or the principal amount of any particular Securities to be delivered as collateral by Custodian, Custodian shall not be under any obligation to deliver any Securities.
ARTICLE
VI
SALE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
1. Whenever the Fund shall sell any shares issued by the Fund (Shares) it shall deliver or cause the Administrator to deliver to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions specifying the amount of money and/or Securities to be received by Custodian for the sale of such Shares and specifically allocated to an Account for such Series.
2. Upon receipt of such money, Custodian shall credit such money to an Account in the name of the Series for which such money was received.
3. Except as provided hereinafter, whenever the Fund desires Custodian to make payment out of the money held by Custodian hereunder in connection with a redemption of any Shares, it shall furnish to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions specifying the total amount to be paid for such Shares. Custodian shall make payment of such total amount to the transfer agent specified in such Certificate or Instructions out of the money held in an Account of the appropriate Series.
- 10 -
4. Notwithstanding the above provisions regarding the redemption of any Shares, whenever any Shares are redeemed pursuant to any check redemption privilege which may from time to time be offered by the Fund, Custodian, unless otherwise instructed by a Certificate or Instructions, shall, upon presentment of such check, charge the amount thereof against the money held in the Account of the Series of the Shares being redeemed, provided, that if the Fund or its agent timely advises Custodian that such check is not to be honored, Custodian shall return such check unpaid.
ARTICLE
VII
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS
1. Whenever the Fund shall determine to pay a dividend or distribution on Shares it shall furnish or cause the Administrator to furnish to Custodian Instructions or a Certificate setting forth with respect to the Series specified therein the date of the declaration of such dividend or distribution, the total amount payable, and the payment date.
2. Upon the payment date specified in such Instructions or Certificate, Custodian shall pay out of the money held for the account of such Series the total amount payable to the dividend agent of the Fund specified therein.
ARTICLE
VIII
CONCERNING CUSTODIAN
1. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, Custodian shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims, including attorneys and accountants fees (collectively, Losses), incurred by or asserted against the Fund, except those Losses arising out of Custodians own negligence or willful misconduct. Custodian shall have no liability whatsoever for the action or inaction of any Depositories or of any Foreign Depositories, except in each case to the extent such action or inaction is a direct result of the Custodians failure to fulfill its duties hereunder. With respect to any Losses incurred by the Fund as a result of the acts or any failures to act by any Subcustodian (other than a Custodian Affiliate), Custodian shall take appropriate action to recover such Losses from such Subcustodian; and Custodians sole responsibility and liability to the Fund shall be limited to amounts so received from such Subcustodian (exclusive of costs and expenses incurred by Custodian). In no event shall Custodian be liable to the Fund or any third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits or loss of business, arising in connection with this Agreement, nor shall Custodian or any Subcustodian be liable: ( i ) for acting in accordance with any Certificate or Oral Instructions actually received by Custodian and reasonably believed by Custodian to be given by an Authorized Person; ( ii ) for conclusively presuming in good faith that all Instructions are given only by person(s) duly authorized; ( iii ) for conclusively presuming that all disbursements of cash directed by the Fund, whether by a Certificate, an Oral Instruction, or an Instruction, are in accordance with Section 2(i) of Article II hereof; ( iv ) for holding property in any particular country, including, but not limited to, Bosses resulting from nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions; regulation of the banking or securities industry; exchange or currency controls or restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations; availability of cash or Securities or market conditions which prevent the transfer of property or execution of Securities transactions or affect the value of property; ( v ) for any Losses due to forces beyond the control of Custodian,
- 11 -
including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, acts of war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, or interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; (vi) for the insolvency of any Subcustodian (other than a Custodian Affiliate), any Depository, or, except to the extent such action or inaction is a direct result of the Custodians failure to fulfill its duties hereunder, any Foreign Depository; or (vii) for any Losses arising from the applicability of any law or regulation now or hereafter in effect, or from the occurrence of any event, including, without limitation, implementation or adoption of any rules or procedures of a Foreign Depository, which may affect, limit, prevent or impose costs or burdens on, the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any currency or Composite Currency Unit in any country or on the transfer of any Securities, and in no event shall Custodian be obligated to substitute another currency for a currency (including a currency that is a component of a Composite Currency Unit) whose transferability, convertibility or availability has been affected, limited, or prevented by such law, regulation or event, and to the extent that any such law, regulation or event imposes a cost or charge upon Custodian in relation to the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any cash currency or Composite Currency Unit, such cost or charge shall be for the account of the Fund, and Custodian may treat any account denominated in an affected currency as a group of separate accounts denominated in the relevant component currencies.
(b) Custodian may enter into subcontracts, agreements and understandings with any Custodian Affiliate, whenever and on such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate to perform its services hereunder. No such subcontract, agreement or understanding shall discharge Custodian from its obligations hereunder.
(c) The Fund agrees to indemnify Custodian and hold Custodian harmless from and against any and all Losses sustained or incurred by or asserted against Custodian by reason of or as a result of any action or inaction, or arising out of Custodians performance in accordance with its standard of care hereunder, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel incurred by Custodian in a successful defense of claims by the Fund; provided however, that the Fund shall not indemnify Custodian for those Losses arising out of Custodians own negligence or willful misconduct. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement
2. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Custodian shall be under no obligation to inquire into, and shall not be liable for:
(a) Any Losses incurred by the Fund or any other person as a result of the receipt or acceptance in good faith of fraudulent, forged or invalid Securities, or Securities which are otherwise not freely transferable or deliverable without encumbrance in any relevant market;
(b) The validity of the issue of any Securities purchased, sold, or written by or for the Fund, the legality of the purchase, sale or writing thereof, or the propriety of the amount paid or received therefor;
(c) The legality of the sale or redemption of any Shares, or the propriety of the amount to be received or paid therefor;
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(d) The legality of the declaration or payment of any dividend or distribution by the Fund;
(e) The legality of any borrowing by the Fund;
(f) The legality of any loan of portfolio Securities, nor shall Custodian be under any duty or obligation to see to it that any cash or collateral delivered to it by a broker, dealer or financial institution or held by it at any time as a result of such loan of portfolio Securities is adequate security for the Fund against any loss it might sustain as a result of such loan, which duty or obligation shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund. In addition, Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to see that any broker, dealer or financial institution to which portfolio Securities of the Fund are lent makes payment to it of any dividends or interest which are payable to or for the account of the Fund during the period of such loan or at the termination of such loan, provided, however that Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund in the event that such dividends or interest are not paid and received when due;
(g) The sufficiency or value of any amounts of money and/or Securities held in any Special Account in connection with transactions by the Fund; whether any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member makes payment to the Fund of any variation margin payment or similar payment which the Fund may be entitled to receive from such broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member, or whether any payment received by Custodian from any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member is the amount the Fund is entitled to receive, or to notify the Fund of Custodians receipt or non-receipt of any such payment; or
(h) Whether any Securities at any time delivered to, or held by it or by any Subcustodian, for the account of the Fund and specifically allocated to a Series are such as properly may be held by the Fund or such Series under the provisions of its then current prospectus and statement of additional information, or to ascertain whether any transactions by the Fund, whether or not involving Custodian, are such transactions as may properly be engaged in by the Fund.
3. Custodian may, with respect to questions of law specifically regarding an Account, obtain the advice of counsel and shall be fully protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in good faith in conformity with such advice.
4. Custodian shall be under no obligation to take action to collect any amount payable on Securities in default, or if payment is refused after due demand and presentment.
5. Custodian shall have no duty or responsibility to inquire into, make recommendations, supervise, or determine the suitability of any transactions affecting any Account.
6. Custodian shall be entitled to receive and the Fund agrees to pay to Custodian all reasonable out of pocket expenses and such compensation as referenced in Appendix II between Custodian and the Fund. The Fund represents that the Administrator has agreed to pay such compensation and expenses promptly upon receipt of statements therefore, and hereby directs
- 13 -
Custodian to (i) send all statements for compensation to its attention care of Gemini Fund Services, LLC at the following address: 80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110, Hauppauge, New York 11788 (with a duplicate copy to the Fund at the address in Article X 3.), and (ii) accept all payments made by the Administrator Fund/Plan in the Funds name as if such payments were made directly by the Fund. Should the Administrator fail to pay or remit such compensation that is not in dispute to Custodian, Custodian will be entitled to debit the Custody Account directly for such compensation. The Custodian may charge such compensation and any expenses with respect to a Series incurred by Custodian in the performance of its duties pursuant to such agreement against any money specifically allocated to such Series. Unless and until the Fund or the Administrator instructs Custodian by a Certificate to apportion any loss, damage, liability or expense among the Series in a specified manner, Custodian shall also be entitled to charge against any money held by it for the account of a Series such Series pro rata share (based on such Series net asset value of all Series at that time) of the amount of any loss, damage, liability or expense, including counsel fees, for which it shall be entitled to reimbursement under the provisions of this Agreement. The expenses for which Custodian shall be entitled to reimbursement hereunder shall include, but are not limited to, the expenses of sub custodians and foreign branches of Custodian incurred in settling outside of New York City transactions involving the purchase and sale of Securities of the Fund.
7. Custodian has the right to debit any cash account for any amount payable by the Fund in connection with any and all obligations of the Fund to Custodian. In addition to the rights of Custodian under applicable law and other agreements, at any time when the Fund shall not have honored any of its obligations to Custodian, Custodian shall have the right without notice to the Fund to retain or set-off, against such obligations of the Fund, any Securities or cash Custodian or a Custodian Affiliate may directly or indirectly hold for the account of the Fund, and any obligations (whether matured or unmatured) that Custodian or a Custodian Affiliate may have to the Fund in any currency or Composite Currency Unit. Any such asset of, or obligation to, the Fund may be transferred to Custodian and any Custodian Affiliate in order to effect the above rights.
8. The Fund agrees to forward to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions confirming Oral Instructions by the close of business of the same day that such Oral Instructions are given to Custodian. The Fund agrees that the fact that such confirming Certificate or Instructions are not received or that a contrary Certificate or contrary Instructions are received by Custodian shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of transactions authorized by such Oral Instructions and effected by Custodian. If the Fund elects to transmit Instructions through an on-line communications system offered by Custodian, the Funds use thereof shall be subject to the Terms and Conditions attached as Appendix I hereto. If Custodian receives Instructions which appear on their face to have been transmitted by an Authorized Person via (i) computer facsimile, email, the Internet or other insecure electronic method, or (ii) secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys, the Fund understands and agrees that Custodian cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that Custodian shall conclusively presume that such Written Instructions have been sent by an Authorized Person, and the Fund shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Persons transmit such Instructions to Custodian. If the Fund elects (with Custodians prior consent) to transmit Instructions through an on-line communications service owned or
- 14 -
operated by a third party, the Fund agrees that Custodian shall not be responsible or liable for the reliability or availability of any such service.
9. The books and records pertaining to the Fund which are in possession of Custodian shall be the property of the Fund. Such books and records shall be prepared and maintained as required by the 40 Act and the rules thereunder. The Fund, or its authorized representatives, shall have access to such books and records during Custodians normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by Custodian to the Fund or its authorized representative. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, Custodian shall provide in hard copy or on computer disc any records included in any such delivery which are maintained by Custodian on a computer disc, or are similarly maintained.
10. It is understood that Custodian is authorized to supply any information regarding the Accounts which is required by any law, regulation or rule now or hereafter in effect. The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by the Custodian on the system of internal accounting control of a Depository, and with such reports on its own system of internal accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.
11. Custodian shall have no duties or responsibilities whatsoever except such duties and responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no covenant or obligation shall be implied against Custodian in connection with this Agreement.
ARTICLE
IX
TERMINATION
1. Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving to the other party a notice in writing specifying the date of such termination, which shall be not less than ninety (90) days after the date of giving of such notice. In the event such notice is given by the Fund, it shall be accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the board of the Fund, certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, electing to terminate this Agreement and designating a successor custodian or custodians, each of which shall be a bank or trust company having not less than $2,000,000 aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits. In the event such notice is given by Custodian, the Fund shall, on or before the termination date, deliver to Custodian a copy of a resolution of the board of the Fund, certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, designating a successor custodian or custodians. In the absence of such designation by the Fund, Custodian may designate a successor custodian which shall be a bank or trust company having not less than $2,000,000 aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits. Upon the date set forth in such notice this Agreement shall terminate, and Custodian shall upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor custodian on that date deliver directly to the successor custodian all Securities and money then owned by the Fund and held by it as Custodian, after deducting all fees, expenses and other amounts for the payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled.
2. If a successor custodian is not designated by the Fund or Custodian in accordance with the preceding Section, the Fund shall upon the date specified in the notice of termination of this Agreement and upon the delivery by Custodian of all Securities (other than Securities which cannot be delivered to the Fund) and money then owned by the Fund be deemed to be its own
- 15 -
custodian and Custodian shall thereby be relieved of all duties and responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement, other than the duty with respect to Securities which cannot be delivered to the Fund to hold such Securities hereunder in accordance with this Agreement.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
1. The Fund agrees to furnish to Custodian a new Certificate of Authorized Persons in the event of any change in the then present Authorized Persons. Until such new Certificate is received, Custodian shall be fully protected in acting upon Certificates or Oral Instructions of such present Authorized Persons.
2. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Custodian, shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Custodian and received by it at its offices at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, or at such other place as Custodian may from time to time designate in writing.
3. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the Fund shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Fund and received by it at its offices at 17605 Wright Street Suite 2. Omaha. NE 68130 , or at such other place as the Fund may from time to time designate in writing.
4. 4. In the event Custodian is advised by the Fund that the Fund is no longer utilizing the services of the Administrator, then Custodian shall furnish or give to the Fund, or such other administrator as the Fund may designate in writing to the Custodian, the statements or notices described above as to be furnished or given to the Administrator.
5. Each and every right granted to either party hereunder or under any other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, or allowed it by law or equity, shall be cumulative and may be exercised from time to time. No failure on the part of either party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise by either party of any right preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.
6. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any exclusive jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected thereby. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement executed by both parties, except that any amendment to the Schedule I hereto need be signed only by the Fund and any amendment to Appendix I hereto need be signed only by Custodian. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party without the written consent of the other.
7. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof. The Fund and
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Custodian hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a state or federal court situated in New York City, New York in connection with any dispute arising hereunder. The Fund hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Fund and Custodian each hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
8. The Fund hereby acknowledges that Custodian is subject to federal laws, including the Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements under the USA PATRIOT Act and its implementing regulations, pursuant to which Custodian must obtain, verify and record information that allows Custodian to identify the Fund. Accordingly, prior to opening an Account hereunder Custodian will ask the Fund to provide certain information including, but not limited to, the Funds name, physical address, tax identification number and other information that will help Custodian to identify and verify the Funds identity such as organizational documents, certificate of good standing, license to do business, or other pertinent identifying information. The Fund agrees that Custodian cannot open an Account hereunder unless and until Custodian verifies the Funds identity in accordance with its CIP.
9. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counteiparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and Custodian have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers, thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.
PREDEX |
||
By: |
|
|
J. Grayson Sanders | ||
Title: President | ||
Tax Identification No: 46-2228110 | ||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON | ||
By: |
|
|
Title | Managing Director | |
GEMINI FUND SERVICES, LLC | ||
By: |
|
|
James Ash | ||
Title: Senior Vice President |
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SCHEDULE I
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZED PERSONS
(The Fund - Oral and Written Instructions)
The undersigned hereby certifies that he/she is the duly elected and acting officer of PREDEX (the Fund), and further certifies that the following officers or employees of the Fund have been duly authorized in conformity with the Funds Declaration of Trust and By-Laws to deliver Certificates and Oral Instructions to The Bank of New York Mellon (Custodian) pursuant to the Custody Agreement between the Fund and Custodian dated May 10, 2013 and that the signatures appearing opposite their names are true and correct:
NAME | TITLE | SIGNATURE |
William Chadwick | Chief Executive Officer of the Trust | |
J. Grayson Sanders | President and Treasurer of the Trust ð |
|
Scott Lemmon | Manager, GFS – TA |
|
Michael Achterberg | Chief Financial Officer of the Adviser |
|
Sheila Haddock | Control Accountant, GFS – TA |
|
Bryan Kaminski | Control Accountant, GFS – TA |
|
Kim Pulverenti | Custody Administrator, GFS – TA |
|
Christian Daemon | Custody Administrator, GFS – TA |
|
Vicki Tode | Vice President, GFS Fund Accounting |
|
Daniel Schriever | GFS, Fund Accountant |
|
Michael McDermott | Senior Vice President, GFS Fund Accounting |
|
James R. Colantino | Senior Vice President, GFS Fund Administration |
|
Erik Naviloff | Vice President, GFS Fund Administration |
|
Dawn Borelli | A.V.P., GFS Fund Administration |
|
Richard Gleason | A.V.P., GFS Fund Administration |
|
This certificate supersedes any certificate of Authorized Persons you may currently have on file.
By: |
|
||
ð |
J.
Grayson Sanders
Title: President |
Date: May 10, 2013
SCHEDULE II
PREDEX
APPENDIX II
COMBINED CUSTODY FEE SCHEDULE
(COMBINED FEES OF BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AND GEMINI FUND SERVICES, LLC)
Safekeeping/Income Collection:
1.5 | basis points per annum on the first $100MM market value of each portfolio, |
1.0 | basis point per annum on the balance of each portfolio market value provided at month-end. |
Security Transaction Charges:
$ 3 | Internal Book-to-Book debit transaction |
$ 5 | Fed wire charges and Bank official check requests |
$ 5 | Book-entry settlements – DTC/FRB/PTC |
$ 15 | Book-entry P & I |
$ 15 | Physical settlements, options, and futures |
$ 5 | Paydowns |
$ 25 | Definitive security (physical – private placements) |
Foreign Settlements:
Attached listing of Countries.
Earnings credit on Balances/Interest on Overdrafts
Earnings credits are provided to each portfolio on 100% of the daily available balance on the domestic custodian account after reduction for Federal Reserve and other depository requirements, computed at the 90-day T-bill rate on the day of the balance.
Overdrafts, excluding bank errors, will cause a reduction of earnings credits daily, computed at 2% above the effective Federal Funds rate.
Credits and debits will be accumulated daily and offset monthly against the Banks safekeeping custodian fees. To the extent a net debit is accumulated, each portfolio will be billed for the expense. To the extent a net earnings credit is generated, such excess earnings credit can be carried forward until calendar year end or the Funds fiscal year end. Any credits remaining after that date will be forfeited.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Out-of-pocket expenses traditionally include, but are not limited to, Federal Reserve charges, postage and insurance on physical transfer items, attendance at closing, telecommunication charges, etc.
APPENDIX II
THE BANK OF NEW YORK FEE SCHEDULE
For the services described in this Custody Agreement, The Bank of New York receives a portion of the Fees stated in Appendix I above. The Bank of New Yorks portion of these fees is enumerated below.
CUSTODY SERVICES
Safekeeping/Income Collection:
3/4 | of one basis point per annum on the first $100mm market value of the portfolio, |
1/2 | of one basis point per annum on the next $400mm market value of the portfolio, |
1/4 | of one basis point per annum on the balance of the portfolio market value provided to us as month-end. |
* if portfolio assets were to reach $1 billion the following change to the asset based fees would apply:
1/4 of one basis point per annum on the entire portfolio market value provided to us as of month-end.
Security Transaction Charges
$ 2.25 | Internal Book-to-Book transaction |
$ 5 | Fed wire charges and Bank official check requests |
$ 5 | Book-entry settlements – DTC/FRB/PTC |
$15 | Book-Entry P & I |
$10 | Physical settlements, options, and futures |
$ 5 | Paydowns |
$ 25 | Definitive security (physical – private placements) |
Earnings Credit on Balances/Interest on Overdrafts :
Earnings credits are provided to each portfolio on 100% of the daily available balance in the domestic custodian account after reduction for Federal Reserve requirements, computed at the 90-day T- bill rate on the day of the balance.
Overdrafts, excluding bank errors, will cause a reduction of earnings credits daily, computed at 2% above the Federal Funds rate on the day of the overdraft.
Credits and debits will be accumulated daily and offset monthly against the Banks safekeeping custodian fees. To the extent a net debit is accumulated, each portfolio will be billed for the expense. To the extent a net earnings credit is generated, such excess earnings credit can be carried forward until calendar year end. Any credits remaining after that date will be forfeited.
Foreign Settlements
See attached listing of Countries.
Global Securities Fee Schedule
COUNTRY |
ADMINISTRATION/
SAFEKEEPING FEE (IN BASIS POINTS) * |
TRANSACTION
FEE
(US DOLLARS) |
||||
Argentina (Equities) | 22.0 | 60 | ||||
Argentina (Bonds) | 18.0 | 60 | ||||
Australia | 3.0 | 45 | ||||
Austria | 4.5 | 55 | ||||
Bahrain | 50.0 | 140 | ||||
Bangladesh | 50.0 | 165 | ||||
Belgium (Equities) | 3.5 | 50 | ||||
Belgium (Bonds) | 2.5 | 50 | ||||
Benin | 50.0 | 155 | ||||
Bermuda | 22.0 | 80 | ||||
Botswana | 45.0 | 150 | ||||
Bolivia | 60.0 | 150 | ||||
Brazil | 22.0 | 30 | ||||
Bulgaria | 45.0 | 95 | ||||
Burkina Faso | 50.0 | 155 | ||||
Canada | 2.0 | 18 | ||||
Channel Islands | 2.0 | 35 | ||||
Chile | 22.0 | 85 | ||||
China | 22.0 | 80 | ||||
Colombia | 50.0 | 115 | ||||
Costa Rica | 22.0 | 75 | ||||
Croatia | 35.0 | 85 | ||||
Cyprus | 22.0 | 65 | ||||
Czech Republic (Equities/Bonds) | 22.0 | 75 | ||||
Czech Republic (T-Bills) | 18.0 | 75 | ||||
Denmark | 3.5 | 55 | ||||
EASDAQ | 5.5 | 60 | ||||
Ecuador | 40.0 | 85 | ||||
Egypt | 45.0 | 115 | ||||
Estonia | 12.0 | 45 | ||||
Euromarkets (Euroclear - Eurobonds only) | 1.8 | 18 | ||||
Euromarkets (Clearstream - Eurobonds only) | 2.0 | 16 | ||||
Finland | 6.0 | 55 | ||||
France | 3.25 | 50 | ||||
Germany | 2.5 | 35 | ||||
Ghana | 45.0 | 150 | ||||
Greece (Equities) | 22.0 | 105 | ||||
Greece (Bonds) | 16.0 | 105 | ||||
Guinea Bissau | 50.0 | 155 | ||||
Hong Kong (Equities/Bonds) | 6.0 | 70 | ||||
Hong Kong (CMU Bonds) | 4.0 | 50 | ||||
Hungary (KELER - Equities) | 30.0 | 85 | ||||
Hungary (KELER - Bonds) | 30.0 | 65 |
COUNTRY |
ADMINISTRATION/
SAFEKEEPING FEE (IN BASIS POINTS) * |
TRANSACTION
FEE
(US DOLLARS) |
||||
Iceland | 28.0 | 80 | ||||
India (Dematerialized Securities) | 20.0 | 160 | ||||
India (Physical Securities) | 70.0 | 335 | ||||
Indonesia | 13.0 | 105 | ||||
Ireland (Equities/Bonds) | 3.75 | 40 | ||||
Israel | 22.0 | 50 | ||||
Italy | 3.25 | 55 | ||||
Ivory Coast | 50.0 | 155 | ||||
Jamaica | 45.0 | 75 | ||||
Japan | 2.5 | 25 | ||||
Jordan (Equities/Bonds) | 45.0 | 140 | ||||
Jordan (Govt Bonds) | 26.0 | 100 | ||||
Kazakhstan (Equities) | 60.0 | 150 | ||||
Kazakhstan (Bonds) | 40.0 | 160 | ||||
Kenya | 45.0 | 150 | ||||
Latvia | 55.0 | 70 | ||||
Lebanon (Equities/Bonds) | 50.0 | 140 | ||||
Lebanon (Govt Bonds) | 26.0 | 100 | ||||
Lithuania | 22.0 | 55 | ||||
Luxembourg | 5.5 | 55 | ||||
Malaysia | 6.0 | 65 | ||||
Mali | 50.0 | 155 | ||||
Malta | 22.0 | 75 | ||||
Mauritius | 35.0 | 135 | ||||
Mexico | 9.0 | 40 | ||||
Morocco | 40.0 | 115 | ||||
Namibia | 32.0 | 75 | ||||
Netherlands | 4.0 | 40 | ||||
New Zealand | 3.5 | 50 | ||||
Niger | 50.0 | 155 | ||||
Nigeria | 32.0 | 75 | ||||
Norway | 4.0 | 55 | ||||
Oman | 50.0 | 140 | ||||
Pakistan | 35.0 | 135 | ||||
Palestinian Autonomous Area | 50.0 | 140 | ||||
Panama | 65.0 | 85 | ||||
Peru | 40.0 | 90 | ||||
Philippines | 10.0 | 90 | ||||
Poland (Equities/Bonds) | 25.0 | 75 | ||||
Poland (T-Bills) | 12.0 | 75 | ||||
Portugal | 10.0 | 75 | ||||
Qatar | 45.0 | 140 | ||||
Romania | 45.0 | 85 | ||||
Russia (Equities) | 65.0 | 160 | ||||
Russia (MinFins) | 16.0 | 85 |
Out of Pocket Expenses:
Charges incurred by the Bank of New York for local taxes, stamp duties or other local duties and assessments, stock exchange fees, postage and insurance for shipping, facsimile reporting, extraordinary telecommunications fees or other unusual expenses, which are unique to the country of investment, will be passed along as incurred.
Third Party Foreign Exchange: $35.00 per transaction
Minimum Fee for use of our Global Network
$500 per month, per portfolio
Third Party Foreign Exchange Settlement
$25 per non-USD currency movement
Minimum Charges Imposed by Agent Banks/Local Administrators
Brazil | 15 basis points for annual administrative charges |
Chile | USD $17,500-$20,000 per annum minimum administration charge |
Columbia | USD $600 per month minimum administration charge |
Ecuador | USD $800 monthly minimum per relationship |
Egypt | USD $400 monthly minimum per relationship |
Additional Charges
Charges incurred by The Bank of New York Mellon for local taxes, stamp duties or other local duties and assessments stock exchange fees, postage and insurance for shipping, extraordinary telecommunication fees or their unusual expenses which are unique to a country in which our clients is investing will be in addition to the stated fees.
APPENDIX III
GEMINI FUND SERVICES, LLC
CUSTODY ADMINISTRATION SERVICES AND FEES
For the services described below, Gemini Fund Services, LLC receives a portion of the Fees stated in Appendix II above. Geminis portion of these fees is enumerated below.
CUSTODY ADMINISTRATION SERVICES:
As Custody Administrator, Gemini Fund Services, LLC shall: | ||
a) | input and verify portfolio trades | |
b) | monitor pending and failed security trades | |
c) | coordinate communications between brokers and Funds to resolve any operation problems | |
d) | advise the Trust of any corporate action information, address and follow up on any dividend or interest discrepancies | |
e) | process the Trusts expenses | |
f) | interface with the accounting services provider and the transfer agent to research and resolve Custody cash problems | |
g) | provide daily and monthly reports | |
h) | affirm portfolio trades |
CUSTODY ADMINISTRATION FEES:
Safekeeping/Income Collection:
3/4 | of one basis points per annum on the first $100MM market value of each portfolio, |
1/2 | of one basis points per annum of the next $400MM market value of each portfolio, |
3/4 | of one basis point per annum on the balance of each portfolio market value provided to us as month-end. |
Security Transaction Charges
$ 0.75 | Internal Book-to-Book debit transaction |
$ 0 | Fed wire charges and Bank official check requests |
$ 0 | Book-entry settlements - DTC/FRB/PTC |
$ 0 | Book-entry P & I |
$ 5 | Physical settlements, options, and futures |
$ 0 | Paydowns |
$ 0 | Definitive security (physical - private placements) |
Foreign Settlements
No additional fees for foreign settlements
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Charges incurred by the Gemini for postage and insurance for shipping, facsimiles, extraordinary telecommunications fees or other unusual expenses will be passed along as incurred.
Billing Cycle
The above fees will be billed on a monthly basis.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
The Bank of New York Mellon | PREDEX | ||
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Wm. Blaterford | J. Grayson Sanders, President | ||
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Attested to and Agreed by Gemini Fund Services, LLC | |||
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Kevin Wolf, President |
By-Laws
of
PREDEX
as amended August 3, 2016
ARTICLE 1
Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Offices
1.1 Agreement and Declaration of Trust . These By-Laws shall be subject to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as from time to time in effect (the "Declaration of Trust"), of PREDEX, the Delaware statutory trust established by the Declaration of Trust (the "Trust").
Offices . The Trust may maintain one or more other offices, including its principal office, in or outside of Delaware, in such cities as the Trustees may determine from time to time. Unless the Trustees otherwise determine, the principal office of the Trust shall be located at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130.
ARTICLE 2
Meetings of Trustees
2.1 Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at such places and at such times as the Trustees may from time to time determine, provided that notice of the first regular meeting following any such determination shall be given to absent Trustees. A regular meeting of the Trustees may be held without call or notice immediately after and at the same place as any meeting of the shareholders.
2.2 Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Trustees may be held at any time and at any place designated in the call of the meeting when called by the Chairman of the Board, President or the Treasurer or by two or more other Trustees, sufficient notice thereof being given to each Trustee by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by the officer or the Trustees calling the meeting.
2.3 Notice . It shall be sufficient notice to a Trustee of a special meeting to send notice by mail at least forty-eight hours before the meeting addressed to the Trustee at his or her usual or last known business or residence address or to give notice to him or her in person or by telephone or facsimile or email at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Trustee if a written waiver of notice, executed by him or her before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Trustee who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her. Neither notice of a meeting nor a waiver of a notice need specify the purposes of the meeting.
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2.4 Quorum . At any meeting of the Trustees a majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
2.5 Participation by Telephone . One or more of the Trustees or of any committee of the Trust may participate in a meeting thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar Communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting except as otherwise provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
2.6 Action by Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Trustees or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if a written consent of such action is signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office or a majority of the members of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Trustees or such committee.
ARTICLE 3
Officers
3.1 Enumeration and Qualification . The officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Chief Compliance Officer, a Treasurer, a Secretary and such other officers, including Vice Presidents, if any, as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion elect. The Trust also may have such agents as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion appoint. Any officer may be, but need not be, a Trustee or shareholder. The same person may hold any two or more offices.
3.2 Election . The President, the Treasurer and the Secretary shall be elected by the Trustees. The Chief Compliance Officer must be appointed by the Trustees, including a majority of the independent Trustees, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Independent Trustees"). Other officers, if any, may be elected or appointed by the Trustees at any time. Vacancies in any office may be filled at any time, provided, however, that filling a vacancy in the office of Chief Compliance Officer must be approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees.
3.3 Tenure . The officers shall hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified, or in each case until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each officer shall hold office and each agent shall retain authority at the pleasure of the Trustees.
3.4 Powers . Subject to the other provisions of these By-Laws, each officer shall have, in addition to the duties and powers herein and in the Declaration of Trust set forth, such duties and powers as are commonly incident to the office occupied by
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him or her as if the Trust were organized as a Delaware business corporation and such other duties and powers as the Trustees may from time to time designate.
3.5 President or Chairman of the Board . Unless the Trustees otherwise provide, the President, Chairman of the Board or in the absence of the President or Chairman of the Board , any other Trustee chosen by the Trustees, shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Trustees. The President shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees. The President of the Trust will be the principal executive officer of the Trust.
3.6 Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust will be responsible for administering its compliance policies and procedures, shall have sufficient authority and independence within the organization to compel others to adhere to the compliance policies and procedures, shall report directly to the Board of Trustees, shall annually furnish a written report on the operation of the compliance policies and procedures to the Board of Trustees and shall perform such other duties as prescribed by the Board of Trustees.
3.7 Treasurer . The Treasurer shall be the principal financial officer, chief financial officer and chief accounting officer of the Trust, and shall, subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and to any arrangement made by the Trustees with a custodian, investment adviser or manager, or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, be in charge of the valuable papers, books of account and accounting records of the Trust, and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or by the President.
3.8 Secretary . The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the shareholders and the Trustees in books to be kept therefor, which books or a copy thereof shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust. In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the shareholders or Trustees, an assistant secretary, or if there be none or if he or she is absent, a temporary secretary chosen at such meeting shall record the proceedings thereof in the aforesaid books.
3.9 Resignations and Removals . Any Trustee or officer may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to the President or the Secretary or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. The Trustees may remove any officer elected by them with or without cause, provided, however, that removal of the Chief Compliance Officer will require approval of the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee or officer resigning and no officer removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.
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ARTICLE 4
Committees
4.1 General . The Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office, may elect from their number an Executive Committee or other committees and may delegate thereto some or all of their powers except those which by law, by the Declaration of Trust, or by these By-Laws may not be delegated. Except as the Trustees may otherwise determine, any such committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the Trustees or in such rules, its business shall be conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided by these By-Laws for the Trustees themselves. All members of such committees shall hold such offices at the pleasure of the Trustees. The Trustees may abolish any such committee at any time. Any committee to which the Trustees delegate any of their powers or duties shall keep records of its meetings and shall report its action to the Trustees. The Trustees shall have power to rescind any action of any committee, but no such rescission shall have retroactive effect.
ARTICLE 5
Reports
5.1 General . The Trustees and officers shall render reports at the time and in the manner required by the Declaration of Trust or any applicable law. Officers and Committees shall render such additional reports as they may deem desirable or as may from time to time be required by the Trustees.
ARTICLE 6
Fiscal Year
6.1 General . The fiscal year of the Trust shall be fixed by, and shall be subject to change by, the Trustees or officers.
ARTICLE 7
Seal
7.1 General . If required by applicable law, the seal of the Trust shall consist of a flat-faced die with the word "Delaware", together with the name of the Trust and the year of its organization cut or engraved thereon, but, unless otherwise required by the Trustees, the seal shall not be necessary to be placed on, and its absence shall not impair the validity of, any document, instrument or other paper executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE 8
Execution of Papers
8.1 General . Except as the Trustees may generally or in particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases, contracts, notes and other obligations made by the Trustees shall be signed by the President, any
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Vice President, the Secretary or by the Treasurer and need not bear the seal of the Trust.
ARTICLE 9
Issuance of Share Certificates
9.1 Share Certificates . In lieu of issuing certificates for shares, the Trustees or the transfer agent may either issue receipts therefor or may keep accounts upon the books of the Trust for the record holders of such shares, who shall in either case be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be the holders of certificates for such shares as if they had accepted such certificates and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof.
The Trustees may at any time authorize the issuance of share certificates. In that event, each shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate stating the number of shares owned by him, in such form as shall be prescribed from time to time by the Trustees. Such certificate shall be signed by the President or a Vice-President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures may be facsimiles if the certificate is signed by a transfer agent, or by a registrar, other than a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall cease to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if he were such officer at the time of its issue.
9.2 Loss of Certificates . In case of the alleged loss or destruction or the mutilation of a share certificate, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Trustees shall prescribe.
9.3 Issuance of New Certificate to Pledgee . In the event certificates have been issued, a pledgee of shares transferred as collateral security shall be entitled to a new certificate if the instrument of transfer substantially describes the debt or duty that is intended to be secured thereby. Such new certificate shall express on its face that it is held as collateral security, and the name of the pledgor shall be stated thereon, who alone shall be liable as a shareholder, and entitled to vote thereon.
9.4 Discontinuance of Issuance of Certificates . The Trustees may at any time discontinue the issuance of share certificates and may, by written notice to each shareholder, require the surrender of share certificates to the Trust for cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not affect the ownership of shares in the Trust.
ARTICLE 10
Custodian
10.1 General . The Trust shall at all times employ a bank or trust company having a capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least Five Hundred Thousand ($500,000) Dollars as Custodian of the capital assets of the Trust. The Custodian shall
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be compensated for its services by the Trust and upon such basis as shall be agreed upon from time to time between the Trust and the Custodian.
ARTICLE 11
Dealings with Trustees and Officers
11.1 General . Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of shares of the Trust to the same extent as if he were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may accept subscriptions to shares or repurchase shares from any firm or company in which he is interested.
ARTICLE 12
Shareholders
12.1 Meetings . A meeting of the shareholders of the Trust shall be held whenever called by the Trustees, whenever election of a Trustee or Trustees by shareholders is required by the provisions of Section 16(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for that purpose or whenever otherwise required pursuant to the Declaration of Trust. Any meeting shall be held on such day and at such time as the President or the Trustees may fix in the notice of the meeting.
12.2 Record Dates . For the purpose of determining the shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a time, which shall be not more than 180 days before the date of any meeting of shareholders or the date for the payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, as the record date for determining the shareholders having the right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof or the right to receive such dividend or distribution, and in such case only shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right, notwithstanding any transfer of shares on the books of the Trust after the record date; or without fixing such record date the Trustees may for any such purposes close the register or transfer books for all or any part of such period.
ARTICLE 13
Amendments to the By-Laws
13.1 General . These By-Laws may be amended or repealed, in whole or in part, by a majority of the Trustees then in office at any meeting of the Trustees, or by one or more writings signed by such a majority.
Expense Limitation Agreement
To : PREDEX
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2
Omaha , NE 68130
Dear Board Members:
You have engaged us to act as the sole in vest ment adviser to PREDEX (the " Trust " or the " Fund "), pursuant to a Management Agreement dated on or about April 7, 2016.
Effective until at l east August 31, 2017, we agree to waive our fees and to pay or absorb the ordinary annual operating expenses of the Fund (including offering and organizational expenses, but excluding interest (if any), brokerage commissions (if any), acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses), to the extent that they exceed 1.20% per annum of th e Fund's average daily net assets.
Additionally, this Expense Limitation Agreement may not be ter minated by PREDEX Capital Management, LLC, but may be terminated by the Fund's Boa r d of Trustees, on written notice to PREDEX Capital Management, LLC. This Ag reement will automatically terminate, with respect to the Fund if the Management Ag reeme nt for the Fund is terminated. Any waiver or reimbursement by us is subject to re payment by t he Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expenses were incurred, if the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding its current expense limitation. The right to repayment shall survive termination of the Managemen t Agreement, unless waived by PREDEX Capital Management, LLC.
PREDEX Capital Management, LLC
By: /s/________________
J. Grayson Sanders
Managing Principal
Date: August 3, 2016
Acceptance: PREDEX
By: /s/______________
J. Grayson Sanders
President
Date: August 3, 2016
August 24, 2016
PREDEX
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2
Omaha, NE 68130
Dear Board Members:
A legal opinion (the "Legal Opinion") that we prepared was filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the PREDEX Registration Statement. We hereby give you our consent to incorporate by reference the Legal Opinion into Post-Effective Amendment No.2 under the Securities Act of 1933 (Amendment No. 5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) (the "Amendment") and consent to all references to us in the Amendment.
Very truly yours,
/s/ THOMPSON HINE LLP
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement (No. 333-186987) on Form N-2 of our report dated June 28, 2016, relating to our audit of the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in the April 30, 2016 Annual Report to Shareholders of PREDEX, which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
We also consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Financial Highlights" and "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in such Registration Statement.
/s/ RSM US LLP
Denver, Colorado
August 23, 2016
NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC
Code of Ethics
NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC Code of Ethics
February 1, 2016 to Current
Table of Contents
1 - Statement of General Policy
2 - Definitions
3 - Standards of Business Conduct
4 - Prohibition Against Insider Trading
5 - Personal Securities Transactions
6 - Gifts and Entertainment
7 - Protecting the Confidentiality of Client Information
8 - Service as a Director
9 - Compliance Procedures
10 - Certification
11 - Records
12 - Reporting Violations and Sanctions
Statement of General Policy
This Code of Ethics (this “Code”) has been adopted by NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC and its affiliated companies (refer to the attached Schedule A, “Schedule of Affiliated Companies” for a list of affiliated companies to which this Code applies, collectively, “NorthStar”), including, specifically CLS Investments, LLC, a registered investment adviser and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and is designed to comply with Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
This Code establishes rules of conduct for all employees of NorthStar and is designed to, among other things, govern personal securities trading activities in the accounts of employees. The general ethical principles and personal securities reporting provisions of this Code apply to all employees of NorthStar, although many provisions of this Code are written to specifically address the duties and obligations of employees of CLS Investments, LLC and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC under the Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act. This Code is based upon the principle that NorthStar and its employees owe a fiduciary duty to their clients to conduct their affairs, including their personal securities transactions, in such a manner as to avoid (i) serving their own personal interests ahead of clients, (ii) taking inappropriate advantage of their position with their respective company and (iii) any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of their position of trust and responsibility.
This Code is designed to ensure that the high ethical standards long maintained by NorthStar continue to be applied. The purpose of this Code is to preclude activities which may lead to or give the appearance of conflicts of interest, insider trading and other forms of prohibited or unethical business conduct. The excellent name and reputation of NorthStar continues to be a direct reflection of the conduct of each employee.
With respect to any Fund serviced by NorthStar, this Code prohibits all NorthStar employees from engaging in the following activities in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a Security held or to be acquired by a Fund:
1. Employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Fund;
2. Making any untrue statement of a material fact to the Fund or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to the Fund, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
3. Engaging in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on the Fund; or
4. Engaging in any manipulative practice with respect to the Fund.
Pursuant to Section 206 of the Advisers Act, both NorthStar and its employees are prohibited from engaging in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative conduct.
Compliance with this section involves more than acting with honesty and good faith alone. It means, where applicable, that NorthStar has an affirmative duty of utmost good faith to act solely in the best interest of its clients.
NorthStar and its employees are subject to the following specific fiduciary obligations when dealing with clients:
· | The duty to have a reasonable, independent basis for the investment advice provided; |
· | The duty to obtain best execution for a client’s transactions where NorthStar is in a position to direct brokerage transactions for the client; |
· | The duty to ensure that investment advice is suitable to meeting the client’s individual objectives, needs and circumstances; and |
· | The duty to be loyal to clients. |
In meeting any fiduciary responsibilities to its clients, NorthStar expects every employee to demonstrate the highest standards of ethical conduct for continued employment with NorthStar. Strict compliance with the provisions of the Code shall be considered a basic condition of employment. NorthStar's reputation for fair and honest dealing with its clients has taken considerable time to build. This standing could be seriously damaged as the result of even a single Securities transaction being considered questionable in light of the fiduciary duty owed to our clients. Employees of NorthStar are urged to seek the advice of the Chief Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the “Chief Compliance Officer”) who is responsible for administration of this Code, for any questions about this Code or the application of this Code to their individual circumstances. Employees should also understand that a material breach of the provisions of this Code may constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including termination of employment with NorthStar. In performing his duties hereunder, the Chief Compliance Officer may utilize resources and share information among compliance and legal personnel across the NorthStar group of affiliated companies.
The provisions of this Code are not all-inclusive. Rather, they are intended as a guide for employees of NorthStar in their conduct. In those situations where an employee may be uncertain as to the intent or purpose of the Code, he/she is advised to consult with the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer may grant exceptions to certain provisions contained in the Code only in those situations when it is clear beyond dispute that the interests of our clients will not be adversely affected or compromised. All questions arising in connection with personal securities trading should be resolved in favor of the client even at the expense of the interests of employees.
The Chief Compliance Officer will periodically report to senior management of NorthStar, CLS Investments, LLC and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC to document compliance with this Code.
NorthStar has engaged Schwab Compliance Technologies, Inc. (“Schwab CT”, f/k/a Compliance11) which provides an automated system for administration of the Code. The Schwab CT system provides a means of making all reports and certifications required under the Code in an electronic format. The Schwab CT system will send automatic reminders via email to all persons covered by the Code in order to ensure deadlines are not missed. Should you have any questions about the Code or the Schwab CT system, please contact the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.
Definitions
For the purposes of this Code, the following definitions shall apply:
· | “Access Person” means any Supervised Person who: has access to nonpublic information regarding any clients’ purchase or sale of Securities, or nonpublic information regarding |
the portfolio holdings of any Fund NorthStar or its control affiliates manage; or is involved in making Securities recommendations to clients.
· | “Account” means accounts of any employee and includes accounts of the employee’s Family Members and any account in which he or she has a direct beneficial interest, such as trusts and custodial accounts or other accounts in which the employee exercises influence or control or has investment discretion. |
· | “Automatic Investment Plan” means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An Automatic Investment Plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan. |
· | “Beneficial Ownership” shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in determining whether a person is the beneficial owner of a Security for purposes of Section 16 of such Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Generally, “Beneficial Ownership” means ownership of Securities or Securities accounts by or for the benefit of a person, or such person’s “Family Member,” including any account in which the person or family member of that person holds a direct or indirect beneficial interest, retains discretionary investment authority or exercises a power of attorney. |
· | “Control” means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of NorthStar. See Section 2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act. |
· | “Family Member” means any person’s spouse, child or other relative, whether related by blood, marriage, or otherwise, who either resides with, is financially dependent upon, or whose investments are controlled by that person. The term also includes any unrelated individual whose investments are controlled and whose financial support is materially contributed to by that person, such as a “significant other.” |
· | “Fund” means an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act. |
· | “Initial Public Offering” means an offering of Securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
· | “Investment Personnel” means (1) any employee of NorthStar (or of any company in a Control relationship to NorthStar) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of Securities, and (2) any natural person who Controls NorthStar and who obtains information concerning recommendations made regarding the purchase or sale of Securities. |
· | “Limited Offering” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) or pursuant to Rule 504, 505 or 506 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
· | “Reportable Security” means any security as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Advisers Act, except that it does not include: (i) transactions and holdings in direct obligations of the Government of the United States; (ii) bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and other high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; (iii) shares issued by money market funds; (iv) transactions and holdings in shares of other types of open-end registered mutual funds, other than exchange-traded funds (ETFs), unless NorthStar or a Control affiliate acts as the investment adviser, principal underwriter, fund accountant or fund administrator for the Fund (these Funds are flagged in the Schwab CT system); (v) transactions in units of a unit investment trust if the unit investment trust is invested exclusively in mutual funds, unless NorthStar or a Control affiliate acts as the investment adviser or principal underwriter for the Fund; (vi) transactions and holdings in the 401(k) plan offered through NorthStar; and (vii) transactions and holdings in a spouse’s retirement plan controlled by the spouse’s employer, provided the employee does not participate in the investment decisions or provide any advice with respect to the allocation of such Account. |
· | “Security” means any note, stock, treasury stock, security future, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre-organization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security (including a certificate of deposit) or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security”, or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guaranty of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing. See Section 202(a)(18) of the Advisers Act. |
· | “Supervised Person” means managers, officers and partners of NorthStar (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions); employees of NorthStar; independent contractors accessing non-public information regarding NorthStar’s clients during such contractor’s engagement with NorthStar; and any other person who provides advice on behalf of NorthStar and is subject to NorthStar's supervision and control. |
Standards of Business Conduct
NorthStar places the highest priority on maintaining its reputation for integrity and professionalism. That reputation is a vital business asset. The confidence and trust placed in NorthStar and its employees by our clients is something we value and endeavor to protect. The
following Standards of Business Conduct set forth policies and procedures to achieve these goals. This Code is intended to comply with the various provisions of the Advisers Act and also requires that all Supervised Persons comply with the various applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Section 204A of the Advisers Act requires the establishment and enforcement of policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of material, nonpublic information by investment advisers. Such policies and procedures are contained in this Code. This Code also contains policies and procedures with respect to personal securities transactions of all Supervised Persons as defined herein. These procedures cover transactions in a Reportable Security in which a Supervised Person has Beneficial Ownership in or Accounts over which the Supervised Person exercises control as well as transactions by the Supervised Person’s Family Members.
Section 206 of the Advisers Act makes it unlawful to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud any client or prospective client, or to engage in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative practices. This Code contains provisions that prohibit these and other enumerated activities and that are reasonably designed to detect and prevent violations of this Code and applicable securities laws and rules thereunder.
Prohibition Against Insider Trading
Introduction
Trading Securities while in possession of material, nonpublic information, or improperly communicating that information to others may expose Supervised Persons and NorthStar to stringent penalties. Criminal sanctions may include significant fines and/or imprisonment. The SEC can recover the profits gained or losses avoided through the illegal trading, impose a penalty of up to three times the illicit windfall, and/or issue an order permanently barring you from the securities industry. Finally, Supervised Persons and NorthStar may be sued by investors seeking to recover damages for insider trading violations.
The rules contained in this Code apply to Securities trading and information handling by Supervised Persons and their Family Members.
The law of insider trading is unsettled and continuously developing. An individual legitimately may be uncertain about the application of the rules contained in this Code in a particular circumstance. Often, a single question can avoid disciplinary action or complex legal problems. You must notify the Chief Compliance Officer immediately if you have any reason to believe that a violation of this Code has occurred or is about to occur.
General Policy
No Supervised Person may trade, either personally or on behalf of others (such as investment funds and private accounts managed by NorthStar) (“Client Accounts”), while in the possession of material, nonpublic information, nor may any personnel of NorthStar communicate material, nonpublic information to others in violation of the law.
1. What is Material Information?
Information is material where there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions. Generally, this includes any information the disclosure of which will have a substantial effect on the price of a company’s Securities. No simple test exists to determine when information is material; assessments of materiality involve a highly fact-specific inquiry. For this reason, you should direct any questions about whether information is material to the Chief Compliance Officer.
Material information often relates to a company’s results and operations, including, for example, dividend changes, earnings results, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems, and extraordinary management developments.
Material information also may relate to the market for a company’s Securities. Information about a significant order to purchase or sell Securities may, in some contexts, be material. Prepublication information regarding reports in the financial press also may be material. For example, the United States Supreme Court upheld the criminal convictions of insider trading defendants who capitalized on prepublication information about The Wall Street Journal’s “Heard on the Street” column.
You should also be aware of the SEC’s position that the term “material nonpublic information” relates not only to issuers but also to NorthStar's Securities recommendations and client Securities holdings and transactions.
2. What is Nonpublic Information?
Information is “public” when it has been disseminated broadly to investors in the marketplace. For example, information is public after it has become available to the general public through a public filing with the SEC or some other government agency, the Dow Jones “tape” or The Wall Street Journal or some other publication of general circulation and after sufficient time has passed so that the information has been disseminated widely.
3. Identifying Inside Information
Before executing any trade for yourself or others, including Client Accounts, you must determine whether you have access to material, nonpublic information. If you think that you might have access to material, nonpublic information, you should take the following steps:
· | Report the information and proposed trade immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer. |
· | Do not purchase or sell the Securities on behalf of yourself or others, including Client Accounts. |
· | Do not communicate the information inside or outside NorthStar, other than to the Chief Compliance Officer. |
· | After the Chief Compliance Officer has reviewed the issue and consulted with legal counsel as necessary, NorthStar will determine whether the information is material and nonpublic and, if so, what action NorthStar will take. |
You should consult with the Chief Compliance Officer before taking any action. This degree of caution will protect you, our clients, and NorthStar.
4. Contacts with Public Companies
Contacts with public companies may represent an important part of our research efforts. NorthStar may make investment decisions on the basis of conclusions formed through such contacts and analysis of publicly available information. Difficult legal issues arise, however, when, in the course of these contacts, a Supervised Person of NorthStar or other person subject to this Code becomes aware of material, nonpublic information.
This could happen, for example, if a company’s Chief Financial Officer prematurely discloses quarterly results to an analyst, or an investor relations representative makes selective disclosure of adverse news to a handful of investors. In such situations, NorthStar must make a judgment as to its further conduct. To protect yourself, your clients and NorthStar, you should contact the Chief Compliance Officer immediately if you believe that you may have received material, nonpublic information.
5. Tender Offers
Tender offers represent a particular concern in the law of insider trading for two reasons: First, tender offer activity often produces extraordinary gyrations in the price of the target company’s Securities. Trading during this time period is more likely to attract regulatory attention (and produces a disproportionate percentage of insider trading cases). Second, the SEC has adopted a rule which expressly forbids trading and “tipping” while in the possession of material, nonpublic information regarding a tender offer received from the tender offeror, the target company or anyone acting on behalf of either. Supervised Persons of NorthStar and others subject to this Code should exercise extreme caution any time they become aware of nonpublic information relating to a tender offer.
6. Restricted/Watch Lists
Although NorthStar does not typically receive confidential information from portfolio companies, it may, if it receives such information take appropriate procedures to establish restricted or watch lists in certain Securities.
Personal Securities Transactions
General Policy
The following principles governing personal investment activities by Supervised Persons have been adopted:
· | The interests of client accounts will at all times be placed first; |
· | All personal Securities transactions will be conducted in such manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of an individual’s position of trust and responsibility; and |
· | Supervised Persons must not take inappropriate advantage of their positions. |
Pre-Clearance Required for Participation in IPO’s
No Supervised Person shall acquire any Beneficial Ownership in any Securities in an Initial Public Offering for his or her account, as defined herein without the prior written approval of the compliance department after being provided with full details of the proposed transaction (including written certification that the investment opportunity did not arise by virtue of the Supervised Person’s activities on behalf of a client) and, if approved, will be subject to continuous monitoring for possible future conflicts.
Pre-Clearance Required for Private or Limited Offerings
No Supervised Person shall acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Securities in a Limited Offering or private placement without the prior written approval of the compliance department who has been provided with full details of the proposed transaction (including written certification that the investment opportunity did not arise by virtue of the Supervised Person’s activities on behalf of a client) and, if approved, will be subject to continuous monitoring for possible future conflicts.
Blackout Periods
No Investment Personnel shall purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any Security in which he or she has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial interest within seven (7) calendar days of the purchase or sale of the same Security by a NorthStar client under such Investment Personnel’s supervision or a NorthStar client for whom such Investment Personnel otherwise participates in decision making or obtains information in connection with the purchase or sale of Securities. (For example, if a NorthStar client trades in a Security on day one, day eight is the first day the Investment Personnel may trade in such Security for an account he or she has Beneficial Ownership.) In the event a Securities transaction is executed in a NorthStar client account within seven (7) calendar days after an Investment Personnel executed a transaction in the same Security, the Chief Compliance Officer, or his designee, will review such Investment Personnel’s and the client’s transactions to determine whether any fiduciary duties to the client have been violated.
Interested Transactions
No Supervised Person shall recommend any Securities transactions for a client without having disclosed his or her interest, if any, in such Securities or the issuer thereof, including without limitation:
· | any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership of any Securities of such issuer; |
· | any contemplated transaction by such person in such Securities; |
· | any position with such issuer or its affiliates; and |
· | any present or proposed business relationship between such issuer or its affiliates and such person or any party in which such person has a significant interest. |
Gifts and Entertainment
Giving, receiving or soliciting gifts or entertainment in a business setting may create an appearance of impropriety or may raise a potential conflict of interest. NorthStar has adopted the policies set forth below to guide Supervised Persons in this area.
General Policy
NorthStar's policy with respect to gifts and entertainment is as follows:
· | Access Persons should not accept or provide any gifts, entertainment or favors that might influence the decisions the Access Persons or the recipients must make in business transactions involving NorthStar, or that others might reasonably believe would influence those decisions. |
· | Modest gifts and favors, which would not be regarded by others as improper, may be accepted or given on an occasional basis. Entertainment that satisfies these requirements and conforms to generally accepted business practices also is permissible. |
· | Where there is a law or rule that applies to the conduct of a particular business or the acceptance of gifts or entertainment of even nominal value, the law or rule must be followed. |
Reporting Requirements
· | Any Access Person who accepts, directly or indirectly, anything of value (other than attendance fees or travel related reimbursements in connection with the participation at an industry related conference or seminar) from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of NorthStar, including gifts and gratuities with value in excess of $100 per year, must obtain consent from the compliance department before accepting such gift. Such consent must be requested and tracked through the Schwab CT reporting system. In the event the circumstances do not permit you to obtain consent prior to accepting such gift, you must notify the compliance department as promptly as possible. |
· | This reporting requirement does not apply to bona fide dining if, during such dining, you are accompanied by the person or representative of the entity that does business with NorthStar. |
· | This reporting requirement applies to all entertainment, regardless of whether you are accompanied by the person or representative of the entity that does business with NorthStar. |
· | This gift reporting requirement is for the purpose of helping NorthStar monitor the activities of its employees. However, the reporting of a gift does not relieve any Access Person from the obligations and policies set forth in this Section or anywhere else in this Code. If you have any questions or concerns about the appropriateness of any gift, please consult the compliance department. |
Protecting the Confidentiality of Client Information
Confidential Client Information
In the course of providing its services NorthStar gains access to non-public information about its clients. Such information may include a person's status as a client, personal financial and account information, the allocation of assets in a client portfolio, the composition of investments in any client portfolio, information relating to services performed for or transactions entered into on behalf of clients, advice provided by NorthStar to clients, and data or analyses derived from such non-public personal information (collectively referred to as “Confidential Client Information”). All Confidential Client Information, whether relating to NorthStar's current or former clients, is subject to this Code's policies and procedures. Any doubts about the confidentiality of information must be resolved in favor of confidentiality.
Non-Disclosure Of Confidential Client Information
All information regarding NorthStar's clients is confidential. Information may only be disclosed when the disclosure is consistent with NorthStar's policies and the client's direction. NorthStar does not share Confidential Client Information with any third parties, except in the following circumstances:
· | As necessary to provide service that the client requested or authorized, or to maintain and service the client's account. NorthStar will require that any financial intermediary, agent or other service provider utilized by NorthStar (such as broker-dealers or sub-advisers) comply with substantially similar standards for non-disclosure and protection of Confidential Client Information and use the information provided by NorthStar only for the performance of the specific service requested by NorthStar; |
· | As required by regulatory authorities or law enforcement officials who have jurisdiction over NorthStar, or as otherwise required by any applicable law. In the event NorthStar is compelled to disclose Confidential Client Information, NorthStar shall provide prompt notice to the clients affected, so that the clients may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy. If no protective order or other appropriate remedy is obtained, NorthStar shall disclose only such information, and only in such detail, as is legally required; or |
· | To the extent reasonably necessary to prevent fraud, unauthorized transactions or liability. |
Employee Responsibilities
All Supervised Persons are prohibited, either during or after the termination of their employment from disclosing Confidential Client Information to any person or entity outside NorthStar, including Family Members, except under the circumstances described above. A Supervised Person is permitted to disclose Confidential Client Information only to such other Supervised Persons who need to have access to such information to deliver services to the client.
Supervised Persons are also prohibited from making unauthorized copies of any documents or files containing Confidential Client Information and, upon termination of their employment with NorthStar, must return any and all such documents to NorthStar.
Any Supervised Person who violates the non-disclosure policy described above will be subject to disciplinary action, including possible termination, whether or not he or she benefited from the disclosed information.
Security of Confidential Personal Information
NorthStar enforces the following policies and procedures to protect the security of Confidential Client Information:
· | NorthStar restricts access to Confidential Client Information to those Supervised Persons who need to know such information to provide NorthStar's services to clients. |
· | Any Supervised Person who is authorized to have access to Confidential Client Information in connection with the performance of such person's duties and responsibilities is required to keep such information in a secure compartment, file or receptacle on a daily basis as of the close of each business day. |
· | All electronic or computer files containing any Confidential Client Information shall be password secured and firewall protected from access by unauthorized persons. |
· | Any conversations involving Confidential Client Information, if appropriate at all, must be conducted by Supervised Persons in private, and care must be taken to avoid any unauthorized persons overhearing or intercepting such conversations. |
Privacy Policy
NorthStar has adopted a privacy policy to comply with SEC Regulation S-P, which requires the adoption of policies and procedures to protect the “nonpublic personal information” of natural person clients. “Nonpublic personal information,” under Regulation S-P includes personally identifiable financial information and any list, description, or grouping that is derived from personally identifiable financial information. Personally identifiable financial information is defined to include information supplied by individual clients, information resulting from transactions and information obtained in providing products or services. The policies and procedures adopted by NorthStar serve to safeguard the information of natural person clients.
Enforcement and Review of Confidentiality and Privacy Policies
The legal department of NorthStar is responsible for reviewing, maintaining and enforcing NorthStar's confidentiality and privacy policies and is also responsible for conducting appropriate employee training to ensure adherence to these policies. Any exceptions to this policy require the written approval of the legal department.
Service as a Director
Except with respect to Supervised Persons solely as a result of their service as a non- employee director, manager, or officer, or their engagement as an independent contractor, no Supervised Person shall serve on the board of directors of any publicly traded company without prior authorization by the Chief Compliance Officer or a designated supervisory person based upon a determination that such board service would be consistent with the interest of NorthStar's clients. Where board service is approved NorthStar shall implement a “Chinese Wall” or other appropriate procedure to isolate such person from making decisions relating to the company’s securities.
Compliance Procedures
Pre-clearance
Except with respect to Supervised Persons who serve solely as independent contractors, all Supervised Persons may, directly or indirectly, acquire or dispose of Beneficial Ownership of a Reportable Security only if: (i) such purchase or sale has been approved by a supervisory person designated by the compliance department; (ii) the approved transaction is completed within 24 hours after approval is received unless otherwise approved by the Chief Compliance Officer; and (iii) the designated supervisory person has not rescinded such approval prior to execution of the transaction. Post-approval is not permitted.
Clearance must be obtained by entering the request in the Schwab CT system or as otherwise designated by the Chief Compliance Officer. The Schwab CT system will generate an automatic approval for trades that do not pose any conflicts and certain other trades may be subject to manual review by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee. Clearance will be obtained by receiving approval in the Schwab CT system or other process designated by the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer, or his designee, monitors all transactions by all Supervised Persons in order to ascertain any pattern of conduct which may evidence conflicts or potential conflicts with the principles and objectives of this Code, including a pattern of front-running.
Advance trade clearance in no way waives or absolves any Supervised Persons of the obligation to abide by the provisions, principles and objectives of this Code.
Holding Period Requirements
Supervised Persons cannot sell a Reportable Security within less than 30 days of its purchase or purchase a Reportable Security within less than 30 days of its sale. Approved Securities purchased in an Initial Public Offering also must be held for at least 30 days. Hardship exceptions to this 30-day holding period requirement may be granted at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.
Reporting Requirements
Every Supervised Person shall provide initial and annual holdings reports and quarterly transaction reports to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee that must contain the information described below. It is the policy of NorthStar that each Supervised Person must utilize only approved brokerage firm(s) that provide automated information to the Schwab CT system. All brokerage firms or other custodians utilized by Supervised Persons are subject to approval by the Chief Compliance Officer.
1. Initial Holdings Report
Every Supervised Person shall, no later than ten (10) days after the person becomes a Supervised Person, file an initial holdings report containing the following information:
· | The title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, type of Security, number of shares and principal amount (if applicable) of each Reportable Security in which the Supervised Person had any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership when the person becomes a Supervised Person; |
· | The name of any broker, dealer or bank, account name, number and location with whom the Supervised Person maintained an account in which any Securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Supervised Person; and |
· | The date that the report is submitted by the Supervised Person. |
The information submitted must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the person became a Supervised Person.
2. Annual Holdings Report
Every Supervised Person shall, no later than February 14th each year, file an annual holdings report containing the same information required in the initial holdings report as described above. The information submitted must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the annual report is submitted.
3. Quarterly Transaction Reports
Every Supervised Person must, no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, file a quarterly transaction report containing the following information:
With respect to any transaction during the quarter in a Reportable Security in which the Supervised Person had any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership:
· | The date of the transaction, the title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount (if applicable) of each Reportable Security; |
· | The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition); |
· | The price of the Reportable Security at which the transaction was effected; |
· | The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected; and |
· | The date the report is submitted by the Supervised Person. |
The quarterly transaction report must also contain the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Supervised Person established any account during the period in which Securities are held and the date the Account was established.
4. Exempt Transactions
A Supervised Person need not submit:
· | An initial holdings report, an annual holdings report, or a quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions effected for Securities held in any account over which the Supervised Person has no direct or indirect influence or control; provided, however, that in determining that a Supervised Person has no direct or indirect influence or control over a trust or third-party discretionary Account, the following shall be certified each quarter by the Supervised Person: |
o That the Supervised Person has no ability to suggest and did not in the most recent quarter suggest that a third-party discretionary manager or trustee serving the Account make any particular purchases or sales of securities for the Account;
o That the Supervised Person cannot direct and did not in the most recent quarter direct a trustee or third-party discretionary manager serving the Account to make any particular purchases or sales of securities for the Account; and
o That the Supervised Person did not in the most recent quarter consult with the trustee or third-party discretionary manager serving the Account as to the particular allocation of investments to be made in the Account.
In determining that a Supervised Person has no direct or indirect influence or control over a trust or third-party discretionary Account and in addition to the quarterly certifications, NorthStar may:
o Require the Supervised Person to provide information about a trustee or third-party discretionary manager’s relationship with such Supervised Person (i.e., independent professional versus friend or relative; unaffiliated versus affiliated firm); and
o On a periodic or sample basis, request reports on holdings and/or transactions made in the trust or discretionary account to identify transactions that would have
been prohibited pursuant to this Code, absent reliance on this reporting exemption.
· | A quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan; or |
· | A quarterly transaction report if the report would duplicate information contained in Securities transaction confirmations or brokerage account statements that NorthStar holds in its records so long as NorthStar receives the confirmations or statements no later than 30 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter. |
5. Monitoring and Review of Personal Securities Transactions
The Chief Compliance Officer or his designee will monitor and review all reports required under this Code for compliance with NorthStar's policies regarding personal Securities transactions and applicable SEC rules and regulations. The Chief Compliance Officer may also initiate inquiries of Supervised Persons regarding personal Securities trading. Supervised Persons are required to cooperate with such inquiries and any monitoring or review procedures employed by NorthStar. Any transactions for any accounts of the Chief Compliance Officer will be reviewed and approved by NorthStar’s General Counsel or his designee. The Chief Compliance Officer shall routinely, via the Compliance 11 system, identify all Supervised Persons who are required to file reports pursuant to this Code and will inform such Supervised Persons of their reporting obligations. The Chief Compliance Officer may exempt temporary or part time NorthStar employees from certain reporting requirements of this Code if they are determined not to be an Access Person. The Chief Compliance Officer may exempt temporary or part time NorthStar employees from certain reporting requirements of this Code if they are determined not to be an Access Person.
Certification
Initial Certification
All Supervised Persons will be provided with a copy of this Code and must initially certify in writing to the Chief Compliance Officer that they have: (i) received a copy of this Code; (ii) read and understand all provisions of this Code; (iii) agreed to abide by this Code; and (iv), reported all account holdings as required by this Code.
Amendments
All Supervised Persons shall receive any amendments to this Code and agree to abide by this Code as amended.
Annual Certification
All Supervised Persons must annually certify in writing to the Chief Compliance Officer that they have: (i) read and understood all provisions of this Code, as amended; (ii) complied with all requirements of this Code; and (iii) submitted all holdings and transaction reports as required by this Code.
Further Information
Supervised Persons should contact the Chief Compliance Officer regarding any inquiries pertaining to this Code or the policies established herein.
Records
The Chief Compliance Officer shall maintain and cause to be maintained in a readily accessible place the following records:
· | A copy of any code of ethics adopted by NorthStar which is or has been in effect during the past five years; |
· | A record of any violation of any code of ethics adopted by NorthStar and any action that was taken as a result of such violation for a period of five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred; |
· | A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt of the Code and amendments thereto for each person who is currently, or within the past five years was, a Supervised Person which shall be retained for five years after the individual ceases to be a Supervised Person; |
· | A copy of each report made pursuant to Advisers Act Rule 204A-1 and Investment Company Act Rule 17j-1, including any brokerage confirmations, account statements or data feeds made in lieu of these reports; |
· | A list of all persons who are, or within the preceding five years have been, Access Persons; and |
· | A record of any decision and reasons supporting such decision to approve a Supervised Persons' acquisition of Securities in Initial Public Offerings and Limited Offerings within the past five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such approval is granted. |
Reporting Violations and Sanctions
All Supervised Persons shall promptly report to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee all apparent violations of this Code. Any retaliation for the reporting of a violation under this Code will constitute a violation of this Code.
The Chief Compliance Officer shall promptly report to senior management all apparent material violations of this Code. When the Chief Compliance Officer finds that a violation otherwise reportable to senior management could not be reasonably found to have resulted in a fraud, deceit, or a manipulative practice in violation of the securities laws or rules, he may, in his discretion, submit a written memorandum of such finding and the reasons therefore to a reporting file created for this purpose in lieu of reporting the matter to senior management.
Senior management shall consider reports made to it hereunder and shall determine whether or not this Code has been violated and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed. Possible sanctions may include reprimands, monetary fine or assessment, or suspension or termination of the employee’s employment.
If a Supervised Person does not wish to report an apparent violation or unethical behavior to the Chief Compliance Officer, such Supervised Person can utilize the NorthStar Whistleblower/AlertLine (“AlertLine”).
Unethical behavior can include violations of federal, state or local laws; any material violation of this Code; billing for services not performed or for goods not delivered; and other fraudulent financial reporting. Illegal or dishonest activities may be related to: diversity, equal opportunity and respect in the workplace; employee relations (inappropriate behavior/unfair employment practices); health and safety; misuse or misappropriation of assets or information; violations of SEC and FINRA rules and policies; and/or policy and process integrity.
The AlertLine is not a substitute for meaningful communication between the Supervised Person and their manager. The Chief Compliance Officer or the Supervised Person’s manager is often the best and safest option for discussing concerns of an ethical nature. If, however, a Supervised Person believes that to be inappropriate in their case, they can report ethical misconduct or simply get more information by logging on to https://northstar.alertline.com or by calling the AlertLine at 1-855-343-6082.
The AlertLine is confidential, easy to use, and is operated by a third-party provider, which specializes in this type of service. Supervised Persons will have two options for reporting concerns: 1.) Online by logging on to the website at https://northstar.alertline.com and filling in important information fields regarding the nature of the report, or 2.) Call the AlertLine number at 1-855-343-6082 to speak with a live operator, who will ask relevant questions. Calls are toll-free and both methods are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Regardless of which method an employee chooses, the AlertLine system will prepare a report and forward it to the appropriate person for review and, if necessary, investigation.
Schedule A
Schedule of Affiliated Companies
NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC
(subsidiaries and affiliates)
Blu Giant, LLC
CLS Investments, LLC
Constellation Trust Company
Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC
Gemini Fund Services, LLC
Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC
Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC
NorthStar CTC Holdings, Inc.
Orion Advisor Services, LLC