Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)(1) | |
Management Fees | 0.68% |
+ Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees) | 0.25% |
+ Other Expenses(2) | 0.06% |
+ Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses | 0.25% |
= Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses | 1.24% |
-Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement | (0.36)% |
= Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement(3) | 0.88% |
1 Year | 3 Years | |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation | $90 | $358 |
Investment Manager | Subadviser | Portfolio Managers | Title | Service Date |
PGIM Investments LLC | Dimensional Fund Advisors LP | Jed S. Fogdall | Head of Global Portfolio Management and Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President | November 2019 |
Allen Pu, CFA, PhD | Deputy Head of Portfolio Management, North America and Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President | November 2019 | ||
Mary T. Phillips, CFA | Deputy Head of Portfolio Management, North America and Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President | November 2019 | ||
David A. Plecha, CFA | Global Head of Fixed Income and Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President | November 2019 | ||
Joseph Kolerich | Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President | November 2019 |
■ | Counterparty credit risk. There is a risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation to a Portfolio. This risk is especially |
important in the context of privately negotiated instruments. For example, a Portfolio would be exposed to counterparty credit risk to the extent it enters into a credit default swap, that is, it purchases protection against a default by a debt issuer, and the swap counterparty does not maintain adequate reserves to cover such a default. | |
■ | Leverage risk. Certain derivatives and related trading strategies create debt obligations similar to borrowings, and therefore create, leverage. Leverage can result in losses to a Portfolio that exceed the amount the Portfolio originally invested. To mitigate leverage risk, a Portfolio will segregate liquid assets or otherwise cover the transactions that may give rise to such risk. The use of leverage may cause a Portfolio to liquidate Portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation or coverage requirements. |
■ | Liquidity and valuation risk. Certain exchange-traded derivatives may be difficult or impossible to buy or sell at the time that the seller would like, or at the price that the seller believes the derivative is currently worth. Privately-negotiated instruments may be difficult to terminate, and from time to time, a Portfolio may find it difficult to enter into a transaction that would offset the losses incurred by another derivative that it holds. Derivatives, and especially privately-negotiated instruments, also involve the risk of incorrect valuation (that is, the value assigned to the derivative may not always reflect its risks or potential rewards). |
■ | Hedging risk. Hedging is a strategy in which a Portfolio uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with its other portfolio holdings. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains or magnify losses if the market moves in a manner different from that anticipated by the Portfolio. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match the value of the holdings being hedged, to the extent expected by the Portfolio, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced and in fact, may be increased. No assurance can be given that any hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. A Portfolio is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so. |
■ | Futures and Forward Contracts risk. The primary risks associated with the use of futures or forward contracts are: (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by a Portfolio and the price of the futures or forward contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a futures or forward contract and the resulting inability to close a futures or forward contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the failure to predict correctly the direction of securities or commodities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; and (e) the possibility that the counterparty to the futures or forward contract will default in the performance of its obligations. Additionally, not all forward contracts require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose a Portfolio to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. |
■ | Credit risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable or unwilling to pay principal and interest when due, or that the value of the security will suffer because investors believe the issuer is less able or willing to make required principal and interest payments. The downgrade of the credit of a security held by a Portfolio may decrease its value. Credit ratings are intended to provide a measure of credit risk. However, credit ratings are only the opinions of the credit rating agency issuing the ratings and are not guarantees as to quality. The lower the rating of a debt security held by a Portfolio, the greater the degree of credit risk that is perceived to exist by the credit rating agency with respect to that security. Increasing the amount of Portfolio assets allocated to lower-rated securities generally will increase the credit risk to which a Portfolio is subject. Information on the ratings issued to debt securities by certain credit rating agencies is included in Appendix I to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). Not all securities are rated. In the event that the relevant credit rating agencies assign different ratings to the same security, a Portfolio’s Subadviser may determine which rating it believes best reflects the security’s quality and risk at that time. A Portfolio will not necessarily sell a security when its rating is reduced below its rating at the time of purchase. Some, but not all, US government securities are insured or guaranteed by the US government, while others are only insured or guaranteed by the issuing agency, which must rely on its own resources to repay the debt. Although credit risk may be lower for US government securities than for other investment-grade securities, the return may be lower. |
■ | Liquidity risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Portfolio may not be able to sell some or all of the securities it holds, either at the price it values the security or at any price. Liquidity risk also includes the risk that there may be delays in selling a security, if it can be sold at all, which could prevent a Portfolio from taking advantage of other investment opportunities. In addition, liquidity risk refers to the risk that a Portfolio may not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period or without significant dilution to remaining investors’ interests because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, redemption requests by certain large shareholders such as institutional investors, or other reasons. Meeting such redemption requests may cause a Portfolio to have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times and/or unfavorable conditions and, thus, could reduce the returns of a Portfolio and dilute remaining investors’ interests. The reduction in dealer market-making capacity in fixed income markets that has occurred in recent years also has the potential to decrease liquidity. |
■ | Interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of an investment may go down in value when interest rates rise. The prices of fixed income securities generally move in the opposite direction to that of market interest rates. Changes in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments in fixed income securities. The risks associated with changing interest rates are heightened, given that interest rates in the US may increase, possibly suddenly and significantly, with unpredictable effects on the markets and a Portfolio’s investments. Volatility in interest rates and in fixed income markets may increase the risk that a Portfolio’s investment in fixed income securities will go down in value. A wide variety of factors can cause interest rates to rise, including central bank monetary policies and inflation rates. Generally, the longer the maturity of a fixed income security, the greater is the decline in its value when rates increase. As a result, portfolios with longer durations and longer |
weighted average maturities generally have more volatile share prices than portfolios with shorter durations and shorter weighted average maturities. Certain securities acquired by a Portfolio may pay interest at a variable rate or the principal amount of the security periodically adjusts according to the rate of inflation or other measure. In either case, the interest rate at issuance is generally lower than the fixed interest rate of bonds of similar seniority from the same issuer; however, variable interest rate securities generally are subject to a lower risk that their value will decrease during periods of increasing interest rates and increasing inflation. Decreases in interest rates create the potential for a decrease in income earned by a Portfolio. |
■ | Currency risk. Changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign securities held by a Portfolio. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and affected by, among other factors, the general economic conditions of a country, the actions of the US and non-US governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. A security may be denominated in a currency that is different from the currency of the country where the issuer is domiciled. Changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign securities held by a Portfolio. If a foreign currency grows weaker relative to the US dollar, the value of securities denominated in that foreign currency generally decreases in terms of US dollars. If a Portfolio does not correctly anticipate changes in exchange rates, its share price could decline as a result. A Portfolio may from time to time attempt to hedge a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards, and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases a Portfolio may be exposed to losses that are greater than the amount originally invested. For most emerging market currencies, suitable hedging instruments may not be available. |
■ | Emerging market risk. Countries in emerging markets (e.g., South America, Eastern and Central Europe, Africa and the Pacific Basin countries) may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a limited number of securities. Economic, business, political, or social instability may affect investments in emerging markets differently, and often more severely, than investments in developed markets. Securities of issuers located in these countries tend to have volatile prices and offer the potential for substantial loss as well as gain. In addition, these securities may be less liquid and more difficult to value than investments in more established markets as a result of inadequate trading volume or restrictions on trading imposed by the governments of such countries. Emerging markets may also have increased risks associated with clearance and settlement. Delays in settlement could result in periods of uninvested assets, missed investment opportunities or losses for a Portfolio. |
■ | Foreign market risk. Foreign markets tend to be more volatile than US markets and are generally not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to those in the US. In addition, foreign markets are subject to differing custody and settlement practices. Foreign markets are subject to bankruptcy laws different than those in the US, which may result in lower recoveries for investors. |
■ | Information risk. Financial reporting standards for companies based in foreign markets usually differ from, and may be less comprehensive than, those in the US. |
■ | Liquidity and valuation risk. Stocks that trade less frequently can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active stocks. This liquidity risk is a function of the trading volume of a particular stock, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than US markets. This can make buying and selling certain securities more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell a security in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches an estimate of its value. |
■ | Political and social risk. Political or social developments may adversely affect the value of a Portfolio’s foreign securities. In addition, some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, and imposed high taxes on corporate profits. A Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities also may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of a foreign corporation’s assets, imposition of currency exchange controls, or restrictions on the repatriation of non-US currency, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and adverse diplomatic developments. These risks are heightened in all respects with respect to investments in foreign securities issued by foreign corporations and governments located in developing countries or emerging markets. |
■ | Regulatory risk. Some foreign governments regulate their exchanges less stringently than the US, and the rights of shareholders may not be as firmly established as in the US. In general, less information is publicly available about foreign corporations than about US companies. |
■ | Taxation risk. Many foreign markets are not as open to foreign investors as US markets. A Portfolio may be required to pay special taxes on gains and distributions that are imposed on foreign investors. Payment of these foreign taxes may reduce the investment performance of a Portfolio. |
■ | To the extent that a Portfolio concentrates its assets among Underlying Portfolios that invest principally in one or several asset classes, a Portfolio may from time to time underperform mutual funds exposed primarily to other asset classes. For example, a Portfolio may be overweighed in the equity asset class when the stock market is falling and the fixed income market is rising. Likewise, a Portfolio may be overweighted in the fixed income asset class when the fixed income market is falling and the stock market is rising. |
■ | The ability of a Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the selected Underlying Portfolios to achieve their investment objectives. There is a risk that the selected Underlying Portfolios will underperform relevant markets, relevant indices, or other portfolios with similar investment objectives and strategies. |
■ | A Portfolio will incur its pro rata share of the expenses of an Underlying Portfolio in which the Portfolio invests, such as investment advisory and other management expenses, and shareholders incur the operating expenses of these Underlying Portfolios. |
■ | The performance of a Portfolio may be affected by large purchases and redemptions of Underlying Portfolio shares. For example, large purchases and redemptions may cause an Underlying Portfolio to hold a greater percentage of its assets in cash than other portfolios pursuing similar strategies, and large redemptions may cause an Underlying Portfolio to sell assets at inopportune times. Underlying Portfolios that have experienced significant redemptions may, as a result, have higher expense ratios than other portfolios pursuing similar strategies. The Manager and a Portfolio’s Subadviser(s) seek to minimize the impact of large purchases and redemptions of Underlying Portfolio shares, but their abilities to do so may be limited. |
■ | There is a potential conflict of interest between a Portfolio and its Manager and a Portfolio’s Subadviser(s). Because the amount of the investment management fees to be retained by the Manager and their affiliates may differ depending upon which Underlying Portfolios are used in connection with a Portfolio, there is a potential conflict of interest for the Manager and a Portfolio’s Subadviser(s) in selecting the Underlying Portfolios. In addition, the Manager and a Portfolio’s Subadviser(s) may have an incentive to take into account the effect on an Underlying Portfolio in which the Portfolio may invest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that Underlying Portfolio. Although the Manager and a Portfolio’s Subadviser(s) take steps to address the potential conflicts of interest, it is possible that the potential conflicts could impact the Portfolios. |
■ | AST AB Global Bond Portfolio |
■ | AST American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio |
■ | AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
■ | AST BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio |
■ | AST BlackRock 80/20 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio |
■ | AST BlackRock Corporate Bond Portfolio |
■ | AST Bond Portfolio 2026 |
■ | AST Bond Portfolio 2027 |
■ | AST Bond Portfolio 2028 |
■ | AST Bond Portfolio 2029 |
■ | AST Bond Portfolio 2030 |
■ | AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio |
■ | AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio |
■ | AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio |
■ | AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio |
■ | AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio |
■ | AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio |
■ | AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio |
■ | AST PIMCO Corporate Bond Portfolio |
■ | AST PIMCO Dynamic Bond Portfolio (formerly, AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio) |
■ | AST Prudential Corporate Bond Portfolio |
■ | AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
■ | AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio |
■ | AST T. Rowe Price Corporate Bond Portfolio |
■ | AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio |
■ | AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio |
■ | AST Western Asset Corporate Bond Portfolio |
Glossary | |
Term | Definition |
1933 Act | Securities Act of 1933, as amended |
1934 Act | Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
1940 Act | Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
ADS | American Depositary Share |
ASTIS | AST Investment Services, Inc. |
Board | Trust’s Board of Directors or Trustees |
Board Member | A trustee or director of the Trust’s Board |
CFTC | Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
Code | Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended |
EDR | European Depositary Receipt |
ETF | Exchange-Traded Fund |
Fannie Mae | Federal National Mortgage Association |
Fitch | Fitch, Inc. |
Freddie Mac | The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation |
Global Depositary Receipt | GDR |
Ginnie Mae | Government National Mortgage Association |
IPO | Initial Public Offering |
IRS | Internal Revenue Service |
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
Moody’s | Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. |
NASDAQ | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System |
NAV | Net Asset Value |
NYSE | New York Stock Exchange |
OTC | Over-the-Counter |
PGIM Investments or the Manager | PGIM Investments LLC |
PMFS | Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
RIC | Regulated Investment Company, as the term is used in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended |
S&P | S&P Global Ratings |
SEC | US Securities & Exchange Commission |
World Bank | International Bank for Reconstruction and Development |
■ | AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio |
Independent Trustees | |||
Name
Date of Birth No. of Portfolios Overseen |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Other Directorships Held | Length of Board Service |
Robert F. Gunia
12/15/1946 No. of Portfolios Overseen: 106 |
Director of ICI Mutual Insurance Company (June 2016-present; June 2012-June 2015); formerly Chief Administrative Officer (September 1999-September 2009) and Executive Vice President (December 1996-September 2009) of PGIM Investments LLC; formerly Executive Vice President (March 1999-September 2009) and Treasurer (May 2000-September 2009) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC; formerly President (April 1999-December 2008) and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (December 2008-December 2009) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; formerly Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President and Director (May 2003-September 2009) of AST Investment Services, Inc. | Director (Since May 1989) of The Asia Pacific Fund, Inc. | Since July 2003 |
Thomas T. Mooney
11/11/1941 No. of Portfolios Overseen: 106 |
Formerly Chief Executive Officer, Excell Partners, Inc. (2005-2007); founding partner of High Technology of Rochester and the Lennox Technology Center; formerly President of the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce (1976-2004); formerly Rochester City Manager (1973); formerly Deputy Monroe County Executive (1974-1976). | None. | Since July 2003 |
Thomas M. O'Brien
12/5/1950 No. of Portfolios Overseen: 106 |
Vice Chairman of Emigrant Bank and President of its Naples Commercial Finance Division (Since October 2018); formerly Director, President and CEO Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. (NASDAQ: SNBC) and Sun National Bank (July 2014-February 2018); formerly Consultant, Valley National Bancorp, Inc. and Valley National Bank (January 2012-June 2012); formerly President and COO (November 2006-April 2017) and CEO (April 2007-December 2011) of State Bancorp, Inc. and State Bank; formerly Vice Chairman (January 1997-April 2000) of North Fork Bank; formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (December 1984-December 1996) of North Side Savings Bank; formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (May 2000-June 2006) Atlantic Bank of New York. | Formerly Director, Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. (NASDAQ: SNBC) and Sun National Bank (July 2014-February 2018); formerly Director, BankUnited, Inc. and BankUnited N.A. (NYSE: BKU) (May 2012-April 2014); formerly Director (April 2008-January 2012) of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York; formerly Director (December 1996-May 2000) of North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.; formerly Director (May 2000-April 2006) of Atlantic Bank of New York; Director (November 2006 – January 2012) of State Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: STBC) and State Bank of Long Island. | Since July 2003 |
Interested Trustee | |||
Timothy S. Cronin
12/21/1965 Number of Portfolios Overseen: 106 |
Vice President of Prudential Annuities (Since June 2015); Senior Vice President of PGIM Investments LLC (Since May 2009); Chief Investment Officer and Strategist of Prudential Annuities (Since January 2004); Director of Investment & Research Strategy (Since February 1998); President of AST Investment Services, Inc. (Since June 2005). | None. | Since October 2009 |
Trust Officers(a) | ||
Name
Date of Birth Position with the Trust |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | Length of Service as Trust Officer |
Ken Allen
1/24/1969 Vice President |
Vice President of Investment Management (since December 2009) | Since June 2019 |
Raymond A. O’Hara
9/19/1955 Chief Legal Officer |
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since July 2010) of Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential); Vice President (March 2011-Present) of Pruco Life Insurance Company and Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey; Vice President and Corporate Counsel (March 2011-Present) of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation; Chief Legal Officer of PGIM Investments LLC (since June 2012); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since June 2012) and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since June 2012); formerly Assistant Vice President and Corporate Counsel (September 2008-July 2010) of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; formerly Associate (September 1980-December 1987) and Partner (January 1988–August 2008) of Blazzard & Hasenauer, P.C. (formerly, Blazzard, Grodd & Hasenauer, P.C.). | Since June 2012 |
Andrew R. French
12/22/1962 Secretary |
Vice President within PGIM Investments LLC (December 2018-Present); formerly Vice President and Corporate Counsel (February 2010-December 2018) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (2006-2010) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC. | Since October 2006 |
Jonathan D. Shain
8/9/1958 Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since August 1998) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since May 2001) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since February 2001) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC; formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary (May 2003-June 2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc. | Since May 2005 |
Claudia DiGiacomo
10/14/1974 Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (since December 2005); Associate at Sidley Austin Brown Wood LLP (1999-2004). | Since December 2005 |
Kathleen DeNicholas
10/23/1974 Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since May 2013) of Prudential; Managing Counsel at The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (2011-2013); formerly Senior Counsel (2007-2011) and Assistant General Counsel (2001-2007) of The Dreyfus Corporation; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of MBSC Securities Corporation (2011-2013); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of The Dreyfus Family of Funds (2010-2012). | Since May 2013 |
Melissa Gonzalez
2/10/1980 Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2018) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (March 2014-September 2018) of Prudential. | Since March 2019 |
Dino Capasso
8/19/1974 Chief Compliance Officer |
Chief Compliance Officer (July 2019-Present) of PGIM Investments LLC; Chief Compliance Officer (July 2019-Present) of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., and PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., ;Vice President and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (June 2017- July 2019) of PGIM Investments LLC; formerly, Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel (January 2016-June 2017), and Vice President and Counsel (February 2012-December 2015) of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. | Since March 2018 |
Board Committee Meetings (for most recently completed fiscal year) | |||
Audit Committee | Governance Committee | Compliance Committee | Investment Review and Risk Committee |
4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Name |
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Trust |
Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities Owned by Trustee in All Registered Investment Companies in Fund Complex* |
Trustee Share Ownership | ||
Susan Davenport Austin | None | Over $100,000 |
Sherry S. Barrat | None | Over $100,000 |
Jessica M. Bibliowicz | None | Over $100,000 |
Name |
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Trust |
Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities Owned by Trustee in All Registered Investment Companies in Fund Complex* |
Kay Ryan Booth | None | Over $100,000 |
Stephen M. Chipman | None | Over $100,000 |
Timothy S. Cronin | None | Over $100,000 |
Robert F. Gunia | None | Over $100,000 |
Thomas T. Mooney | None | Over $100,000 |
Thomas M. O'Brien | None | Over $100,000 |
■ | furnishing of office facilities; |
■ | paying salaries of all officers and other employees of the Manager who are responsible for managing the Trust and the Portfolios; |
■ | monitoring financial and shareholder accounting services provided by the Trust’s custodian and transfer agent; |
■ | providing assistance to the service providers of the Trust and the Portfolios, including, but not limited to, the custodian, transfer agent, and accounting agent; |
■ | monitoring, together with each subadviser, each Portfolio’s compliance with its investment policies, restrictions, and with federal and state laws and regulations, including federal and state securities laws, the Internal Revenue Code and other relevant federal and state laws and regulations; |
■ | preparing and filing all required federal, state and local tax returns for the Trust and the Portfolios; |
■ | preparing and filing with the SEC on Form N-CSR the Trust’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, including supervising financial printers who provide related support services; |
■ | preparing and filing with the SEC required monthly reports of portfolio holdings on Form N-PORT; |
■ | preparing and filing the Trust’s registration statement with the SEC on Form N-1A, as well as preparing and filing with the SEC supplements and other documents, as applicable; |
■ | preparing compliance, operations and other reports required to be received by the Trust’s Board and/or its committees in support of the Board’s oversight of the Trust; and |
■ | organizing the regular and any special meetings of the Board of the Trust, including the preparing Board materials and agendas, preparing minutes, and related functions. |
■ | the salaries and expenses of all of their and the Trust's personnel except the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Manager or any subadviser; |
■ | all expenses incurred by the Manager or the Trust in connection with managing the ordinary course of a Trust's business, other than those assumed by the Trust as described below; |
■ | the fees, costs and expenses payable to any investment subadvisers pursuant to Subadvisory Agreements between the Manager and such investment subadvisers; and |
■ | with respect to the compliance services provided by the Manager, the cost of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Trust’s Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, and all personnel who provide compliance services for the Trust, and all of the other costs associated with the Trust’s compliance program, which includes the management and operation of the compliance program responsible for compliance oversight of the Portfolios and the subadvisers. |
■ | the fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the management of the investment and reinvestment of the Trust's assets payable to the Manager; |
■ | the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Manager or any subadviser; |
■ | the fees and certain expenses of the custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent, including the cost of providing records to the Manager in connection with their obligation of maintaining required records of the Trust and of pricing the Trust's shares; |
■ | the charges and expenses of the Trust's legal counsel and independent auditors; |
■ | brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Trust in connection with its securities (and futures, if applicable) transactions; |
■ | all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Trust to governmental agencies; |
■ | the fees of any trade associations of which the Trust may be a member; |
■ | the cost of share certificates representing and/or non-negotiable share deposit receipts evidencing shares of the Trust; |
■ | the cost of fidelity, directors and officers and errors and omissions insurance; |
■ | the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the Trust and of its shares with the SEC and paying notice filing fees under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Trust's registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes; |
■ | allocable communications expenses with respect to investor services and all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports and notices to shareholders; and |
■ | litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Trust's business and distribution and service (12b-1) fees. |
Management Fee Rate (effective November 18, 2019 and thereafter) | |
Portfolio | Contractual Fee Rate |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio |
0.6825% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.6725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; 0.6625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; 0.6525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.6425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; 0.6125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; 0.5925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
Management Fees Paid by the Portfolio | |||
Portfolio | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Fee Waivers & Expense Limitations | |
Portfolio | Fee Waiver and/or Expense Limitation |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio | The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee equal to the subadvisory fee waiver due to investments in the Underlying Funds managed by the Subadviser and/or an affiliate of the Subadviser until June 30, 2021. The decision to renew, modify or discontinue the arrangement after June 30, 2021 will be subject to review and approval by the Board. The Manager has also contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Portfolio so that the Portfolio’s investment management fee (after management fee waiver) and other expenses (including net distribution fees, acquired fund fees and expenses due to investments in Underlying Funds of the Trust and Underlying Funds managed or subadvised by the Subadviser, and excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, and any other acquired fund fees and expenses not mentioned above) do not exceed 0.88% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets through June 30, 2021. Expenses waived/reimbursed by the Manager may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver/reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for that fiscal year. These arrangements may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. |
Portfolio Subadviser and Fee Rate | ||
Portfolio | Subadviser | Fee Rate |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio | Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (Dimensional) | 0.22% of average daily net assets* |
Subadvisory Fees Paid by PGIM Investments | ||||
Portfolio | Subadviser | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio | Dimensional | N/A | N/A | N/A |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio | |||||
Subadviser | Portfolio Managers |
Registered Investment
Companies* |
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles* |
Other Accounts* |
Ownership of Portfolio
Securities* |
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP | Jed S. Fogdall | 108/$$388,114,948,770 |
24/$17,271,819,250
1/$155,445,614 |
81/$27,097,550,655 | None |
Allen Pu, CFA, PhD | 38/$99,418,597,742 | 12/$9,147,957,150 | 0/$0 | None | |
Mary T. Phillips, CFA | 72/$194,280,054,120 | 2/$$2,057,368,608 | 0/$0 | None | |
David A. Plecha, CFA | 57/$114,086,155,480 | 4/$2,775,334,392 | 9/$2,659,395,875 | None | |
Joseph Kolerich | 57/$114,086,155,480 | 4/$2,775,334,392 | 9/$2,659,395,875 | None |
■ | Base salary - Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. Dimensional considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary. |
■ | Semi-Annual Bonus - Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above. |
■ | Time Management. The management of the Portfolio and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of the Portfolio and/or Accounts. Dimensional seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment approaches that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolio. |
■ | Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by the Portfolio and one or more Accounts. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that the Portfolio or an Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for the Portfolio and one or more Accounts, the Portfolio may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across the Portfolio and other eligible Accounts. To deal with these situations, Dimensional has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across the Portfolio and other Accounts. |
■ | Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolio, Dimensional determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), Dimensional may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, Dimensional or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for the Portfolio and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio or an Account. |
■ | Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, Dimensional may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for Dimensional with regard to Accounts where Dimensional is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where Dimensional might share in investment gains. |
■ | Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages, and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat an Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to the Portfolio or other Accounts for which he or she have portfolio management responsibilities. Dimensional has adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises. |
■ | printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information, supplements, proxy statement materials, and annual and semi-annual reports for current owners of variable life or variable annuity contracts indirectly investing in the shares (the Contracts); |
■ | reconciling and balancing separate account investments in the Portfolio; |
■ | reconciling and providing notice to the Trust of net cash flow and cash requirements for net redemption orders; |
■ | confirming transactions; |
■ | providing Contract owner services related to investments in the Portfolio, including assisting the Trust with proxy solicitations, including providing solicitation and tabulation services, and investigating and responding to inquiries from Contract owners that relate to the Portfolio; |
■ | providing periodic reports to the Trust and regarding the Portfolio to third-party reporting services; |
■ | paying compensation to and expenses, including overhead, of employees of PAD and other broker-dealers and financial intermediaries that engage in the distribution of the shares including, but not limited to, commissions, service fees and marketing fees; |
■ | printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information, supplements and annual and semi-annual reports for prospective Contract owners; |
■ | paying expenses relating to the development, preparation, printing and mailing of advertisements, sales literature, and other promotional materials describing and/or relating to the Portfolio; |
■ | paying expenses of holding seminars and sales meetings designed to promote the distribution of the shares; |
■ | paying expenses of obtaining information and providing explanations to Contract owners regarding investment objectives, policies, performance and other information about the Trust and the Portfolio; |
■ | paying expenses of training sales personnel regarding the Portfolio; and |
■ | providing other services and bearing other expenses for the benefit of the Portfolio, including activities primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Trust. |
FUND OF FUNDS. A Portfolio that is structured as a “fund of funds” invests primarily in a combination of underlying investment companies which we refer to as “Underlying
Portfolios.” In addition to the risks associated with the investment in the Underlying Portfolios, these Portfolios are subject to the following risks:
|
■ | Junk bonds are issued by less credit worthy companies. These securities are vulnerable to adverse changes in the issuer's industry and to general economic conditions. Issuers of junk bonds may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments or the unavailability of additional financing. |
■ | The issuers of junk bonds may have a larger amount of outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment grade bonds. If the issuer experiences financial stress, it may be unable to meet its debt obligations. The issuer's ability to pay its debt obligations also may be lessened by specific issuer developments, or the unavailability of additional financing. |
■ | Junk bonds are frequently ranked junior to claims by other creditors. If the issuer cannot meet its obligations, the senior obligations are generally paid off before the junior obligations. |
■ | Junk bonds frequently have redemption features that permit an issuer to repurchase the security from a Portfolio before it matures. If an issuer redeems the junk bonds, a Portfolio may have to invest the proceeds in bonds with lower yields and may lose income. |
■ | Prices of junk bonds are subject to extreme price fluctuations. Negative economic developments may have a greater impact on the prices of junk bonds than on other higher rated fixed income securities. |
■ | Junk bonds may be less liquid than higher rated fixed income securities even under normal economic conditions. There are fewer dealers in the junk bond market, and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted for junk bonds by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater role in valuing certain of a Portfolio's portfolio securities than in the case of securities trading in a more liquid market. |
■ | A Portfolio may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting issuer. |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS), Broadridge and Glass, Lewis & Co (proxy voting administrator/agents) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to ISS (securities class action claims services administrator) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to each Portfolio's subadviser(s) (as identified in the Trust's Prospectus), custodian bank, sub-custodian (including foreign sub-custodians), if any, and accounting agents (which includes the custodian bank and any other accounting agent that may be appointed) at the end of each day. When a Portfolio has more than one subadviser, each subadviser receives holdings information only with respect to the “sleeve” or segment of the Portfolio for which the subadviser has responsibility; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to Goldman Sachs Bank USA, doing business as Goldman Sachs Agency Lending (securities lending agent) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings to each Portfolio's independent registered public accounting firm as soon as practicable following the Portfolio's fiscal year-end or on an as-needed basis; |
■ | Full holdings to a Portfolio’s counsel on an as-needed basis; |
■ | Full holdings to a Portfolio’s independent board members on an as-needed basis; and |
■ | Full holdings to financial printers as soon as practicable following the end of a Portfolio's quarterly, semi-annual and annual period ends. |
■ | Portfolio trades on a quarterly basis to Abel/Noser Corp. (an agency-only broker and transaction cost analysis company) as soon as practicable following a Portfolio's fiscal quarter-end; |
■ | Full holdings, on an as needed basis, to Zeno Consulting Group, LLC (an independent third-party transaction cost analysis company) as soon as practicable; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to FactSet Research Systems, Inc. and Lipper, Inc. (analytical services/investment research providers) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to IHS Markit, Bloomberg BVAL, ICE Data Services (InterContinental Exchange), Refinitiv (formerly known as Thompson Reuters), and J.P. Morgan Pricing Direct (securities valuation service providers) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings on a quarterly basis to Capital Institutional Services, Inc. (CAPIS) (investment research provider) when made available; and |
■ | Full holdings on a monthly basis to FX Transparency (foreign exchange/transaction analysis) when made available. |
■ | Amortization schedule-the longer the final maturity relative to other maturities the more likely it will be treated as a note. |
■ | Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note. |
■ | Leading market positions in well-established industries. |
■ | High rates of return on Portfolios employed. |
■ | Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection. |
■ | Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation. |
■ | Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity. |
1 | As the SEC has stated, “There may even be times when refraining from voting a proxy is in the client’s best interest, such as when the adviser determines that the cost of voting the proxy exceeds the expected benefit to the client…For example, casting a vote on a foreign security may involve additional costs such as hiring a translator or traveling to the foreign country to vote the security in person.” See Proxy Voting by Investment Advisers, Release No. IA-2106 (Jan. 31, 2003). Additionally, the Department of Labor has stated that it “recognizes that in some special cases voting proxies may involve out of the ordinary costs or unusual requirements, for example in the case of voting proxies on shares of certain foreign corporations. Thus, in such cases, a fiduciary should consider whether the plan’s vote, either by itself or together with the votes of other shareholders, is expected to have an effect on the value of the plan’s investment that warrants the additional cost of voting.” See Preamble to Department of Labor Interpretive Bulletin 2016-1, 81 FR 95883 (December 29, 2016). |
2 | If a client does not share with its Advisor information regarding the cost of voting proxies for certain non-US companies or in certain countries so that the Advisor can perform a cost benefit analysis, the Advisor will decide whether to vote proxies considering only the information on difficulties and costs that it has available. |
■ | multi-year guaranteed bonuses |
■ | excessive severance agreements (particularly those that vest without involuntary job loss or diminution of duties or those with excise-tax gross-ups) |
■ | single, or the same, metrics used for both short-term and long-term executive compensation plans |
■ | may encourage excessive risk-taking by executives and are generally opposed by Dimensional. |
Name and Principal Business Address | Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
James F. Mullery
One Corporate Drive Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208 |
President & CEO and Director |
Name and Principal Business Address | Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Wayne Chopus
One Corporate Drive Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208 |
Senior Vice President and Director |
John Chieffo
213 Washington Street Newark, New Jersey 07102-2917 |
Senior Vice President and Director |
Dianne D. Bogoian
One Corporate Drive Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208 |
Senior Vice President and Director
|
Elizabeth Guerrera
One Corporate Drive Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208 |
Chief Operating Officer, Vice President and Director |
Christopher J. Hagan
2101 Welsh Road Dresher, Pennsylvania 19025-5000 |
Vice President |
Francine B. Boucher
751 Broad Street Newark, New Jersey 07102-3714 |
Chief Legal Officer, Vice President and Secretary |
Elizabeth Marin
751 Broad Street Newark, New Jersey 07102-3714 |
Treasurer |
Steven Weinreb
3 Gateway Center Newark, New Jersey 07102-4061 |
Chief Financial Officer and Controller
|
Michael B. McCauley
One Corporate Drive Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208 |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer |
Douglas S. Morrin
One Corporate Drive Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208 |
Vice President |
Charles H. Smith
751 Broad Street Newark, New Jersey 07102-2917 |
AML Officer |
Karen L. Stockla
One Corporate Drive Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208 |
Vice President |
Signature | Title | Date | ||
Timothy S. Cronin*
Timothy S. Cronin |
President and Principal Executive Officer | |||
Susan Davenport Austin*
Susan Davenport Austin |
Trustee | |||
Sherry S. Barrat*
Sherry S. Barrat |
Trustee | |||
Kay Ryan Booth*
Kay Ryan Booth |
Trustee | |||
Stephen M. Chipman*
Stephen M. Chipman |
Trustee | |||
Robert F. Gunia*
Robert F. Gunia |
Trustee | |||
Thomas T. Mooney *
Thomas T. Mooney |
Trustee | |||
Thomas M. O’Brien*
Thomas M. O’Brien |
Trustee | |||
Jessica Bibliowicz*
Jessica Bibliowicz |
Trustee | |||
Christian J. Kelly*
Christian J. Kelly |
Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | |||
*By: /s/ Melissa Gonzalez
Melissa Gonzalez |
Attorney-in-Fact | October 16, 2019 |
/s/ Susan Davenport Austin
Susan Davenport Austin |
||
/s/ Sherry S. Barrat
Sherry S. Barrat |
||
/s/ Jessica M. Bibliowicz
Jessica M. Bibliowicz |
||
/s/ Kay Ryan Booth
Kay Ryan Booth |
||
/s/ Stephen M. Chipman
Stephen M. Chipman |
||
/s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Timothy S. Cronin |
||
/s/ Robert F. Gunia
Robert F. Gunia |
||
/s/ Thomas T. Mooney
Thomas T. Mooney |
||
/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien
Thomas M. O’Brien |
||
/s/ Christian J. Kelly
Christian J. Kelly |
||
Dated: March 13, 2019 |
Item 28
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
(d)(1)(h) | Contractual investment management fee waivers and/or contractual expense caps for AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Value Portfolio and AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio. | |
(d)(2)(a)(1) | Amendment to Investment Management Agreement, among the Registrant and PGIM Investments LLC. | |
(d)(2)(g) | Contractual investment management fee waivers and/or contractual expense cap for the AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio. | |
(d)(2)(h) | Contractual investment management fee waivers and/or contractual expense cap for the AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio. | |
(d)(108) | Subadvisory Agreement between PGIM Investments LLC and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP for the AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio. | |
(e)(3) | Distribution Agreement for the shares of each Portfolio of the Registrant, between Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. and the Registrant. | |
(g)(2)(b) | Amendment to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon. | |
(g)(3)(f) | Addition of AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio to the Accounting Services Agreement among the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon (as assigned from BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. f/k/a PFPC Inc.). | |
(h)(1)(b) | Amendment to the Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated May 29, 2007. | |
(i)(16) | Consent of Counsel for the Registrant. | |
(m)(1) | Shareholder Services and Distribution Plan. | |
(p)(25) | Code of Ethics of AQR Capital Management, LLC. | |
(p)(39) | Code of Ethics of Dimensional Fund Advisors. |
PGIM Investments LLC
655 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
AST Investment Services, Inc.
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484
The Board of Trustees of Advanced Series Trust
655 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Re: Contractual Fee Waivers
PGIM Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. (collectively, the "Manager") hereby agree to cap expenses / reimburse certain expenses and/or waive a portion of their investment management fees as more particularly described and set forth for the Portfolios listed on Exhibit A hereto.
Very truly yours,
PGIM Investments LLC
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
AST Investment Services, Inc.
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: President
Exhibit A
Effective September 1, 2019:
AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio: The Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.0002% of its investment management fee through June 30, 2021. This arrangement may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Portfolio: The Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.0011% of its investment management fee through June 30, 2021. This arrangement may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio: The Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.0014% of its investment management fee through June 30, 2021. This arrangement may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio: The Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.0013% of its investment management fee through June 30, 2021. This arrangement may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Value Portfolio: The Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.0011% of its investment management fee through June 30, 2021. This arrangement may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio: The Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.0022% of its investment management fee through June 30, 2021. This arrangement may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Amendment No. 3 to Management Agreement made this 8th day of October, 2019, by and between Advanced Series Trust (AST), on behalf of each series listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the Portfolios) and PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments or the Manager).
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the Management Agreement) dated February 25, 2013 with AST for the Portfolios, as amended from time to time, pursuant to which PGIM Investments acts as Manager of AST; and
WHEREAS, AST and the Manager have mutually agreed to revise Schedule A of the Management Agreement in order to include the AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio as a new series of AST (the New Portfolio), and whereby the New Portfolio compensates the Manager for the services provided by the Manager to the New Portfolio under the Management Agreement; and
NOW THEREFORE, the parties mutually agree as follows:
1.The management fee rate schedule for the Portfolios appearing in Schedule A of the Management Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and is replaced with the attached Schedule A.
2.The Management Agreement is unchanged in all other respects.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: President
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST |
|||
|
Schedule "A" |
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|
|
|
|
Portfolio |
|
Contractual Fee Rate |
|
|
|
0.9325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
|
0.9225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.9125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
|
0.9025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.8925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.8625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.8425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.9825% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
|
0.9725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.9625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
|
0.9525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.9425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.9125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.8925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.7825% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
|
0.7725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.7625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio |
|
0.7525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.7425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.7125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.6925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.7125% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
|
0.7025% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST PIMCO Dynamic Bond Portfolio |
|
0.6925% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.6825% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
||
(formerly, AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio) |
|||
0.6725% on next $2.7 billion of average daily net assets; |
|||
|
|
||
|
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0.6425% on next $4.0 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.6225% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.7325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
|
0.7225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.7125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio |
|
0.7025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.6925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.6625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.6425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.7325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
|
0.7225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.7125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio |
|
0.7025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.6925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.6625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.6425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.8325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
|
0.8225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.8125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio |
|
0.8025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.7925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.7625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
|
0.7425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
0.7825% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
0.7725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.7625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio |
0.7525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.7425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.7125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.6925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
0.4925% of average daily net assets to $500 million; |
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2026* |
0.4725% on next $4.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
0.4625% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; |
||
|
||
|
0.4525% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
0.4925% of average daily net assets to $500 million; |
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2027* |
0.4725% on next $4.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
0.4625% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; |
||
|
||
|
0.4525% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
0.4925% of average daily net assets to $500 million; |
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2028* |
0.4725% on next $4.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
0.4625% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; |
||
|
||
|
0.4525% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
0.4925% of average daily net assets to $500 million; |
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2029* |
0.4725% on next $4.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
0.4625% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; |
||
|
||
|
0.4525% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
0.4925% of average daily net assets to $500 million; |
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2030* |
0.4725% on next $4.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
0.4625% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; |
||
|
||
|
0.4525% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
0.7325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
0.7225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.7125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio |
0.7025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.6925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.6625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.6425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
0.64% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio |
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
|
|
0.64% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
|
|
0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
|
|
0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
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AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio |
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio |
0.15% of average daily net assets |
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1.04% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
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1.03% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
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1.02% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
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AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio |
1.01% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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1.00% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.97% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.95% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
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0.64% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
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0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
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0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
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AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio |
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
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0.6825% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
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0.6725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
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0.6625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
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AST American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio |
0.6525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.6425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.6125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.5925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
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0.525% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
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0.515% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
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0.505% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
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AST BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio |
0.495% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.485% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.455% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.435% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
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0.525% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
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0.515% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
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0.505% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
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AST BlackRock 80/20 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio |
0.495% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.485% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.455% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.435% over $10 billion of average daily net assets |
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0.5325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
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0.5225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; |
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0.5125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; |
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0.5025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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AST BlackRock Corporate Bond Portfolio |
0.4925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.4625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.4425% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.4225% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.4025% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; |
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0.3825% over $20 billion of average daily net assets |
0.5325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; 0.5225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; 0.5125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; 0.5025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
AST PIMCO Corporate Bond Portfolio0.4925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.4425% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4225% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4025% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.3825% over $20 billion of average daily net assets
0.5325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; 0.5225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; 0.5125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; 0.5025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
AST Prudential Corporate Bond Portfolio**0.4925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.4425% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4225% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4025% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.3825% over $20 billion of average daily net assets
0.5325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; 0.5225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; 0.5125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; 0.5025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
AST T. Rowe Price Corporate Bond Portfolio0.4925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.4425% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4225% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4025% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.3825% over $20 billion of average daily net assets
0.5325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; 0.5225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; 0.5125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; 0.5025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
AST Western Asset Corporate Bond Portfolio0.4925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.4425% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4225% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.4025% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.3825% over $20 billion of average daily net assets
0.6825% of average daily net assets to $300 million; 0.6725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; 0.6625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio0.6525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; 0.6425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; 0.6125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; 0.5925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
*The assets for each of the AST Bond Portfolio 2026, AST Bond Portfolio 2027, AST Bond Portfolio 2028 and AST Bond Portfolio 2029, AST Bond Portfolio 2030 will be aggregated with each of the AST Bond Portfolio 2019, AST Bond Portfolio 2020, AST Bond Portfolio 2021, AST Bond Portfolio 2022, AST Bond Portfolio 2023, AST Bond Portfolio 2024, AST Bond Portfolio 2025 and AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio for purposes of determining the fee rate applicable to each Portfolio.
**The assets of the AST Prudential Corporate Bond Portfolio will be aggregated with the assets of the AST Multi- Sector Fixed Income Portfolio.
PGIM Investments LLC
655 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
October 8, 2019
The Board of Trustees of Advanced Series Trust
655 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Re: Contractual Fee Waivers
PGIM Investments LLC (the "Manager") hereby agrees to cap expenses / reimburse certain expenses and/or waive a portion of its investment management fee as more particularly described and set forth for the Portfolio listed on Exhibit A hereto.
Very truly yours,
PGIM Investments LLC
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
Exhibit A
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio: The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee equal to the subadvisory fee waiver due to investments in the Underlying Funds managed by the Subadviser and/or an affiliate of the Subadviser until June 30, 2021. The decision to renew, modify or discontinue the arrangement after June 30, 2021 will be subject to review and approval by the Board. The Manager has also contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Portfolio so that the Portfolio's investment management fee (after management fee waiver) and other expenses (including net distribution fees, acquired fund fees and expenses due to investments in Underlying Funds of the Trust and Underlying Funds managed or subadvised by the Subadviser, and excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, and any other acquired fund fees and expenses not mentioned above) do not exceed 0.88% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets through June 30, 2021. Expenses waived/reimbursed by the Manager may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver/reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for that fiscal year. These arrangements may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
PGIM Investments LLC
655 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
The Board of Trustees of Advanced Series Trust
655 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Re: Contractual Fee Waiver
PGIM Investments LLC (the "Manager") hereby agrees to cap expenses / reimburse certain expenses and/or waive a portion of its investment management fee as more particularly described and set forth for the Portfolio listed on Exhibit A hereto.
Very truly yours,
PGIM Investments LLC
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
Exhibit A
Effective September 1, 2019:
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio: The Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.0018% of its investment management fee through June 30, 2021. This arrangement may not be terminated or modified prior to June 30, 2021 without the prior approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
EXECUTION VERSION
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 10th day of October, 2019 between PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments) or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, a Delaware limited partnership (Dimensional or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PGIM Investments acts as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement, desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct (the Portfolio), and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1.(a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage the Portfolio, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"), and subject to the following understandings:
(i)The Subadviser shall provide supervision of the Portfolio as the Manager shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what portion of the Portfolio assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii)In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, as provided to it by the Manager (the Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply with, the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, prepare and file such reports with respect to the Portfolio as are, or may in the future be, required to be filed by the Subadviser by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents. Subadviser, solely with respect to the Portfolio, shall take reasonable steps to comply with the diversification provisions of Section 851(b)(3) and Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(iii)The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts and other instruments to be purchased or sold by the Portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision of the Portfolio, it is recognized that the Subadviser will seek best execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall
responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv)The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v)The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Portfolio, and shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vi)The investment management services provided by the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the Subadviser and the Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manages the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process.
(vii)The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b)The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule 31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(c)The Subadviser is: (A) a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement; provided, that, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser's commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target; or (B) the Subadviser, with respect to the Trust, is exempt from registration with the CFTC as a Commodity Trading Advisor pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.14(a)(8), and the Subadviser will seek to manage the Portfolio in accordance with the limitations imposed by CFTC Rule 4.5; provided, that, in making these determinations with respect to the Portfolio, the Subadviser relies on the CFTC Rule 4.5 exemption notice filing and annual affirmations made by the Manager.
(d)In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures designed to comply with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
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(e)The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which shall be provided to the Manager and the Trust, and shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains adequate compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations to the extent applicable to the Subadviser in connection with its services under this Agreement. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, non-public information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the applicable federal securities laws.
(f)The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request.
(g)The Subadviser or its affiliate shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Portfolio, according to the Subadviser or its affiliate's standard policies and procedures and subject to such reasonable reporting requirements as may be established by the Manager. Subadviser does not have authority to act on behalf of the Manager or the Portfolio in any legal proceedings, including any bankruptcy action or class action settlements, relating to the securities or assets currently or previously held or purchased or sold by the Portfolio; provided, however, that Subadviser, upon request, shall provide Manager with non-confidential information in Subadviser's possession with respect to such proceedings.
(h)Upon reasonable request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will provide information to assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager in valuing investments of the Trust as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments being valued. The Manager and the Trust acknowledge that the Subadviser, in its limited role as a Subadviser, is not the official valuation agent of the Trust, and valuation decisions with respect to the Trust are the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and are subject to the policies and procedures of the Trust.
(i)The Subadviser shall provide the Manager with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Trust's portfolio required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Manager with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Manager, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Manager, for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Trust's principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. The Subadviser shall promptly inform the Trust and the Manager if the Subadviser becomes aware of any information in the Prospectus that is (or will become) materially inaccurate or incomplete.
(j)The Subadviser shall comply with the Trust's Documents provided to the Subadviser by the Manager; provided, that the Manager will provide the Subadviser with a reasonable amount of time to review and implement any changes to such Trust Documents before they become effective. The Subadviser shall notify the Manager as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Trust Documents.
(k)The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's Manager informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Trust. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Manager, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement and the Manager may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Manager and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser's management of the Trust's portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Manager. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Manager that it and its "Advisory Persons" (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, identify any material violations of the Subadviser's Code of Ethics which have occurred with respect to the Trust, and explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report concerning the Subadviser's Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Manager, including information about any material violations of the Subadviser's Code of Ethics that occurred with respect to the Trust.
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2.The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the Portfolio, cash requirements and cash available for investment in the Portfolio, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3.For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of the Portfolio as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation by the Manager to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Manager's receipt of payment from the Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4. (a) The Subadviser acknowledges that, in the course of its engagement by the Manager, the Subadviser may receive or have access to confidential and proprietary information of the Manager or third parties with whom the Manager conducts business. Such information that is identified as confidential or proprietary by Manager is collectively referred to as "Confidential Information." Confidential Information includes the Manager's business and other proprietary information, written or oral.
(b)The Subadviser certifies that (i) its treatment of Confidential Information is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations with respect to privacy and data security, and (ii) it has implemented and currently maintains an effective written information security program ("Information Security Program") including administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and other security measures designed to (x) protect the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; (y) protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information; and (z) protect against unauthorized access to, destruction, modification, disclosure or use of Confidential Information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to the Manager, or to any person who may be identified by Confidential Information. The Subadviser shall promptly notify the Manager if the Subadviser is in material breach of this Section. At the Manager's request, the Subadviser agrees to certify in writing to the Manager, its compliance with the terms of this Section.
(c)The Subadviser shall review and, as appropriate, revise its Information Security Program at least annually or whenever there is a material change in the Subadviser's business practices that may reasonably affect the security, confidentiality or integrity of Confidential Information. During the course of providing the services, the Subadviser may not alter or modify its information security policies and procedures with respect to the Portfolio in such a way that will weaken or compromise the security, confidentiality, or integrity of Confidential Information.
(d)The Subadviser shall maintain appropriate access controls, including, but not limited to, limiting access to Confidential Information to the minimum number of the Subadviser's employees who require such access in order to provide the services to the Manager.
(e)The Subadviser shall conduct periodic risk assessments to identify and assess reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of Confidential Information; and evaluate and improve, where necessary, the effectiveness of its information security controls. Such assessments will also consider the Subadviser's compliance with its Information Security Program and the laws applicable to the Subadviser.
(f)The Subadviser shall conduct penetration and vulnerability testing of its information technology infrastructure and networks subject to and in accordance with its Information Security Program. If any testing detects any material intrusions in any information technology systems in connection with any of the Manager's Confidential Information, the Subadviser shall promptly report those findings to the Manager.
(g)The Subadviser shall notify the Manager, as promptly as possible and without unreasonable delay, but in no event more than 48 hours after learning of any unauthorized access or disclosure, unauthorized, unlawful or accidental loss, misuse, destruction, acquisition of, or damage to Confidential Information has occurred (a "Security Incident"). Thereafter, the Subadviser shall: (i) promptly furnish to the Manager full details of the Security Incident; (ii) upon the Manager's reasonable request, provide reasonable assistance and cooperation with the Manager and the Manager's designated representatives in the Manager's investigation related to the Security Incident; and (iii) take appropriate action to seek to prevent a recurrence of any Security Incident.
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(h)Upon the Manager's reasonable request at any time during the term of the Agreement, the Subadviser shall promptly provide the Manager with information related to the Subadviser's information security safeguards and practices.
5.In rendering the services required under this Agreement, Subadviser may, consistent with applicable law and regulations, from time to time, employ, delegate, engage, or associate with such affiliated or unaffiliated third-party entities or persons as it believes necessary to assist it in carrying out its obligations under this Agreement. To the extent that the Subadviser engages a third-party entity or person, the Subadviser assumes all responsibility for any action or inaction of the service provider as if the Subadviser had acted, or failed to act, itself, including with respect to any of Subadviser's indemnification obligations under Section 6 below.
6.The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities laws. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. Subadviser may rely upon information furnished or written instructions provided to it by Manager that Subadviser reasonably believes to be accurate and reliable.
7.In no event shall either Manager or Subadviser be liable for consequential, incidental, special, exemplary, indirect or punitive damages. Neither party warrants that the Portfolio will achieve any particular rate of return or that its performance will match that of any benchmark index or other standard or objective.
8.This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at 655 Broad Street, 17th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Secretary (for PGIM Investments); (2) to the Trust at 655 Broad Street, 17th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746, Attention: General Counsel.
9.Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
10.Subadviser authorizes Manager during the term of this Agreement, the use of Subadviser's name and registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks and logos on the web site(s) of the Manager, the Funds, or the Funds' distributor and in other materials solely for the purposes of disclosing and promoting the relationship between the parties as described herein and/or for promoting the Funds. Subadviser hereby consents to the use of the name "Dimensional" in the name of the Funds and use of Subadviser's name in the Funds' disclosure documents, and to the extent required, necessary or advisable, in shareholder communications; provided however Subadviser may withdraw authorization for the use of its name with respect to a Fund upon 30 days' written notice to Manager if Subadviser is no longer the sole subadviser to the Fund. Upon
5
termination of this Agreement or withdrawal of any such approval, the Manager and the Funds shall, as soon as reasonably practical, forthwith cease to use the name or any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, or symbol, or any abbreviation, contraction, or simulation thereof, of any other party except to the extent that continued use is required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations. During the term of this Agreement, upon request, the Manager agrees to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office representative samples of Prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing (within the amount of time as reasonably mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser before making the materials publicly available. The Manager further agrees to work with the Subadviser prospectively to make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and, as agreed to by the Manager and the Subadviser, to implement those changes in the next regularly scheduled production of those materials or as soon as reasonably practical. All such marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
11. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
12.This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
13.Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP
By: Dimensional Holdings Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ Carolyn O
Name: Carolyn O
Title: Vice President
7
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (Dimensional), PGIM Investments LLC will pay Dimensional an advisory fee on the net assets managed by Dimensional that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name |
Subadvisory Fee for the Portfolio* |
|
|
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio |
0.22% of average daily net assets* |
|
|
*To the extent Dimensional invests Portfolio assets in other pooled investment vehicles it manages, Dimensional will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the management fees paid to Dimensional with respect to the Portfolio assets invested in such acquired fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: October 10, 2019
8
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
Distribution Agreement
THIS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of February 25, 2013, between the Advanced Series Trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of the portfolios set forth on attached Exhibit A (each, a “Portfolio” and, collectively, the “Portfolios”), and Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Distributor”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), as an open-end, management investment company and it is in the interest of the Trust to offer the shares of each Portfolio (the “Shares”) for sale continuously;
WHEREAS, the Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Distributor wish to enter into this Agreement, under which the Distributor shall act as principal underwriter for the Trust and each Portfolio and shall act as the agent for the Trust and each Portfolio with respect to the continuous offering of the Shares from and after the date hereof in order to facilitate the distribution of the Shares; and
WHEREAS, the Trust has adopted a Shareholder Services and Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act with respect to the Shares of some or all of the Portfolios (the “Plan”) authorizing payments by the Portfolios to the Distributor with respect to certain shareholder services and distribution services as set forth in the Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Appointment of the Distributor
The Trust hereby appoints the Distributor as principal underwriter for the Trust and the Portfolios and agent for the Trust and the Portfolios for the sale of the Shares. The Shares shall be sold only to insurance companies and their separate accounts that have entered into participation agreements with the Trust (“Participating Insurance Companies”), qualified plans and other purchasers permitted by Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and associated regulations (collectively, “Permissible Shareholders”). The Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares. The Distributor, as agent, does not undertake to sell any specific amount of the Shares. The parties hereby agree during the term of this Agreement that the Portfolios will sell the Shares through the Distributor on the terms and conditions set forth below and in the participation agreements with the Participating Insurance Companies and any other Permissible Shareholders (the “Participation Agreements”).
Section 2. Exclusive Nature of Duties
The Distributor shall be the exclusive representative of the Trust to act as principal underwriter and agent of the Trust and the Portfolios for the sale of the Shares, except that:
2.1 The exclusive rights granted to the Distributor to sell the Shares shall not apply to any Shares issued in connection with the merger or consolidation of any other investment company with a Portfolio or the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all (or substantially all) the assets or the outstanding shares of any such company by a Portfolio.
Section 3. Purchase of Shares from the Trust
3.1 The Shares shall be sold by the Distributor as the agent of the Trust to Permissible Shareholders at the net asset value next determined as set forth in the Prospectus after an order to purchase Shares is properly received. The term “Prospectus” shall mean the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the applicable Portfolio that is included as part of the Trust’s Registration Statement, as such Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and the term “Registration Statement” shall mean the Registration Statement filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission and effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Investment Company Act, as such Registration Statement is amended from time to time.
3.2 The Trust shall have the right to suspend the sale of any or all of the Shares at times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions in Section 4.3 hereof or at such other times as may be determined by the Trust’s Board of Trustees in its sole discretion (the “Board”).
3.3 The Shares shall be sold in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Participation Agreements.
Section 4. Redemption of Shares by the Trust
4.1 Any of the outstanding Shares may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Trust (or the Distributor acting as the Trust’s agent) agrees to redeem the Shares so tendered in accordance with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust as amended from time to time, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Prospectus. The price to be paid to redeem the Shares shall be equal to the net asset value next determined as set forth in the Prospectus after an order to redeem the Shares is properly received (the “Redemption Price”).
4.2 The Shares shall be redeemed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Participation Agreements.
4.3 Redemption of any Shares or payment may be suspended at times when the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, when trading on the NYSE is restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order, so permits.
Section 5. Duties of the Trust
5.1 Subject to the possible suspension of the sale of the Shares as provided herein, the Trust agrees to sell the Shares so long as it has Shares of the respective Portfolio available.
5.2 The Trust shall furnish the Distributor copies of all information, financial statements and other papers which the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of the Shares. The Trust shall make available to the Distributor copies of its Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports upon request.
5.3 The Trust shall take, from time to time, but subject to the necessary approval of the Board, all necessary action to register the Shares under the Securities Act, to the end that there will be available for sale such number of Shares as the Distributor reasonably may expect to sell. The Trust agrees to file from time to time such amendments, reports and other documents as may be necessary in order that there will be no untrue statement of a material fact in the Registration Statement, or necessary in order that there will be no omission to state a material fact in the Registration Statement which omission would make the statements therein misleading.
Section 6. Duties of the Distributor
6.1 The Distributor shall be responsible for preparing all sales literature (e.g., advertisements, brochures and shareholder communications) with respect to each of the Portfolios, and shall file with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or the appropriate regulators all such materials as are required to be filed under applicable laws and regulations.
6.2 Sales of the Shares shall be on the terms described in the Prospectus. The Distributor may enter into similar arrangements with other investment companies. The Distributor shall not be obligated to sell any specific number of Shares.
6.3 The Distributor shall provide or arrange for the provision of the services set forth in the Plan.
6.4 The Distributor shall use reasonable efforts in all respects duly to conform with the requirements of all federal and state laws relating to the sale of the Shares, including, without limitation, all rules and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act, the regulations of FINRA, or its predecessor, the National Association of Securities Dealers, and all other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations. Specifically, the Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures for the confirmation of transactions as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b-10 under the Securities Exchange Act and the rules of FINRA.
6.5 The Distributor shall act as agent of the Trust in connection with the sale and redemption of the Shares. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Distributor shall act as principal with respect to all other matters relating to the promotion or the sale of the Shares.
6.6 The Distributor shall prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested by the Board, including reports regarding the use of payments received by the Distributor under the Plan.
6.7 The Distributor agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other information relative to the Portfolios and/or the Trust and its prior, present or potential shareholders, and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except when so requested by the Trust or after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Distributor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities.
Section 7. Payments to the Distributor
The Trust shall pay to the Distributor, as compensation for services under the Plan, any fee set forth in the Plan. Any such fee is subject to the terms of the Plan. No additional compensation or reimbursement for expenses shall be provided by the Trust with respect to services under the Plan or services under this Agreement.
Section 8. Allocation of Expenses
The Trust shall bear all costs and expenses of the continuous offering of the Shares (except for those costs and expenses borne by the Distributor pursuant to the Plan and subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act), including fees and disbursements of the Trust’s counsel and auditors, in connection with the preparation and filing of any required Registration Statements and/or Prospectuses under the Investment Company Act or the Securities Act, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and preparing and mailing annual and periodic reports and proxy materials to shareholders (including but not limited to the expense of setting in type any such Registration Statements, Prospectuses, annual or periodic reports or proxy materials). The Trust shall also bear the expenses it assumes pursuant to the Plan, so long as the Plan is in effect.
Section 9. Indemnification
9.1 The Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, and its officers and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Distributor, its officers or any such controlling person may incur under the Securities Act, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in either thereof or necessary to make the statements in either thereof not misleading, except insofar as such claims, demands, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished by the Distributor to the Trust for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any such officer or controlling person unless a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine in a final decision on the merits, that the person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement (“disabling conduct”), or, in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnified person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct, by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees, including a majority of Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act nor parties to the proceeding, or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. The Trust’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor or its officers and any such controlling person as aforesaid is expressly conditioned upon the Trust’s being promptly notified of any action brought against the Distributor or its officers, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given by letter or telegram addressed to the Trust at its principal business office. The Trust agrees to promptly notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares.
9.2 The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its officers and Trustees and any person who controls the Trust, if any, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending against such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Trust, its officers and Trustees or any such controlling person may incur under the Securities Act or under common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Trust, its Trustees or officers or such controlling person resulting from such claims or demands shall arise out of or be based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in information furnished by the Distributor to the Trust for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or shall arise out of or be based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information required to be stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make such information not misleading. The Distributor’s agreement to indemnify the Trust, its officers and Trustees and any such controlling person as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon the Distributor’s being promptly notified of any action brought against the Trust, its officers and directors or any such controlling person, such notification being given to the Distributor at its principal business office.
9.3 Except as provided in Section 9.1, the Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or any Portfolio in connection with matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
Section 10. Duration and Termination of this Agreement
10.1 This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first above written and shall remain in force only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the Board of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Portfolio, and (b) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such parties and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in the operation of the Plan or in any agreement related
thereto (the “Independent Trustees”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting upon such approval.
10.2 This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Portfolio, or by the Distributor, on sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
10.3 The terms “affiliated person,” “assignment,” “interested person” and “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,” when used in this Agreement, shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act.
Section 11. Amendments to this Agreement
This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (a) the Board of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Portfolio, and (b) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such amendment.
Section 12. Separate Agreement as to Portfolios
The amendment or termination of this Agreement with respect to any Portfolio shall not result in the amendment or termination of this Agreement with respect to any other Portfolio unless explicitly so provided.
Section 13. Governing Law
The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey as at the time in effect, without regard to its conflicts of laws principles, and the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent that the applicable law of the State of New Jersey, or any of the provisions herein, conflicts with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year above written.
Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc.
By: /s/ George Gannon
Name: George Gannon
Title: President
Advanced Series Trust (on behalf of its portfolios as
listed on Exhibit A).
By: /s/ Robert F. O’Donnell
Name: Robert F. O’Donnell
Title: President
Exhibit A
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio
AST AllianzGI World Trends Portfolio (formerly, AST RCM World Trends Portfolio)
AST American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST AQR Large-Cap Portfolio
AST Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio
AST BlackRock 80/20 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio
AST BlackRock Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio
AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio (formerly, AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio)
AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles Bond Portfolio (formerly, AST PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio)
AST Bond Portfolio 2019
AST Bond Portfolio 2020
AST Bond Portfolio 2021
AST Bond Portfolio 2022
AST Bond Portfolio 2023
AST Bond Portfolio 2024
AST Bond Portfolio 2025
AST Bond Portfolio 2026
AST Bond Portfolio 2027
AST Bond Portfolio 2028
AST Bond Portfolio 2029
AST Bond Portfolio 2030
AST Capital Growth Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST ClearBridge Dividend Growth Portfolio
AST Cohen & Steers Global Realty Portfolio (formerly, AST Global Real Estate Portfolio)
AST Cohen & Steers Realty Portfolio
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio
AST Fidelity Institutional AM® Quantitative Portfolio (formerly, AST Fidelity Institutional AMSM Quantitative Portfolio, AST FI Pyramis® Quantitative Portfolio and AST First Trust Balanced Target Portfolio)
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Government Money Market Portfolio (formerly, AST Money Market Portfolio)
AST High Yield Portfolio
AST Hotchkis & Wiley Large-Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, AST Large-Cap Value Portfolio)
AST International Growth Portfolio
AST International Value Portfolio
AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Global Thematic Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities Portfolio
AST Jennison Global Infrastructure Portfolio
AST Jennison Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth Portfolio (formerly, AST Marsico Capital Growth Portfolio)
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
AST Managed Equity Portfolio
AST Managed Fixed Income Portfolio
AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio
AST MFS Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly, AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio)
AST MFS Growth Portfolio
AST MFS Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio (formerly, AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio)
AST Multi-Sector Fixed Income Portfolio (formerly, AST Long Duration Bond Portfolio)
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman/LSV Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Parametric Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST PIMCO Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST PIMCO Dynamic Bond Portfolio (formerly, AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio)
AST Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Prudential Core Bond Portfolio
AST Prudential Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio
AST Prudential Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio
AST QMA Large-Cap Portfolio
AST QMA US Equity Alpha Portfolio
AST Quantitative Modeling Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Growth Opportunities Portfolio (formerly, AST Federated Aggressive Growth Portfolio)
AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, AST Value Equity Portfolio)
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio
AST Templeton Global Bond Portfolio
AST WEDGE Capital Mid-Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, AST Mid-Cap Value Portfolio)
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio (formerly, AST Aggressive Asset Allocation Portfolio)
AST Western Asset Core Plus Bond Portfolio
AST Western Asset Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio
Dated February 25, 2013, as amended effective as of April 29, 2013. As further amended effective as of December 31, 2013. As further amended as of April 15, 2014, July 1, 2015, December 21, 2015, December 15, 2016, December 1, 2017, April 2, 2018, December 11, 2018, July 1, 2019 and October 8, 2019.
AMENDMENT
AMENDMENT made as of October 8, 2019, to that certain Custody Agreement dated as of November 7, 2002, as amended from time to time, between each Fund listed on the attached Schedule A thereto, including any series thereof (the "Fund") and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly, The Bank of New York) ("Custodian") (such Custody Agreement hereinafter referred to as the "Custody Agreement"). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them pursuant to the Custody Agreement.
WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend the Custody Agreement to add certain Funds, as parties to the Custody Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.Schedule A of the Custody Agreement shall be amended as set forth in Exhibit I to this Amendment, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
2.Each party represents to the other that this Amendment has been duly executed.
3.This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts, shall, together, constitute only one amendment.
4.This Amendment shall become effective for each Fund as of the date of first service as listed in Exhibit I hereto upon execution by the parties hereto. From and after the execution hereof, any reference to the Custody Agreement shall be a reference to the Custody Agreement as amended hereby. Except as amended hereby, the Custody Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Fund and Custodian have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized representatives, as of the day and year first above written.
EACH FUND LISTED ON
EXHIBIT I HERETO
By: |
/s/ Deborah Conway |
Name: |
Deborah Conway |
Title: |
Assistant Treasurer |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By: |
/s Adam Cohen |
Name: |
Adam Cohen |
Title: |
Vice President |
|
Exhibit I |
|
|
SCHEDULE A TO THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT |
|
||
INSURANCE FUNDS |
|
|
|
RIC/Fund Name |
|
Former Name |
Date of First |
|
Service |
||
|
|
|
|
Advanced Series Trust |
|
|
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio |
|
|
7/8/15 |
AST American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio |
|
|
4/5/18 |
AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
|
|
2/25/13 |
AST AQR Large-Cap Portfolio |
|
|
4/29/13 |
AST BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio |
|
|
12/11/18 |
AST BlackRock 80/20 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio |
|
|
12/11/18 |
AST BlackRock Corporate Bond Portfolio |
|
|
7/1/19 |
AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio |
|
|
5/1/11 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2019 |
|
|
1/28/08 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2020 |
|
|
1/1/09 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2021 |
|
|
12/31/09 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2022 |
|
|
12/31/10 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2023 |
|
|
12/28/11 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2024 |
|
|
11/14/12 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2025 |
|
|
12/5/13 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2026 |
|
|
1/2/15 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2027 |
|
|
12/21/15 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2028 |
|
|
12/15/16 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2029 |
|
|
12/1/17 |
AST Bond Portfolio 2030 |
|
|
12/11/18 |
AST ClearBridge Dividend Growth Portfolio |
|
|
2/25/13 |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio |
|
|
11/1/19 |
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio |
|
|
4/15/14 |
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return |
|
|
|
Portfolio |
|
|
4/15/14 |
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio |
|
|
4/15/14 |
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio |
|
|
7/8/15 |
AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio |
|
|
1/28/08 |
AST Jennison Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
|
|
4/15/14 |
AST Jennison Large-Cap Growth Portfolio |
|
|
9/25/09 |
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio |
|
|
7/1/14 |
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio |
|
|
7/8/15 |
AST Managed Equity Portfolio |
|
|
4/15/14 |
AST Managed Fixed Income Portfolio |
|
|
4/15/14 |
AST MFS Growth Allocation Portfolio |
|
AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio |
3/25/12 |
AST MFS Large-Cap Value Portfolio |
|
|
8/20/12 |
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio |
|
|
7/8/15 |
AST Multi-Sector Fixed-Income Portfolio |
|
AST Long Duration Bond Portfolio |
2/25/13 |
2
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio |
|
7/8/15 |
AST PIMCO Corporate Bond Portfolio |
|
7/1/19 |
AST PIMCO Dynamic Bond Portfolio |
AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio |
4/15/14 |
AST Prudential Core Bond Portfolio |
|
10/5/11 |
AST Prudential Corporate Bond Portfolio |
|
7/1/19 |
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
|
4/15/14 |
AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio |
|
1/5/15 |
AST QMA Large-Cap Portfolio |
|
4/29/13 |
AST Quantitative Modeling Portfolio |
|
5/1/11 |
AST T. Rowe Price Corporate Bond Portfolio |
|
7/1/19 |
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio |
|
4/15/14 |
AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio |
|
12/5/13 |
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio |
|
7/8/15 |
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio |
AST Aggressive Asset Allocation Portfolio |
5/1/11 |
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio |
|
7/8/15 |
AST Western Asset Corporate Bond Portfolio |
|
7/1/19 |
AST Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio |
|
8/20/12 |
The Prudential Series Fund |
|
|
Conservative Balanced Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Diversified Bond Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Flexible Managed Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Global Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Government Income Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Government Money Market Portfolio |
Money Market Portfolio |
9/12/05 |
High Yield Bond Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Jennison Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Jennison 20/20 Focus Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Natural Resources Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Small Capitalization Stock Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Stock Index Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Value Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
SP Prudential U.S. Emerging Growth Portfolio |
|
7/25/05 |
Prudential Gibraltar Fund |
|
7/25/05 |
RETAIL FUNDS
RIC/Fund Name |
Former Name |
Date of First |
|
Service |
|||
|
|
||
Prudential Global Total Return Fund, Inc. |
Dryden Global Total Return Fund, Inc. |
|
|
PGIM Global Total Return Fund |
Prudential Global Total Return Fund, |
6/6/05 |
|
Prudential Global Total Return Fund, Inc. |
|||
PGIM Global Total Return (USD Hedged) Fund |
Prudential Global Total Return (USD Hedged) |
12/1/17 |
|
Fund |
|||
Prudential Government Money Market Fund, Inc. |
Prudential MoneyMart Assets, Inc., |
|
|
MoneyMart Assets, Inc. |
|
||
PGIM Government Money Market Fund |
Prudential Government Money Market Fund, |
6/6/05 |
|
Inc. |
3
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. |
|
|
|
Prudential Balanced Fund, Prudential Asset |
|
PGIM Balanced Fund |
Allocation Fund, Dryden Asset Allocation |
6/6/05 |
Fund, Dryden Active Allocation Fund |
||
PGIM Jennison Equity Opportunity Fund |
Prudential Jennison Equity Opportunity Fund, |
6/27/05 |
Jennison Equity Opportunity Fund |
||
PGIM Jennison Growth Fund |
Prudential Jennison Growth Fund, Jennison |
6/27/05 |
Growth Fund |
||
Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 |
Dryden Core Investment Fund |
|
PGIM QMA Commodity Strategies Fund |
Prudential Commodity Strategies Fund |
11/1/16 |
PGIM QMA Commodity Strategies Subsidiary, Ltd. |
Prudential Commodity Strategies Subsidiary, |
11/1/16 |
|
Ltd. |
|
PGIM Core Conservative Bond Fund |
Prudential Core Conservative Bond Fund |
11/1/16 |
PGIM Core Short Term Bond Fund |
Prudential Core Short Term Bond Fund, Short |
6/6/05 |
Term Bond Series |
||
|
Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund, |
|
PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund |
Prudential Core Taxable Money Market Fund, |
6/6/05 |
Taxable Money Market Series |
||
PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund |
Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund |
7/15/16 |
PGIM Jennison Small-Cap Core Equity Fund |
Prudential Jennison Small-Cap Core Equity |
11/1/16 |
|
Fund |
|
PGIM QMA Emerging Markets Equity Fund |
Prudential QMA Emerging Markets Equity |
11/1/16 |
|
Fund |
|
PGIM QMA International Developed Markets Index Fund |
Prudential QMA International Developed |
11/1/16 |
|
Markets Index Fund |
|
PGIM QMA Mid-Cap Core Equity Fund |
Prudential QMA Mid-Cap Core Equity Fund |
11/1/16 |
PGIM QMA US Broad Market Index Fund |
Prudential QMA US Broad Market Index Fund |
11/1/16 |
PGIM TIPS Fund |
Prudential TIPS Fund |
11/1/16 |
Prudential Investment Portfolios 3 |
Jennison Dryden Opportunity Funds, |
|
Strategic Partners Opportunity Funds |
|
|
|
Prudential Jennison Select Growth Fund, |
|
PGIM Jennison Focused Growth Fund |
Jennison Select Growth Fund, Strategic |
12/9/02 |
Partners Focused Growth Fund |
||
PGIM Real Assets Fund |
Prudential Real Assets Fund |
12/30/10 |
PGIM Real Assets Subsidiary, Ltd. |
Prudential Real Assets Subsidiary, Ltd. |
12/30/10 |
|
Prudential QMA Global Tactical Allocation |
|
PGIM QMA Global Tactical Allocation Fund |
Fund, Prudential Global Tactical Allocation |
4/1/15 |
Fund |
||
PGIM QMA Global Tactical Allocation Subsidiary, Ltd. |
Prudential Global Tactical Allocation |
4/1/15 |
Subsidiary, Ltd. |
||
PGIM Strategic Bond Fund |
Prudential Unconstrained Bond Fund, PGIM |
6/1/15 |
Unconstrained Bond Fund |
||
PGIM Global Dynamic Bond Fund |
Prudential Global Absolute Return Bond Fund, |
10/1/15 |
PGIM Global Absolute Return Bond Fund |
||
Prudential Investment Portfolios 4 |
Dryden Municipal Bond Fund |
|
PGIM Muni High Income Fund |
Prudential Muni High Income Fund, High |
6/6/05 |
Income Series |
||
Prudential Investment Portfolios 5 |
Strategic Partners Style Specific Funds |
|
PGIM 60/40 Allocation Fund |
|
9/1/15 |
Prudential Day One Income Fund |
|
11/1/16 |
Prudential Day One 2010 Fund |
|
11/1/16 |
4
5
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund |
Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income |
9/24/12 |
Fund |
||
PGIM High Yield Fund |
Prudential High Yield Fund |
7/25/05 |
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 17 |
Prudential Total Return Bond Fund, Inc., |
|
Dryden Total Return Bond Fund, Inc. |
|
|
PGIM Total Return Bond Fund |
Prudential Total Return Bond Fund |
7/25/05 |
PGIM Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond Fund |
Prudential Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond |
12/5/13 |
Fund |
||
Prudential Investment Portfolios 18 |
Prudential Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund, |
6/27/05 |
Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund |
||
PGIM Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund |
Prudential Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund |
6/27/05 |
PGIM Jennison MLP Fund |
Prudential Jennison MLP Fund |
12/5/13 |
Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc |
Jennison Blend Fund, Inc., Strategic Partners |
|
Equity Fund, Inc. |
|
|
PGIM Jennison Blend Fund |
Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc |
9/12/05 |
Prudential Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc. |
Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc., |
|
Jennison U.S. Emerging Growth Fund, Inc. |
|
|
PGIM Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund |
Prudential Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, |
6/27/05 |
Inc. |
||
Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc. |
Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc. |
|
PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund |
Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, |
6/27/05 |
Inc. |
||
Prudential Jennison Small Company Fund, Inc. |
Jennison Small Company Fund, Inc. |
|
PGIM Jennison Small Company Fund |
Prudential Jennison Small Company Fund, Inc. |
6/27/05 |
Prudential National Muni Fund, Inc. |
Dryden National Municipals Fund, Inc. |
|
PGIM National Muni Fund |
Prudential National Muni Fund, Inc. |
9/12/05 |
Prudential Sector Funds |
Jennison Sector Funds, Inc. |
|
PGIM Jennison Financial Services Fund |
Prudential Jennison Financial Services Fund |
6/27/05 |
and Prudential Financial Services Fund |
||
|
Prudential Health Sciences Fund d/b/a |
|
PGIM Jennison Health Sciences Fund |
Prudential Jennison Health Sciences Fund, |
6/27/05 |
Jennison Health Sciences Fund |
||
PGIM Jennison Utility Fund |
Prudential Utility Fund d/b/a Prudential |
6/27/05 |
Jennison Utility Fund, Jennison Utility Fund |
||
Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. |
Dryden Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc. |
|
PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund |
Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, |
6/6/05 |
|
Inc. |
|
Prudential World Fund, Inc. |
|
|
PGIM Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund |
Prudential Emerging Markets Debt Local |
3/30/11 |
Currency Fund |
||
PGIM Emerging Markets Debt Hard Currency Fund |
Prudential Emerging Markets Debt Hard |
12/1/17 |
Currency Fund |
||
PGIM QMA International Equity Fund |
Prudential QMA International Equity, Fund |
6/6/05 |
Prudential International Equity Fund |
||
PGIM Jennison Emerging Markets Equity Opportunities |
Prudential Jennison Emerging Markets Equity |
|
Fund |
Fund |
9/3/14 |
PGIM Jennison Global Infrastructure Fund |
Prudential Jennison Global Infrastructure |
8/12/13 |
Fund |
||
PGIM Jennison Global Opportunities Fund |
Prudential Jennison Global Opportunities |
3/14/12 |
Fund |
6
PGIM Jennison International Opportunities Fund |
Prudential Jennison International |
6/5/12 |
|
Opportunities Fund |
|||
CLOSED END FUNDS |
|
|
|
RIC/Fund Name |
Former Name |
Date of First |
|
Service |
|||
|
|
||
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc. |
Prudential Short Duration High Yield |
3/8/12 |
|
Fund, Inc. |
|||
PGIM Global Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc. |
Prudential Global Short Duration High |
9/24/12 |
|
Yield Fund, Inc. |
7
ADDITION OF PORTFOLIOS TO ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
This document relates to the addition by each registered investment company listed on Attachment A to this document (each an "Additional Fund") to the Agreement (as defined below) of its investment portfolio listed on Attachment A to this document.
WHEREAS, each Additional Fund wishes to retain The Bank of New York Mellon (as assigned from BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. f/k/a PFPC Inc.)) ("BNY Mellon") to provide the services set forth in the Agreement (as defined below) to its investment portfolios listed on Attachment A to this document (each an "Additional Portfolio"), and BNY Mellon wishes to furnish such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, each Additional Fund and BNY Mellon agree as follows:
1.For purposes of this document:
A."Agreement" means the Accounting Services Agreement initially made as of July 1, 2005 separately by and between each of Advanced Series Trust (f/k/a American Skandia Trust) and Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 10 (f/k/a Strategic Partners Mutual Funds, Inc.) (each of which is a "Fund" under such Accounting Services Agreement) and BNY Mellon, as such Accounting Services Agreement may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.
B."Effective Date" means, with respect to a particular Additional Portfolio, the effective date listed for such Additional Portfolio on Attachment A to this document (or such other date as agreed in writing between BNY Mellon and the Additional Fund to which such Additional Portfolio relates).
2.Each Additional Fund hereby appoints BNY Mellon to provide the services set forth in the Agreement, in accordance with the terms set forth in the Agreement, to each of its Additional Portfolios as of the Effective Date for each such respective Additional Portfolio. BNY Mellon accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such services as of the relevant Effective Date.
3.[Reserved].
1
4.An Additional Portfolio shall be deemed to be listed on Exhibit A attached to the Agreement as of the Effective Date for such Additional Portfolio, and as of the Effective Date for a particular Additional Portfolio (but not before such Effective Date) such Additional Portfolio shall be a "Portfolio" for all purposes under the Agreement.
5.For clarity and notwithstanding the provisions of the first sentence of Section 22(c) of the Agreement, this document embodies a portion of the agreement and understanding between each Additional Fund and BNY Mellon relating to the subject matter of the Agreement and the Agreement shall not supersede the terms and provisions of this document.
6.BNY Mellon is entering into this document with each of the Additional Funds separately, and any duty, obligation or liability owed or incurred by BNY Mellon with respect to a particular Additional Fund shall be owed or incurred solely with respect to that Additional Fund, and shall not in any way create any duty, obligation or liability with respect to any other Additional Fund. This document shall be interpreted to carry out the intent of the parties hereto that
BNY Mellon is entering into a separate arrangement with each separate Additional Fund.
2
Agreed: |
|
|
The Bank of New York Mellon |
Each Registered Investment Company set |
|
|
|
Forth on Attachment A attached hereto |
By: /s/ Adam Cohen |
By: /s/ Deborah Conway |
|
Name: Adam Cohen |
Name: Deborah Conway |
|
Title: Vice President |
Title: Assistant Treasurer |
|
Dated: |
October 8, 2019 |
|
3
ATTACHMENT A
ADDITIONAL FUND |
ADDITIONAL PORTFOLIO |
EFFECTIVE DATE |
|
|
|
Advanced Series Trust |
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio |
10/08/19 |
4
AMENDMENT
AMENDMENT made as of October 8, 2019 to that certain Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement made as of May 29, 2007 (the "TA Agreement"), between each of the investment companies listed in Exhibit A hereto including any series thereof (the "Fund") and Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC ("PMFS"). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them pursuant to the TA Agreement.
WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend the TA Agreement to add certain Funds, as parties to the TA Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.Exhibit A of the TA Agreement shall be amended as set forth in this Amendment, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
2.Each party represents to the other that this Amendment has been duly executed.
3.This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts, shall, together, constitute only one amendment.
4.This Amendment shall become effective for each Fund as of the date of first service as listed in Exhibit A hereto upon execution by the parties hereto. From and after the execution hereof, any reference to the TA Agreement shall be a reference to the TA Agreement as amended hereby. Except as amended hereby, the TA Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and PMFS have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized representatives, as of the day and year first above written.
EACH FUND LISTED ON EXHIBIT A HERETO
By: |
/s/ Scott E. Benjamin |
|
Scott E. Benjamin |
Title: |
Executive Vice President |
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
By: |
/s/ Hansjerg P. Schlenker |
|
Hansjerg P. Schlenker |
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
1
EXHIBIT A
FUNDS AND PORTFOLIOS
RETAIL FUNDS
RIC/Fund Name
Former Name
Prudential Global Total Return Fund, Inc.
PGIM Global Total Return Fund
Prudential Global Total Return Fund, Prudential
Global Total Return Fund, Inc.
PGIM Global Total Return (USD Hedged) Fund
Prudential Global Total Return (USD Hedged) Fund
Prudential Government Money Market Fund, Inc.
Prudential MoneyMart Assets, Inc.
PGIM Government Money Market Fund
Prudential Government Money Market Fund, Inc.
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc.
PGIM Balanced Fund
Prudential Balanced Fund and Prudential Asset
Allocation Fund
PGIM Jennison Equity Opportunity Fund
Prudential Jennison Equity Opportunity Fund
PGIM Jennison Growth Fund
Prudential Jennison Growth Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 2
PGIM QMA Commodity Strategies Fund
Prudential Commodity Strategies Fund
PGIM Core Conservative Bond Fund
Prudential Core Conservative Bond Fund
PGIM Core Short Term Bond Fund
Prudential Core Short Term Bond Fund
PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund
Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and
Prudential Core Taxable Money Market Fund
PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund
Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund
PGIM Jennison Small-Cap Core Equity Fund
Prudential Jennison Small-Cap Core Equity Fund
PGIM QMA Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Prudential QMA Emerging Markets Equity Fund
PGIM QMA International Developed Markets Index Fund
Prudential QMA International Developed Markets
Index Fund
PGIM QMA Mid-Cap Core Equity Fund
Prudential QMA Mid-Cap Core Equity Fund
PGIM QMA US Broad Market Index Fund
Prudential QMA US Broad Market Index Fund
PGIM TIPS Fund
Prudential TIPS Fund, Prudential TIPS Enhanced
Index Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 3
PGIM Global Dynamic Bond Fund
Prudential Global Absolute Return Bond Fund, PGIM
Global Absolute Return Bond Fund
PGIM Focused Growth Fund
Prudential Jennison Select Growth Fund
PGIM QMA Global Tactical Allocation Fund
Prudential QMA Global Tactical Allocation Fund
PGIM QMA Large-Cap Value Fund
Prudential QMA Strategic Value Fund and
Prudential Strategic Value Fund
PGIM Real Assets Fund
Prudential Real Assets Fund
PGIM Strategic Bond Fund
Prudential Unconstrained Bond Fund, PGIM
Unconstrained Bond Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 4
PGIM Muni High Income Fund
Prudential Muni High Income Fund
2
RIC/Fund Name
Former Name
Prudential Investment Portfolios 5
PGIM 60/40 Allocation Fund
Prudential 60/40 Allocation Fund
Prudential Day One Income Fund
Prudential Day One 2010 Fund
Prudential Day One 2015 Fund
Prudential Day One 2020 Fund
Prudential Day One 2025 Fund
Prudential Day One 2030 Fund
Prudential Day One 2035 Fund
Prudential Day One 2040 Fund
Prudential Day One 2045 Fund
Prudential Day One 2050 Fund
Prudential Day One 2055 Fund
Prudential Day One 2060 Fund
PGIM Jennison Diversified Growth Fund
Prudential Jennison Diversified Growth Fund and
Prudential Jennison Conservative Growth Fund
PGIM Jennison Rising Dividend Fund
Prudential Jennison Rising Dividend Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 6
PGIM California Muni Income Fund
Prudential California Muni Income Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 7
PGIM Jennison Value Fund
Prudential Jennison Value Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 8
PGIM QMA Stock Index Fund
Prudential QMA Stock Index Fund and Prudential
Stock Index Fund
PGIM Securitized Credit Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 9
PGIM Absolute Return Bond Fund
Prudential Absolute Return Bond Fund
PGIM International Bond Fund
Prudential International Bond Fund
PGIM QMA Large-Cap Core Equity Fund
Prudential QMA Large-Cap Core Equity Fund and
Prudential Large-Cap Core Equity Fund
PGIM Real Estate Income Fund
Prudential Real Estate Income Fund
PGIM Select Real Estate Fund
Prudential Select Real Estate Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 10
PGIM Jennison Equity Income Fund
Prudential Jennison Equity Income Fund
PGIM QMA Mid-Cap Value Fund
Prudential QMA Mid-Cap Value Fund and
Prudential Mid-Cap Value Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 12
PGIM Global Real Estate Fund
Prudential Global Real Estate Fund
PGIM QMA Large-Cap Core Equity PLUS Fund
Prudential QMA Large-Cap Core Equity PLUS Fund
3
RIC/Fund Name
Former Name
PGIM QMA Long-Short Equity Fund
Prudential QMA Long-Short Equity Fund and
Prudential Long-Short Equity Fund
PGIM Short Duration Muni High Income Fund
Prudential Short Duration Muni High Income Fund
PGIM US Real Estate Fund
Prudential US Real Estate Fund
PGIM Jennison Technology Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 14
PGIM Government Income Fund
Prudential Government Income Fund
PGIM Floating Rate Income Fund
Prudential Floating Rate Income Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15
PGIM High Yield Fund
Prudential High Yield Fund
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 16
PGIM Income Builder Fund
Prudential Income Builder Fund and Target
Conservative Allocation Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 17
PGIM Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond Fund
Prudential Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond Fund
PGIM Total Return Bond Fund
Prudential Total Return Bond Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 18
PGIM Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund
Prudential Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund
PGIM Jennison MLP Fund
Prudential Jennison MLP Fund
Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc
PGIM Jennison Blend Fund
Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc
Prudential Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
PGIM Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund
Prudential Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund
Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
Prudential Jennison Small Company Fund, Inc.
PGIM Jennison Small Company Fund
Prudential Jennison Small Company Fund, Inc.
Prudential National Muni Fund, Inc.
PGIM National Muni Fund
Prudential National Muni Fund, Inc.
Prudential Sector Funds
PGIM Jennison Financial Services Fund
Prudential Jennison Financial Services Fund and
Prudential Financial Services Fund
PGIM Jennison Health Sciences Fund
Prudential Health Sciences Fund d/b/a Prudential
Jennison Health Sciences Fund
PGIM Jennison Utility Fund
Prudential Utility Fund d/b/a Prudential Jennison
Utility Fund
4
RIC/Fund Name
Former Name
Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.
PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund
Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.
Prudential World Fund, Inc.
PGIM Emerging Markets Debt Hard Currency Fund
Prudential Emerging Markets Debt Hard Currency
Fund
PGIM Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund
Prudential Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency
Fund
PGIM QMA International Equity Fund
Prudential QMA International Equity Fund and
Prudential International Equity Fund
PGIM Jennison Emerging Markets Equity Opportunities
Fund
Prudential Jennison Emerging Markets Equity Fund
PGIM Jennison Global Infrastructure Fund
Prudential Jennison Global Infrastructure Fund
PGIM Jennison Global Opportunities Fund
Prudential Jennison Global Opportunities Fund
PGIM Jennison International Opportunities Fund
Prudential Jennison International Opportunities
Fund
The Target Portfolio Trust
PGIM Core Bond Fund
Prudential Core Bond Fund and Intermediate-Term
Bond Portfolio
PGIM Corporate Bond Fund
Prudential Corporate Bond Fund and Mortgage
Backed Securities Portfolio
Prudential QMA Small-Cap Value Fund, Prudential
PGIM QMA Small-Cap Value Fund
Small-Cap Value Fund and Small Capitalization
Value Portfolio
INSURANCE FUNDS
RIC/Fund Name
Former Name
Advanced Series Trust
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio
AST AllianzGI World Trends Portfolio
AST RCM World Trends Portfolio
AST American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST AQR Large-Cap Portfolio
AST Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio
AST BlackRock 80/20 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio
AST BlackRock Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio
AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio
AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles Bond Portfolio
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio
AST Bond Portfolio 2019
AST Bond Portfolio 2020
5
RIC/Fund Name
Former Name
AST Bond Portfolio 2021
AST Bond Portfolio 2022
AST Bond Portfolio 2023
AST Bond Portfolio 2024
AST Bond Portfolio 2025
AST Bond Portfolio 2026
AST Bond Portfolio 2027
AST Bond Portfolio 2028
AST Bond Portfolio 2029
AST Bond Portfolio 2030
AST Capital Growth Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST ClearBridge Dividend Growth Portfolio
AST Cohen & Steers Global Realty Portfolio
AST Global Real Estate Portfolio
AST Cohen & Steers Realty Portfolio
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio
AST Fidelity Institutional AM® Quantitative Portfolio
AST Fidelity Institutional AMSM Quantitative
Portfolio, AST FI Pyramis® Quantitative Portfolio
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return
Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Government Money Market Portfolio
AST Money Market Portfolio
AST High Yield Portfolio
AST Hotchkis & Wiley Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST International Growth Portfolio
AST International Value Portfolio
AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Global Thematic Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities Portfolio
AST Jennison Global Infrastructure Portfolio
AST Jennison Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
AST Managed Equity Portfolio
AST Managed Fixed Income Portfolio
AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio
AST MFS Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST MFS Growth Portfolio
6
RIC/Fund Name
Former Name
AST MFS Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Multi-Sector Fixed-Income Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman/LSV Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Parametric Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST PIMCO Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST PIMCO Dynamic Bond Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio
AST Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Prudential Core Bond Portfolio
AST Prudential Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST Prudential Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio
AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio
AST QMA Large-Cap Portfolio
AST QMA US Equity Alpha Portfolio
AST Quantitative Modeling Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Growth Opportunities Portfolio
AST Federated Aggressive Growth Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Value Equity Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio
AST Templeton Global Bond Portfolio
AST WEDGE Capital Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio
AST Western Asset Core Plus Bond Portfolio
AST Western Asset Corporate Bond Portfolio
AST Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio
The Prudential Series Fund
Conservative Balanced Portfolio
Diversified Bond Portfolio
Equity Portfolio
Flexible Managed Portfolio
Global Portfolio
Government Income Portfolio
7
RIC/Fund Name
Former Name
Government Money Market Portfolio
Money Market Portfolio
High Yield Bond Portfolio
Jennison Portfolio
Jennison 20/20 Focus Portfolio
Natural Resources Portfolio
Small Capitalization Stock Portfolio
Stock Index Portfolio
Value Portfolio
SP International Growth Portfolio
SP Prudential U.S. Emerging Growth Portfolio
SP Small-Cap Value Portfolio
End of Exhibit A
8
Goodwin Procter LLP
Counselors at Law
901 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
T: 202.346.4000
F: 202.346.4444
October 16, 2019
Advanced Series Trust
655 Broad Street
17th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Re: Advanced Series Trust ("Registrant") Form N-1A; Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and Amendment No. 176 to the Registration Statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Amendment")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We provided an opinion to the Registrant dated April 25, 2005 (the "Opinion"), which the Registrant filed as an exhibit to its Registration Statement filed April 29, 2005.
We consent to the filing of this letter with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Amendment and the incorporation by reference of the Opinion as an exhibit to the Amendment. We also consent to the reference in the Registration Statement to the Trust to the fact that Goodwin Procter LLP serves as counsel to the Trust and has provided the Opinion.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Goodwin Procter LLP
Goodwin Procter LLP
ACTIVE/101108103.1
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AND DISTRIBUTION PLAN
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Advanced Series Trust (the “Trust”), including a majority of the
Independent Trustees (as defined herein), have concluded in the exercise of their reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Plan (the “Plan”) will benefit each of the Trust’s portfolios listed on Schedule A (each a “Portfolio”) and the shareholders of each Portfolio;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Plan is hereby adopted as follows:
Section 1. The Trust is authorized to pay a fee (the “Services and Distribution Fee”) for the services
rendered and expenses borne as set forth in Section 2, including services and expenses in connection with the distribution of shares of the Trust, at an annual rate with respect to each Portfolio not to exceed 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio. The Trust shall pay the Services and Distribution Fee to the distributor of the Trust’s shares (“Distributor”). Subject to such limit and subject to the provisions hereof, the Services and Distribution Fee must be approved at least annually by:
(a) a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and
(b) a majority of the Trustees who (i) are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the Act, and (ii) have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreements related thereto (the “Independent Trustees”).
If at any time this Plan shall not be in effect with respect to the shares of all Portfolios of the Trust, the Services and Distribution Fee shall be computed on the basis of the net assets of the shares of those Portfolios for which the Plan is in effect. The Services and Distribution Fee shall be accrued daily and paid bi-weekly or at such other intervals as the Board of Trustees shall determine. The Services and Distribution Fee shall not apply to Portfolios that invest all of their assets in other Portfolios. For Portfolios that invest a portion of their assets in other Portfolios, the Services and Distribution Fee shall apply only on assets not invested in other Portfolios.
Section 2. The Distributor shall provide (or arrange for the provision of) the following services and bear the following expenses (collectively, the “Services”):
• printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information, supplements, proxy
statement materials, and annual and semi-annual reports for current owners of variable life or variable
annuity contracts indirectly investing in the shares (the “Contracts”);
• reconciling and balancing separate account investments in the Portfolios;
• reconciling and providing notice to the Trust of net cash flow and cash requirements for net redemption
orders;
• confirming transactions;
• providing Contract owner services related to investments in the Portfolios, including assisting the Trust
with proxy solicitations, including providing solicitation and tabulation services, and investigating and
responding to inquiries from Contract owners that relate to the Portfolios;
• providing periodic reports to the Trust and regarding the Portfolios to third-party reporting services;
• paying compensation to and expenses, including overhead, of employees of the Distributor and other
broker-dealers and financial intermediaries that engage in the distribution of the shares, including but
not limited to commissions, servicing fees and marketing fees;
• printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information, supplements and annual and
semi-annual reports for prospective Contract owners;
• paying expenses relating to the development, preparation, printing, and mailing of advertisements,
sales literature, and other promotional materials describing and/or relating to the Portfolios;
• paying expenses of holding seminars and sales meetings designed to promote the distribution of the
shares;
• paying expenses of obtaining information and providing explanations to Contract owners regarding
investment objectives, policies, performance and other information about the Trust and its Portfolios;
• paying expenses of training sales personnel regarding the Portfolios; and
• providing other services and bearing other expenses for the benefit of the Portfolios, including
activities primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Trust.
Section 3. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by votes of the majority (or whatever
greater percentage may, from time to time, be required by Section 12(b) of the Act or the rules and regulations thereunder) of both (a) the Trustees, and (b) the Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan. If adopted with respect to a Portfolio after the public offering of shares of that Portfolio (or the sale of shares to persons who are not affiliated persons of the Portfolio, affiliated persons of such persons, affiliated persons of the promoter or affiliated persons of such persons), the Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. Any agreement related to the Plan must be approved by votes of the majority (or whatever greater percentage may, from time to time, be required by Section 12(b) of the Act or the rules and regulations thereunder) of both (a) the Trustees, and (b) the Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the agreement.
Section 4. To the extent any payments made by a Portfolio pursuant to the Plan are deemed payments for the financing of any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of shares within the context of Rule 12b-1 under the Act, such payments shall be deemed to be approved under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Portfolio shall be obligated to make any payments under the Plan that exceed the maximum amounts payable under Rule 2830 of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or any successor rule thereto adopted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Section 5. This Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more than one year after it takes effect only so
long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in the manner provided for approval of this Plan in Section 3 hereof.
Section 6. Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the shares of the
Trust pursuant to this Plan or any related agreement shall provide to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
Section 7. This Plan may be terminated at any time with respect to the shares of any Portfolio by vote of a
majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities representing the shares of that Portfolio.
All agreements with any person relating to implementation of this Plan with respect to the shares of any
Portfolio shall be in writing, and any agreement related to this Plan with respect to the shares of any Portfolio shall provide:
(a) That such agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of a
majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
representing the shares of such Portfolio, on not more than 60 days’ written notice to any other party to
the agreement; and
(b) That such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
Section 8. This Plan may not be amended to materially increase the amount of Services and Distribution Fee permitted pursuant to Section 1 hereof with respect to any Portfolio until it has been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities representing the shares of that Portfolio.
Section 9. The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan, and any related agreement or written report regarding this Plan presented to the Board of Trustees for a period of not less than six years from the date of the Plan, agreement or written report, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
Section 10. The provisions of the Plan are severable for each Portfolio of the Trust, and whenever any action is to be taken with respect to the Plan, such action shall be taken separately for each Portfolio of the Trust.
Section 11. While the Plan is in effect, the Board of Trustees shall satisfy the fund governance standards as defined in Rule 0-1(a)(7) under the Act.
Section 12. As used in this Plan, the terms “assignment,” “interested person,” and “majority of the
outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective meanings specified in the Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Schedule A
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio
AST AllianzGI World Trends Portfolio
AST American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST AQR Large-Cap Portfolio
AST BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio
AST BlackRock 80/20 Target Allocation ETF Portfolio
AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio
AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio
AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles Bond Portfolio
AST Bond Portfolio 2019
AST Bond Portfolio 2020
AST Bond Portfolio 2021
AST Bond Portfolio 2022
AST Bond Portfolio 2023
AST Bond Portfolio 2024
AST Bond Portfolio 2025
AST Bond Portfolio 2026
AST Bond Portfolio 2027
AST Bond Portfolio 2028
AST Bond Portfolio 2029
AST Bond Portfolio 2030
AST ClearBridge Dividend Growth Portfolio
AST Cohen & Steers Global Realty Portfolio
AST Cohen & Steers Realty Portfolio
AST Dimensional Global Core Allocation Portfolio
AST Fidelity Institutional AM® Quantitative Portfolio
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Government Money Market Portfolio
AST High Yield Portfolio
AST Hotchkis & Wiley Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST International Growth Portfolio
AST International Value Portfolio
AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Global Thematic Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities Portfolio
AST Jennison Global Infrastructure Portfolio
AST Jennison Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio
AST MFS Growth Portfolio
AST MFS Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST MFS Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio AST Multi-Sector Fixed Income Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman/LSV Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Parametric Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST PIMCO Dynamic Bond Portfolio
AST Prudential Core Bond Portfolio
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio
AST Prudential Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio
AST QMA Large-Cap Portfolio
AST QMA US Equity Alpha Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Growth Opportunities Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio
AST Templeton Global Bond Portfolio
AST WEDGE Capital Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio
AST Western Asset Core Plus Bond Portfolio
AST Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio
AQR Capital Management, LLC
Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics
AS AMENDED: APRIL 2019 | LAST REVIEWED: APRIL 2019
This Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics is the property of AQR Capital Management, LLC and CNH Partners, LLC. The contents of this manual are confidential and should not be shared with any third parties without the prior permission of the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.
AQR Capital Management, LLC | Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics |
i |
Table of Contents
I. Overview ............................................................................................................................................................ |
1 |
|
1.1 |
The Manual ................................................................................................................................................. |
1 |
1.2 |
Chief Compliance Officer ............................................................................................................................ |
2 |
1.3 |
Employee's Responsibility to Adhere to the Manual................................................................................... |
2 |
II. Code of Ethics................................................................................................................................................... |
2 |
||
2.1 |
Compliance with Applicable Federal and Other Securities Laws ............................................................... |
2 |
|
2.2 |
Fiduciary Obligations .................................................................................................................................. |
2 |
|
2.3 |
Protecting Confidential Information............................................................................................................. |
3 |
|
|
(a) |
Confidential Information ...................................................................................................................... |
3 |
|
(b) |
Policy to Prevent Insider Trading ........................................................................................................ |
4 |
2.4 |
Personal Trading Policy .............................................................................................................................. |
7 |
|
|
(a) |
General Policy..................................................................................................................................... |
7 |
|
(b) |
Securities Exempt from the Personal Trading Policy.......................................................................... |
7 |
|
(c) |
Personal Securities Accounts ............................................................................................................. |
7 |
|
(d) |
Reporting Requirements ..................................................................................................................... |
8 |
|
(e) |
Pre-Clearance Requirements.............................................................................................................. |
8 |
|
(f) |
Third-Party Managed Accounts......................................................................................................... |
10 |
|
(g) |
Required Holding Period ................................................................................................................... |
10 |
|
(h) |
Prohibited and Limited Transactions................................................................................................. |
10 |
|
(i) |
Trading Activity.................................................................................................................................. |
11 |
|
(j) |
Personal Trading Violations .............................................................................................................. |
12 |
|
(k) |
Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies .................................................................................................. |
12 |
2.5 |
Violations and Sanctions........................................................................................................................... |
12 |
|
2.6 |
Duty to Report Violations and Cooperate with Firm Investigations .......................................................... |
12 |
|
2.7 |
Non-Retaliation Statement........................................................................................................................ |
13 |
|
2.8 |
Legal and Regulatory Inquiries ................................................................................................................. |
13 |
III. Business Conduct .......................................................................................................................................... |
14 |
||
3.1 |
Outside Business Activities....................................................................................................................... |
14 |
|
3.2 |
Related Persons and Significant Non-Related Persons ........................................................................... |
14 |
|
3.3 |
Political Contributions and Political Activities............................................................................................ |
15 |
|
3.4 |
Charitable Contributions ........................................................................................................................... |
16 |
|
|
(a) |
Overview ........................................................................................................................................... |
16 |
|
(b) |
Charitable ContributionsGuidelines............................................................................................... |
16 |
|
(c) |
Prohibited Charitable Contributions .................................................................................................. |
16 |
3.5 |
Gifts and Entertainment ............................................................................................................................ |
17 |
|
|
(a) |
Reporting and Pre-Clearance of Gifts............................................................................................... |
17 |
|
(b) |
Reporting and Pre-Clearance of Entertainment................................................................................ |
18 |
|
(c) |
Gifts and Entertainment Involving U.S. and Foreign Officials........................................................... |
19 |
|
(d) |
Gifts and Entertainment Involving ERISA Plan Fiduciaries .............................................................. |
19 |
|
(e) |
Educational Events ........................................................................................................................... |
20 |
|
(f) |
Prohibitions and Restrictions on Gifts and Entertainment ................................................................ |
20 |
IV. Anti-Bribery Policy.......................................................................................................................................... |
21 |
|
4.1 |
Overview ................................................................................................................................................... |
21 |
4.2 |
Relevant Law ............................................................................................................................................ |
21 |
AQR Capital Management, LLC | Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics |
ii |
|
|
(a) |
U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act................................................................................................... |
21 |
|
|
(b) |
Financial Institution Bribery Laws...................................................................................................... |
21 |
|
|
(c) |
UK Bribery Act................................................................................................................................... |
22 |
|
4.3 |
General Policy........................................................................................................................................... |
22 |
|
|
|
(a) |
Prohibited Payments ......................................................................................................................... |
22 |
|
|
(b) |
Non-Cash Payments ......................................................................................................................... |
22 |
|
|
(c) |
Gifts and Entertainment .................................................................................................................... |
23 |
|
|
(d) |
Internships/Employment Opportunities ............................................................................................. |
23 |
V. |
Communications with the Public and Media ............................................................................................... |
23 |
||
|
5.1 |
Media and the Public ................................................................................................................................ |
23 |
|
|
5.2 |
Marketing Activities ................................................................................................................................... |
24 |
|
|
5.3 |
Public Appearances .................................................................................................................................. |
24 |
|
|
5.4 |
Client Complaints...................................................................................................................................... |
24 |
|
|
5.5 |
Rumors...................................................................................................................................................... |
25 |
|
|
5.6 |
E-Communications.................................................................................................................................... |
25 |
|
|
5.7 |
Protection of the Firm's Reputation........................................................................................................... |
26 |
|
|
5.8 |
Recording Meetings .................................................................................................................................. |
26 |
|
VI. |
Social Media Policy ........................................................................................................................................ |
26 |
||
|
6.1 |
Background ............................................................................................................................................... |
26 |
|
|
6.2 |
Use of Social Media .................................................................................................................................. |
27 |
|
|
|
(a) |
Firm Accounts ................................................................................................................................... |
27 |
|
|
(b) |
Employee Personal and LinkedIn Accounts ..................................................................................... |
27 |
|
6.3 |
Guidance................................................................................................................................................... |
28 |
|
|
|
(a) |
Firm Accounts ................................................................................................................................... |
28 |
|
|
(b) |
Personal Accounts ............................................................................................................................ |
28 |
|
6.4 |
Supervision ............................................................................................................................................... |
29 |
|
VII. Anti-Money Laundering.................................................................................................................................. |
30 |
|||
VIII. Definitions ....................................................................................................................................................... |
30 |
AQR Capital Management, LLC | Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics |
iii |
A Message from the Founding Principals
Since our founding in 1998, AQR has been committed to maintaining our reputation for integrity, business ethics and fair dealing. The Firm operates in a highly regulated industry and is governed by an ever-increasing body of federal, state, and international laws, rules and regulations. The Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics establishes not just the legal, regulatory and fiduciary requirements the Firm must comply with, but also reaffirms the high ethical standards and professionalism expected from all of us. Every employee has a responsibility to follow the letter and spirit of the Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics, as well as other Firm policies and procedures.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Compliance Department with questions or concerns that you may have about any matter or issue. If you see something wrong, or are not sure if something is right, please report it to the Compliance Department.
We thank you for your ongoing adherence to our high ethical and business conduct standards and for your commitment to the Firm's culture of compliance.
Cliff Asness, David Kabiller and John Liew
AQR Capital Management, LLC | Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics |
1 |
I.Overview
1.1The Manual
AQR Capital Management, LLC, and CNH Partners, LLC, (collectively, "AQR" or the "Firm") have adopted this Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics (the "Manual") to set forth the high ethical standards of conduct required of the Firm and its employees. The Manual and the principles and provisions contained herein and in the Firm's other policies and procedures are generally consistent with the ethical standards and professional responsibilities detailed in the CFA Institute's Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct. Each employee is required to conduct themselves with the highest professionalism, integrity and ethical standards when dealing with colleagues, counterparties, existing or prospective Clients,1 the public, the Firm's regulators and others. Any employee who perceives or suspects a potential lapse in these standards should promptly notify their manager, the Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO"), the Chief Legal Officer ("CLO"), or the Compliance Department. Employees may also report concerns via the anonymous AQR Compliance Hotline (the "Hotline").2
This Manual is not intended to capture all U.S. or non-U.S. policies and procedures. Certain policies and procedures are also implemented specific to particular job functions or departments. Please consult with your manager or the Compliance Department to discuss any specific policy or procedure. Additionally, affiliates of the Firm outside of the United States may adopt policies and procedures in order to comply with foreign regulatory requirements. As such, employees located in non-U.S. offices may be subject to supplemental compliance policies and procedures applicable to activities conducted in the relevant jurisdiction. Employees located in non-U.S. offices should refer to the Compliance Manual of their office and consult with their local or regional compliance departments to discuss jurisdiction-specific policies and procedures.
Employees are required to periodically certify, including upon commencement of their employment, that they have read the Manual and acknowledge that they have complied and will continue to comply with its requirements. In addition, employees must submit periodic Compliance certifications and make certain disclosures to the Firm. Employees must promptly update, amend or add to their disclosures by notifying the Compliance Department with respect to any changes in the employee's above-referenced certifications and/or disclosures.
Employees are responsible for attending and completing mandatory and other assigned Compliance training sessions, and timely obtaining required registrations and licenses (i.e., FINRA's Series 7 license, if applicable to their role). Managers may be notified about employees who are habitually late in completing Compliance certifications or fail to attend training sessions. Also, failing to comply with Compliance-related obligations may be a factor considered in the year-end performance review and promotion process, and may lead to other employment-related disciplinary action.
Moreover, disciplinary action (up to and including termination of employment) may be taken against an employee if the Firm concludes, in its sole discretion, that an employee has: (1) engaged in unethical behavior or conduct that lacks professionalism or integrity; (2) potentially or actually damaged the Firm's reputation or otherwise put the Firm's reputation at risk; or (3) engaged in conduct that resulted in a violation of the Manual, the spirit of the Manual or other Firm policies and procedures.
The Manualand the laws and regulations that underpin itcannot cover every possible scenario. The absence of a specific policy or procedure does not allow an employee to behave in an unethical, unprofessional or illegal manner. If you are unsure about how to handle a particular circumstance or believe that a violation of the Manual or the Firm's other policies and procedures may have occurred, please promptly contact the CCO or the Compliance Department.
1Capitalized terms used in this Manual are defined in Section VIII, "Definitions", at the end of this Manual.
2The telephone numbers for the Hotline are located on the Compliance Home Page. For additional information regarding reporting concerns, see Sections 2.6 and 2.7, below.
AQR Capital Management, LLC | Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics |
2 |
1.2Chief Compliance Officer
The CCO is responsible for the administration of the Firm's Compliance program including:
•maintaining and updating the Manual and other Compliance policies and procedures;
•ensuring that Compliance training be provided to new and existing employees on a periodic basis;
•communicating updates to Compliance policies and procedures to employees;
•participating on certain of the Firm's committees, where appropriate;
•receiving reports of violations of the Manual;
•reporting significant compliance matters to senior management; and
•reviewing, on at least an annual basis, the adequacy and effectiveness of the Compliance program and enhancing it where necessary.
The CCO has the authority to make exceptions or exempt an employee from any of the provisions in the Manual if the CCO determines that such exception or exemption is consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act") and Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
1.3Employee's Responsibility to Adhere to the Manual
All new employees receive a copy of the Manual, which includes the Firm's Code of Ethics (Section II, below), during the new hire onboarding process. When amendments to the Manual are made, all employees will receive a revised version of the Manual. When hired and at least annually thereafter, all employees are required to certify that they have received, read, understand and will comply with the policies and procedures in the Manual and any amendments thereto.
It is the responsibility of all employees to read, understand and abide by all aspects of the Manual.
II. Code of Ethics3
2.1Compliance with Applicable Federal and Other Securities Laws
Employees are required to comply with all federal and other securities laws, rules and regulations applicable to the business of AQR. Policies concerning these laws are discussed in this Manual and other policies and procedures adopted by the Firm.
2.2Fiduciary Obligations
The Firm is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. As an SEC-registered investment adviser, the Firm owes a fiduciary duty to its Clients. The fiduciary standard imposes upon the Firm an affirmative duty of utmost good faith to provide full and fair disclosure of all material facts to the Firm's Clients. The fiduciary standard requires that the Firm not mislead its Clients.
Fundamental to the fiduciary standard are the duties of loyalty and care. The duty of loyalty requires the Firm to serve the best interests of its Clients and put its Clients' interests ahead of those of the Firm. The duty of care requires the Firm to reasonably ensure that it bases its recommendations on materially accurate and complete information.
3All employees are subject to the Code of Ethics. The CCO may, at the CCO's sole discretion, subject certain third-party service providers and consultants to this Code of Ethics or a modified version hereof, depending on the facts and circumstances of the engagement.
AQR Capital Management, LLC | Business Conduct Manual and Code of Ethics |
3 |
Moreover, as a fiduciary, the Firm requires its employees to:
•have a reasonable, independent basis for their investment advice;
•ensure that their investment advice is in the Client's best interest and suitable to the Client's objectives, needs and circumstances;
•seek best execution for Clients' transactions where the Firm is in a position to direct brokerage transactions;
•refrain from effecting personal transactions inconsistent with Client interests; and
•avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest.
2.3Protecting Confidential Information
(a)Confidential Information
"Confidential Information" includes any non-public information, records, files, documents, correspondence or other material regarding the Firm, employees, Clients, or the business of the Firm. Such information includes, but is not limited to, the following:
•the identity of the Firm's Clients and information related to Client accounts, including but not limited to fees, securities holdings, and transactions;
•employee personal information, including performance reviews and compensation information;
•information related to the Firm's investment process, code, signals, operational or organizational structure, Human Resources Department files, controls, performance, financial assets, net worth, revenues or net income;
•information related to the Firm's portfolios, securities recommendations, trading and/or execution strategies, holdings, actual and pending trades, research or models; and
•software, algorithms, models or programs developed by the Firm.
Employees should take special caution to safeguard the Firm's Confidential Information. Employees should not circulate or discuss Confidential Information inside or outside of the Firm with unauthorized individuals and should not send Confidential Information to their personal email accounts. Employees also should not access, use, disclose, or divulge any Confidential Information except as may otherwise be required in connection with performance of their duties for the Firm.
Employees must promptly report to the Compliance Department if: (1) they become aware that Confidential Information is not secured or may appear to be generally accessible (i.e., on a shared drive); or (2) they have inadvertently received or disclosed Confidential Information.
Other than in the ordinary course of the employee's duties for the Firm, during and subsequent to the employee's employment, the employee shall not copy, take pictures of, remove or forward from the Firm's premises, either directly or indirectly, any drawings or whiteboards, writings, prints, documents, telephone/address directories (whether in hard copy or digital), computer screens or other screen shots, hard drives, thumb or flash drives, cloud systems or anything else containing, embodying, or disclosing any Confidential Information of the Firm or any of its Clients without the prior permission of the CCO or his designee. Upon the termination or resignation of an employee's employment with the Firm for any reason, the employee is expected to immediately return any such items to the Firm. Please contact Compliance at esurveillance@aqr.com if you have questions about this policy.
Confidential Information may be made available to certain employees for Compliance surveillance monitoring and other purposes as necessary to perform their duties for the Firm. Confidential Information may also be provided to third-party service providers as necessary to perform their contracted services for the Firm.
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In addition, Confidential Information may be disclosed to government, regulatory or self-regulatory organizations to fulfill the Firm's various regulatory obligations, or otherwise when disclosure is required by law, or is necessary for the purpose of, or in connection with, legal proceedings or to defend legal rights.
(b)Policy to Prevent Insider Trading
(i)Insider Trading
It is a criminal violation of law and a violation of Firm policy to engage in insider trading. Insider trading is defined as trading in securities on the basis of material nonpublic information ("MNPI") in breach of a duty of trust or confidence. Violation of these restrictions could have severe consequences for both the Firm and its employees. Any employee engaging in activity in violation of the provisions set forth in this section may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of employment or referral of the matter to the appropriate regulatory agency for civil or criminal investigation. Any employee who learns of any actual or potential violation of the law or provisions of this section must promptly notify the CCO or any member of the Compliance Department.
Federal, state and international securities laws and regulations prohibit securities transactions while in possession of MNPI under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to:
•"misappropriated" information or information improperly obtained by the purchaser or seller;
•information provided by a corporate insider to the purchaser or seller in exchange for a monetary or non-monetary consideration; or
•an individual prohibited from trading under the items referenced above "tips" the information to the purchaser or seller.
Violation of insider trading laws could result in civil and/or criminal penalties under both federal and state securities laws, including but not limited to:
•the Firm and/or the offending employee may be subject to criminal prosecution and, if convicted, significant monetary fines and imprisonment;
•the Firm may face SEC action (or other actions pursuant to a non-U.S. law or regulation) seeking monetary and administrative sanctions;
•the Firm and/or the offending employee may be subject to lawsuits by private plaintiffs; and
•the Firm and/or the offending employee may face suspension, revocation or termination of their registrations or memberships.
Any employee who believes that they may be in possession of MNPI must promptly report the information to the CCO or any member of the Compliance Department.
Unless specifically permitted by the CCO or his designee, such employee must not:
•Transact in the securities of the relevant issuer in any Personal Securities Account, Proprietary Account, Client Account, or AQR Fund;
•Discuss the information with anyone inside or outside of the Firm except for the CCO or any member of the Compliance Department; or
•Facilitate the use or disclosure by othersincluding an employeeof MNPI.
(ii)Recognizing MNPI
Information is considered "material" if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider the information important in making an investment decision. Generally, this includes
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any information the disclosure of which is reasonably likely to have a meaningful effect on the price of an outstanding security. Information may be material even if it relates to speculative or contingent events.
The assessment of materiality is highly fact-specific. When in doubt, employees should err on the side of caution and bring the information in question to the attention of the CCO or the Compliance Department for further consideration.
Information is considered "nonpublic" if such information has not been broadly disseminated to investors in the marketplace, such as an issuer releasing the information over the news wires, disclosing it in public filings made with a regulatory agency (e.g., Forms 10-K or 10-Q) or otherwise disseminating the information in a manner that makes it fully available to investors in the marketplace. The fact that nonpublic information is reflected in rumors in the marketplace does not necessarily mean that the information has been publicly disseminated. Even when some information regarding a matter has been made public, other aspects of the matter may remain nonpublic.
Examples of where MNPI may arise, depending on the circumstances, include, but are not limited to, the following events:
•impending or potential mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, joint ventures or changes in assets, such as large disposal of the same;
•earnings or revenue information and changes in previously disclosed financial information;
•liquidity issues or impending bankruptcy;
•events regarding the issuer's securities (e.g., advance knowledge of a ratings downgrade, defaults on securities, calls of securities for redemption, public or private sales of additional securities, stock splits or changes in dividends, repurchase plans or changes to the rights of security holders);
•new products or discoveries, or developments regarding clients or suppliers (e.g., the acquisition or loss of a major contract);
•major government action involving the issuer (e.g., FDA decision on a new drug);
•significant changes in control or management;
•content of forthcoming brokerage research reports;
•changes in auditors or auditor notification that the issuer may no longer rely on an auditor's report;
•actual or threatened litigation or regulatory actions;
•information relating to the market for an issuer's securities, such as a large order to purchase or sell securities; and
•prepublication of information regarding articles or reports in the financial press.
(iii)Restricted List
The Firm's Restricted List is maintained by the Compliance Department and is a list of issuers whose securities are subject to partial or complete trading prohibitions for Personal Securities Account and Firm trading, except as pre-approved by the CCO or his designee. Issuers are placed on the Restricted List for a variety of business or legal reasons, including to comply with the terms of confidentiality and other agreements, to prevent violations of the securities laws, and to avoid the appearance of misuse of Confidential Information by the Firm.
Employees should not speculate as to why an issuer was placed on the Restricted List. The Restricted List is highly confidential to the Firm and should not be disclosed externally without the Compliance Department's permission.
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If a particular issuer is placed on the Restricted List, trading is generally prohibited in all securities related to the issuer, including: equity, options, rights, swaps, debt, warrants, convertible securities, and any other derivative whose market value is determined principally with reference to those securities. In some instances, the Compliance Department may determine that a partial trading prohibition is appropriate. The Restricted List generally does not prohibit trading in exchange traded funds ("ETFs"), broad-based indices, diversified baskets, or similar instruments containing the issuer's securities.
Absent prior approval of the CCO or his designee, all employees are prohibited from engaging in any trade that is subject to a Restricted List prohibition, including for any Personal Securities Account, Proprietary Account, Client Account, or AQR Fund.
The effectiveness of the Restricted List depends to a large extent on employees' notifying the Compliance Department on a timely basis of events that may require the placement of an issuer on the Restricted List. For that reason, it is critical that an employee notify the Compliance Department immediately:
•if an employee believes he or she has obtained or may obtain MNPI;
•if an employee receives a request to sign a non-disclosure agreement ("NDA") or confidentiality agreement; or
•if an employee has been asked to join a formal or informal creditors committee or board of directors.
An issuer will ordinarily be removed from the Restricted List when the Compliance Department determines that any MNPI in the Firm's possession has been publicly disclosed or is no longer material and/or the term of the applicable NDA or confidentiality agreement has expired. In some cases, nonpublic information may continue to be material long after the conclusion of the transaction or relationship that led to the receipt of the information.
Requests to add issuers to or delete them from the Restricted List may be made by anyone by contacting the Compliance Department, which has ultimate authority to decide when an issuer should be added to or removed from the Restricted List.
The Compliance Department will maintain a record of all Restricted List entries, including the relevant dates and reasons for placing an issuer on and taking it off the Restricted List and the scope of the trading prohibitions. The Compliance Department will also monitor all Personal Securities Accounts, Proprietary Accounts, Client Accounts, and AQR Fund accounts for trading in Restricted List securities.
If an employee is uncertain as to whether an issuer should be placed on or taken off the Restricted List, he or she should consult the Compliance Department, which will also address any questions or requests for exceptions to the prohibition against trading securities of issuers on the Restricted List.
(iv)Expert Networks, Political Intelligence Firms, Similar Industry Consultants and Alternative Data
Another possible source of MNPI involves the use of expert networks, political intelligence firms, or similar industry consultants to provide information, advice, analysis, market or industry expertise for use in formulating investment views and decisions. Expert network firms provide specialized information about companies and industries to asset managers, mutual funds and other investment firms in exchange for fees. Political and/or economic intelligence firms collect intelligencee.g., information or analysis about fiscal or monetary policy decisions, legislative developments, political or regulatory actionsfrom current or former insiders, including members of Congress, their staffers, employees of regulatory agencies, and other Federal employees, and sell the information to asset managers, mutual funds and other investment firms whose businesses are affected by Federal legislations, regulation, policy changes, etc. Such service providers may have confidential information and/or MNPI by having relationships with, among others: (1) current or recent employees of public companies; (2) known significant suppliers or distributors to public companies; (3) attorneys,
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accountants and consultants engaged by public companies; (4) government officials; or (5) doctors serving on data safety monitoring boards for clinical trials. The use of expert networks, political intelligence firms, or similar industry consultants must be pre-approved by the Compliance Department.
The Firm uses various types of data for investment research. Data obtained from non-traditional sources, sometimes referred to as "alternative data," may contain potential MNPI as well as personally identifiable information depending on the nature and origin of the data. The use of alternative data must be pre-approved by the Compliance Department. Any questions concerning whether a particular data set constitutes alternative data and is subject to Compliance pre-approval should be raised with Compliance.
2.4Personal Trading Policy
(a)General Policy
Covered Persons may hold and transact in securities in Personal Securities Accounts only if they comply with the Firm's Personal Trading Policy as outlined below. Covered Persons are deemed to have a Beneficial Interest in any account or securities held by their Members of Household.
All exceptions to this Personal Trading Policy must be approved by the CCO or his designee.
(b)Securities Exempt from the Personal Trading Policy
The following is a list of securities that are exempt from the Personal Trading Policy, including all reporting and pre-clearance requirements (the "Exempt Securities"):
•direct obligations of the Government of the United States (i.e., treasury bills, treasury bonds and U.S. savings bonds);
•bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and High Quality Short-Term Debt Instruments, including short term municipal bonds and repurchase agreements;
•shares issued by money market funds;
•shares issued by U.S. registered open-end funds (i.e., mutual funds) other than AQR Mutual Funds and ETFs; and
•shares issued by unit investment trusts (other than ETFs) that are invested exclusively in unaffiliated mutual funds.
All other securities, which include any common or preferred stock, debt securities, ETFs, AQR Mutual Funds, shares issued by a close-end investment company or non-U.S. registered mutual fund, and private placements (collectively referred to as "Reportable Securities") are subject to the Personal Trading Policy and requirements set forth below.
If you have questions as to whether a type of investment is exempt, please contact the Compliance Department at CoreCompliance@aqr.com.
(c)Personal Securities Accounts
Covered Persons may only maintain Personal Securities Accounts with Firm-approved brokers. The list of Firm-approved brokers is subject to periodic updates and is maintained by the Compliance Department. The current list of Firm-approved brokers is available in the Personal Trading Quick Reference Guide, which is available on the Compliance Home Page.
Accounts that do not have the ability to transact in Reportable Securities (e.g., 401(k) Plans, 529 Plans, and accounts that are only permitted to transact in non-AQR U.S.-registered mutual funds) do not require reporting and are not subject to the Personal Trading Policy.
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Covered Persons are required to disclose via the Firm's Compliance System all Personal Securities Accounts no later than ten days after beginning their employment or being designated as a Covered Person (both referred to as their "start date"). All new Covered Persons must agree to move their existing Personal Securities Accounts to one of the Firm-approved brokers within 45 days of their start date. Covered Persons also must promptly report via the Firm's Compliance System any changes in their Personal Securities Accounts, including the opening of any new Personal Securities Accounts and closing of any existing Personal Securities Accounts. Once a Personal Securities Account is reported, the Covered Person must obtain Compliance Department approval before transacting in Reportable Securities.
Covered Persons must instruct and agree to allow their broker(s) to provide the Compliance Department with electronic files containing all transactions and holdings in Reportable Securities in their Personal Securities Accounts. AQR will not accept brokerage statements or transaction information via paper transmission.
(d)Reporting Requirements
(i)Holdings Reports
Covered Persons are required to disclose via the Firm's Compliance System all holdings in Reportable Securities4 no later than ten days after their start date.5 At least annually, all Covered Persons are required to certify to and update as necessary their holdings in Reportable Securities.6
(ii)Transaction Reports
On a quarterly basis, each Covered Person is required to certify that all transactions in Reportable Securities in Personal Securities Accounts that occurred during the quarter have been reported and provide any necessary updates. All Covered Persons are required to complete the quarterly and annual Compliance certifications, even if they do not hold Personal Securities Accounts and did not enter into any transactions in Reportable Securities during the reporting period.
The Compliance Department will review these reports and any issues or potential violations will be escalated to the CCO or his designee.
(e)Pre-Clearance Requirements
(i)General
Unless explicitly exempted below, Covered Persons are required to pre-clear all transactions in Reportable Securities through the Compliance System before any Covered Person directly or indirectly acquires a Beneficial Interest in any Reportable Security. This includes, among others, all equity and debt securities, all transactions in Private Placements,7 and any loan on behalf of Covered Persons with a financial institution that will be collateralized by Reportable Securities.8 Covered Persons are responsible for understanding and monitoring any margin activity (e.g., pro-
active funding, capital requirements, Portfolio/Regulation T margin calls) in their Personal Securities Accounts and pre-clear any liquidation sales related to a margin call. Failure to pre-clear any
4Covered Persons holding shares in AQR Mutual Funds directly through ALPS Fund Services, Inc. ("ALPS") or through their AQR 401k Plan at Merrill Lynch do not need to report these transactions or holdings to the Compliance Department as the Firm obtains this information directly from ALPS and Merrill Lynch.
5The initial holdings report must be current as of a date not more than 45 days prior to their start date. This requirement also applies to Private Placements and all Reportable Securities not held at a broker-dealer.
6Holdings information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date each subsequent annual report is submitted.
7 Covered Persons are required to pre-clear all transactions (i.e., initial investment, additional funding to an existing investment or redemption/liquidating transactions) on behalf of Covered Persons in a Private Placement.
8For pre-clearance requests involving collateralized loans, Covered Persons will be required to provide the name of the financial institution, the Reportable Securities used as collateral and a description of the loan's purpose.
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liquidation sales related to a margin call, including those transactions executed by a broker without the Covered Person's knowledge or direction, may result in a violation of the Code of Ethics and the potential imposition of a sanction.
NoteThe Compliance Department reserves the right to deny any pre-clearance request for any reason and the reasons for any such denial may not be shared with the Covered Person.
(ii)Transactions Exempt from Pre-Clearance
The following types of Reportable Securities and transactions do not require pre-clearance, but still must be reported:
•ETFs;
•AQR Mutual Funds;
•Non-US registered open-end funds (e.g., Non-U.S. mutual funds, UCITs);
•Municipal Bonds;
•Non-volitional transactions (i.e., Reportable Securities that are acquired or disposed of without the Covered Person's discretion as to time or amount including, for example, (1) securities acquired through stock splits, reverse stock splits, mergers, consolidations, spin-offs, and other similar corporate reorganizations generally involving all holders of the same class of securities; and (2) an involuntary sale as the result of a company exercising a call provision on its outstanding debt);
•Transactions involving the exercise and/or purchase of securities pursuant to an employer stock option plan and any other similar plans. Any subsequent sale of Reportable Securities received from such plans must be pre-cleared;
•Transactions made pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan;
•Exercises of subscription rights; and
•Transactions in direct obligations of non-U.S. Governments.
(iii)Seven-Day Blackout Period
Pre-clearance will generally not be given for any personal transaction in a Reportable Security, subject to certain de minimis thresholds, during the seven-calendar day period after either a buy or sell order for a Client's account is executed or while a Client order is pending for the same or related security (such as securities convertible into the security).
Covered Persons are reminded that they may not knowingly trade parallel to or against a Client in a Reportable Security at any time or in any amount.
(iv)Approval Period
Generally, if a pre-clearance request is approved, the approval is effective until local market close on the date of approval; provided, however, the CCO or his designee may shorten or rescind any approval if it is deemed appropriate to do so.
NoteFacts and circumstances may occur, post pre-clearance approval, which may result in the Compliance Department requiring a reversal of the trade and disgorgement of any resulting gains.
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(f)Third-Party Managed Accounts
Transactions within approved Third-Party Managed Accounts are exempt from the Firm's pre- clearance requirements if the following conditions are met:
•The Covered Person certifies that the investment manager has exclusive, discretionary investment authority over the account and that the Covered Person has no direct or indirect influence or control over the account; and
•The investment manager signs a certification confirming that the investment manager is independent and not affiliated with or related to the Covered Person, the investment manager has been granted sole authority to exercise investment and trading discretion, the investment manager does not receive trade recommendations or suggestions from the Covered Person, the Covered Person has no direct or indirect influence or control over the account, and the account will not purchase any security issued in an initial public offering.9
Covered Persons are required to certify on a quarterly basis that the Covered Person has no direct or indirect influence or control over such accounts. Investment managers may be periodically asked to recertify that the above conditions continue to be met.
NoteRobo-advised accounts are not considered Third-Party Managed Accounts and are subject to the pre-clearance requirements discussed above.10 As such, the transactions in these accounts must be limited to securities that are exempt from the Firm's pre-clearance requirements, such as ETFs and mutual funds. As a reminder, all ETFs, AQR Mutual Funds and non-U.S. registered Mutual Funds require reportingsee Section 2.4(d), "Reporting Requirements", above.
(g)Required Holding Period
A Covered Person may not purchase and sell, or sell and purchase, the same equity or debt security (except municipal bonds) within 30 calendar days. This provision extends across all Personal Securities Accounts (i.e., if you purchase a stock or corporate bond in one account, you cannot sell that same security in less than 30 calendar days in a different brokerage account).
(h)Prohibited and Limited Transactions
The following table lists prohibitions and restrictions on transactions and holdings in Reportable Securities. Other than the restrictions on Initial Public Offerings, the below prohibitions do not apply to Third-Party Managed Accounts, as defined above.
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Prohibition or Limitation |
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Initial Public Offerings / |
Covered Persons are prohibited from purchasing any security or |
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Initial Coin Offerings |
other interest issued in an Initial Public Offering or Initial Coin |
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Offering. |
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2Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. Covered Persons are prohibited from trading Affiliated Managers
("AMG") Securities |
Group, Inc. securities (ticker: AMG).11 |
9Covered Persons must ensure that the third-party investment manager completes the required certification. Until the Covered Person provides the certification to the Compliance Department, the account will be subject to pre-clearance requirements and other prohibited transactions as set forth in the Personal Trading Policy.
10Robo-advisers are digital platforms that provide automated, algorithm-driven financial planning services with little to no human supervision. A robo-advised account is an account offered by a robo-adviser on its digital platform.
11Please note the Firm's portfolio management teams are also prohibited from purchasing or selling AMG securities in Client Accounts.
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(i)Trading Activity
Covered Persons are discouraged from engaging in a pattern of investment transactions that either: (1) is so frequent as to potentially impact their ability to carry out their assigned responsibilities; (2) give rise to conflicts or perceived conflicts with the best interest of AQR's Clients; or (3) use company resources or information learned during the course of their association with AQR for personal gain.
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NoteThe use of trading algorithms that operate autonomously for personal trading is prohibited.
The Compliance Department monitors the volume of all Covered Persons' personal trading and reserves the right to subjectively determine what constitutes excessive trading. The Compliance Department may restrict personal trading for a particular Covered Person or for all Covered Persons.
(j)Personal Trading Violations
The CCO or his designee reserves the right to prohibit a Covered Person's personal trading at any time and for any reason. If a Covered Person does not comply with the Personal Trading Policy, the Firm may require the Covered Person to trade out of the applicable position. Each Covered Person agrees to exit or liquidate upon instructions from the CCO or his designee, with the understanding that no explanation is required if such instruction is given, and no liability will accrue to the Firm as a result of any losses arising out of such exit or liquidation.
Personal trading violations may lead to disciplinary or other action, including but not limited to: (1) a requirement that a trade/transaction be reversed (even if the Covered Person incurs a loss in doing so) in the event that a Covered Person does not receive pre-approval from Compliance prior to transacting;
(2)the suspension of personal trading privileges; (3) other employment related action including termination of employment; or (4) referral of the matter to the appropriate regulatory or government agency.
(k)Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies
The trading of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies (collectively, "Cryptocurrencies") is permitted, but may be subject to additional review and restrictions by the Compliance Department based on regulatory guidance. As noted above, Covered Persons are prohibited from participating in initial coin offerings and initial token offerings.
NoteAs stated above, the use of trading algorithms that operate autonomously for personal trading, including for trading cryptocurrencies, is prohibited.
2.5Violations and Sanctions
An incidental failure to comply with the Manual or the Firm's other policies and procedures may not necessarily amount to a violation. The CCO or his designee makes the determination as to what constitutes a violation and, where applicable, will work with the Human Resources Department and the employee's supervisor to determine the appropriate disciplinary action, if any. When evaluating the appropriate disciplinary action for a Code of Ethics violation, if any, relevant facts and circumstances are considered, including, but not limited to, the frequency of occurrence and length of time since any previous violation by the individual employee.
Violations that demonstrate a lack of respect for the Firm's commitment to adhere to high ethical, integrity and business conduct standards may result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment. Additionally, a violation of law may lead to disciplinary action that may include termination of employment and/or referral of the matter to the appropriate regulatory or government agency for civil or criminal investigation.
2.6Duty to Report Violations and Cooperate with Firm Investigations
Employees are required to report promptly any known or suspected violations of the Manual, any Firm policy or procedure, or any law or regulatory requirement related to our business, including, but not limited to:
•violation of any applicable federal, state or international securities laws;
•breach of fiduciary duty arising under any applicable federal or state laws; or
•any similar violation of any federal, state or international law by the Firm or any of its employees or agents.
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Reporting can be made to a manager, the CCO, the CLO, any member of the Compliance Department or anonymously via the AQR Hotline.12 Managers and members of the Compliance Department have an obligation to escalate any such reports to the CCO or CLO or their designees, who will determine how to proceed and whether a matter should be reported to any applicable Firm regulator.
Employees (and former employees as needed) must also cooperate as requested by the Firm with any investigation, inquiry, internal review, examination or litigation related to the Firm's business or potential misconduct.
NoteNotwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Manual will not be interpreted or applied in any manner that would violate an employee's legal rights as an employee under applicable law. For example, nothing in this Manual prohibits or in any way restricts any employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, otherwise communicating directly with, cooperating with or providing information to any governmental or regulatory body or any self-regulatory organization or making other disclosures that are protected under applicable law or regulations of the SEC or any other governmental or regulatory body or self-regulatory organization. An employee does not need prior authorization from AQR before taking any such action and an employee is not required to inform AQR if he or she chooses to take such action.
2.7Non-Retaliation Statement
The Firm strictly prohibits intimidation or retaliation against anyone who makes a good faith report about a known or suspected violation of the Manual or any Firm policy or procedure, or any law or regulation. The Firm also strictly prohibits any intimidation or retaliation against anyone who assists with any inquiry or investigation of any such violation.
The Firm will endeavor to maintain the confidentiality of any report of potential wrongdoing to the extent practicable and ensure that no employee will face any unlawful retaliatory action for making such report. Information provided will be handled discreetly and shared only with those individuals that the Firm has a need to inform, such as regulators and those who are involved in investigating, resolving and, if necessary, remediating the issue. Employees who have concerns about or are aware of possible retaliatory action must report it, either to their manager, a Human Resources representative, or the Hotline.
2.8Legal and Regulatory Inquiries
The financial markets in which AQR participates are highly regulated and, as a result, the Firm and/or its employees may from time to time be involved in certain legal or regulatory matters. Any employee who receives a legal or regulatory inquiry or request for information (relating to AQR or any other entity or person) from entities including, but not limited to, a regulator, government agency, self-regulatory organization, supervisory authority, legislative body, market exchange or litigant should immediately contact the CCO or his designee or the CLO.
Employees may not reach out to government agencies, regulators or self-regulatory organizations for routine guidance or questions on business, legal or regulatory matters without pre-approval from the CCO or his designee. Note that the Legal and Compliance Department is not subject to this restriction. Nothing in this section shall interfere with an employee's legal rights as an employee under applicable law, as discussed above.
Nothing in this Manual shall prohibit or restrict an employee from participating, cooperating, or testifying in any action, investigation, or proceeding with, or providing information to, any governmental agency, legislative body, or any self-regulatory organization, provided that, to the extent permitted by law, upon an employee's receipt of any subpoena, court order or other legal process compelling the disclosure of any such information, documents, or testimony, an employee shall give prompt prior written notice to the CCO, CLO, or the
12The telephone numbers for the Hotline are located on the Compliance Home Page.
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Compliance Department in order to provide the Firm reasonable opportunity to take appropriate steps to protect its Confidential Information.
III. Business Conduct
3.1Outside Business Activities
Certain outside business activities engaged in by employees may present a conflict of interest for the Firm. As such, employees must obtain both the prior approval from their manager and the CCO or his designee before engaging in any of the following reportable outside business activities:
•being employed by (including, on a consulting basis) or affiliated with any current or prospective Client, bank, investment adviser, broker/dealer, futures or commodities broker;
•serving as an officer, director, principal, general partner, employee, or consultant of a public company, private company or partnership;
•serving on a creditors' or similar committee;
•serving on the board of governors/trustees/directors or investment committee or similar committee of any public or private institution (e.g., charitable organization, educational institution, or other non-profit organization);
•serving as a political appointee or elected official, whether federal, state or local, or with a political party;
•working as a teacher or professor for a university or other educational institution;
•any other outside business activity in which the employee receives compensation or has a reasonable expectation of compensation; or
•any other outside business activity in which the employee spends 10% or more of their time.
Volunteer work for a civic, charitable, educational or religious organization does not require pre-clearance unless the employee is involved in the financial matters of the organization. Volunteer work for a Political Official or Political Organization must be done in strict compliance with the requirements in Section 3.3, "Political Contributions and Political Activities", below.
3.2Related Persons and Significant Non-Related Persons
Certain family or personal relationships of employees may present a potential conflict of interest for the Firm. As such, employees are required to disclose through the Firm's Compliance System any Related Person or Significant Non-Related Person employed by or affiliated with a:
•domestic or foreign governmental agency or entity;
•state pension plan;
•vendor or service provider of the Firm;
•current or prospective Client of the Firm;
•bank, broker/dealer, futures broker, commodities broker, or another financial services firm;
•hedge fund (other than the Firm), private equity fund, asset manager, investment firm, or any affiliate thereof; or
•an officer or director of a public company.
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All employees must promptly notify the Compliance Department through the Firm's Compliance System of any material changes with respect to the employment or affiliations of a Related Person or Significant Non-Related Person.
3.3Political Contributions and Political Activities
The Firm's commitment to the highest level of ethical standards and business conduct extends to the Firm's business interactions with government officials and entities. The Firm has adopted policies to comply with federal, state and local rules and regulations and "Pay-to-Play" rules in order to prevent material conflicts. Failure to comply with these rules and regulations could result in civil or criminal penalties for the Firm and the covered associates involved.13
Employees and their Members of Household are prohibited from making or soliciting Political Contributions to any (1) state or local Political Officials, (2) candidates for state or local public office, and (3) state and local Political Organizations.
All other Political Contributions and Political Activities by an employee or their Members of Household must be pre-cleared by the Compliance Department through the Firm's Compliance System.
Please note that even when an employee's Political Activities have been pre-cleared and approved by the Compliance Department, employees are not permitted to use any Firm resources in connection with personal political activity or engage in such activity during business hours. Firm resources include, but are not limited to, the use of Firm computers, email, phones, conference rooms, staff time (such as assistant and other support staff time) or other property. Additionally, employees should not use Firm letterhead or other materials containing the Firm's name or logo in connection with any personal political activity.
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A sitting state governor has announced his candidacy for president. Can you contribute to his |
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campaign? |
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No. As a sitting governor, he is a state official and, therefore, contributions to the campaign, as well as |
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any fundraising or solicitation activity on behalf of the campaign, are strictly prohibited. |
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Your spouse would like to volunteer for the campaign of a friend who is running for local office. |
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Is this permitted? |
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Pre-clearance is required. Employees and their Members of Household would generally be permitted to |
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engage in volunteering activities for a campaign that do not involve solicitation or fundraising, such as |
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encouraging voter turnout, collecting signatures for ballot access, or engaging in discussions on political |
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issues with potential voters. |
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You would like to contribute to a local Political Organization. Is this permitted? |
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No. Contributions to state and local Political Organizations are strictly prohibited. |
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13Specifically, Rule 206(4)-5 under the Advisers Act addresses "Pay-to-Play" practices under which direct or indirect payments by investment advisers to state and local government officials are perceived to improperly influence the award of government investment business. The rule imposes a "time out" on the ability of an investment adviser to receive compensation for conducting advisory business with a government entity for two years after certain contributions are made to an official of a government entity. The rule also prohibits an adviser and its covered associates from coordinating or soliciting any contribution or payment to an official of the government entity, or a related local or state political party.
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3.4Charitable Contributions
(a)Overview
The Firm encourages employee involvement and contributions to qualified charitable, religious or civic organizations. Even where it concerns Charitable Contributions, employees are reminded of their obligation to avoid conflicts of interest that could impact a Clients' interest or the Firm's reputation. Subject to the guidelines below, employee contributions to non-profit organizations exempt from federal income taxation under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) are permitted under this policy and do not require pre-clearance.
(b)Charitable ContributionsGuidelines
The following types of Charitable Contributions must be pre-approved by the Compliance Department through the Firm's Compliance System:
•Charitable Contributions Made by the Firm. All Charitable Contributions made by the Firm, which include direct contributions to charitable organizations and sponsorships for corporate events that benefit charitable organizations. Firm Charitable Contributions also require approval by the Firm's Philanthropic Committee.
•Charitable Contributions Made to or Requested by Clients and Prospective Clients. All Charitable Contributions made by employees to Clients and prospective Clients, or as a result of a Client or prospective Client solicitation.14
•Charitable Contributions Solicited by Officials. Personal or Firm Charitable Contributions that are requested by or in any way linked to a U.S. Official or Foreign Official.
•Contributions to 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) Organizations. All Charitable Contributions to non-profit organizations that are classified as 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) organizations, which are permitted to engage in electoral activity.
•Charitable Contributions to Educational Institutions. Personal Charitable Contributions to educational institutions if the institution is a Client or prospective Client and the amount of the contribution exceeds $10,000.
•Potential Conflicts of Interest. Any Charitable Contribution that might create an actual or potential conflict of interest with the Firm, employees and/or Clients.
(c)Prohibited Charitable Contributions
The following Charitable Contributions are prohibited:
•Charitable Contributions that are solicited or directed by existing Clients or prospective Clients for the purpose of influencing the award or continuation of a business relationship;
•Charitable Contributions given as a bribe, payoff or kickback (e.g., in order to obtain or retain business or to secure an improper advantage); or
•Charitable Contributions that create the appearance of an implied obligation that the giver is entitled to preferential treatment, an award of business, better prices or improved terms.
14When submitting such contributions for pre-approval, Employees will be asked to provide information on the solicitation, including but not limited to, what the Firm's status is with the Client or prospect (i.e., are we currently prospecting new business), and confirmation that the request is not tied to AQR's business with the entity.
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3.5Gifts and Entertainment
The Firm monitors the nature, quantity and frequency of the Gifts and Entertainment that its employees give and receive. This policy is designed not to deter legitimate business Gifts or Entertainment but to reasonably prevent Gifts or Entertainment from creating an actual or potential conflict of interest or a violation of law, as well as to protect the Firm's reputation. An actual or potential conflict of interest occurs when the personal interests of employees interfere or could potentially interfere with their responsibilities to the Firm and its Clients. The giving, receiving or solicitation of Gifts or Entertainment could create an appearance of impropriety or may raise a potential conflict of interest; also, certain Clients may have their own established parameters and limitations regarding the receipt of Gifts and Entertainment. Employees should use common sense and seek guidance from the Compliance Department (BusinessConduct@aqr.com) in determining whether or not to accept Gifts or Entertainment and to be aware of potential conflicts and continue to make all decisions in the best interests of the Firm and its Clients.
(a)Reporting and Pre-Clearance of Gifts
Employees are required to promptly report to the Compliance Department through the Firm's Compliance System all Gifts15 they give to, or receive from, persons or entities with which the Firm is currently or potentially conducting business (i.e., active prospects). This reporting requirement does not apply to logo items or Gifts of a nominal or de minimis value (less than $25), such as pens and notepads. Gifts valued at or above $25 would not be considered nominal, such as duffel bags or fleece jackets, even if they contain the Firm's logo, and therefore should be reported. Please note that Gifts are not permitted to be given or accepted by employees of AQR Europe except of a nominal or de minimis value.
Employees must pre-clear all Gifts or promotional items (e.g., books and logo items) exceeding $50 given to, or received from persons with which the Firm is currently or potentially conducting business through the Firm's Compliance System. Employees should not provide or accept any Gift that would result in the total amount of Gifts given to, or received from, persons with which the Firm is currently or potentially conducting business that would be in excess of $100 in total value during any calendar year unless approved by the CCO or his designee.
The Firm may determine that a Gift is inappropriate or excessive and may direct such Gift to be returned or donated to a charity of the Firm's choosing.
Q: A law firm engaged by the Firm sends you a bottle of wine valued at $40. What action(s) are required to accept this gift?
A: You may accept this gift, but reporting is required.
Q: You would like to send a gift basket to a Client's team of five people, valued at $150. What action(s) are required to send this gift?
A: Because this is a shared gift among five people, the per person cost is $30. You are permitted to send the gift, but reporting is required.
15Employee acceptance of accommodations, tickets or other entertainment when the persons or representatives of the entities with which the Firm is currently or potentially conducting business are not present will be considered a Gift under this policy (for example, if a Client gives an AQR employee tickets to a baseball game but the Client does not attend). Employees should not solicit tickets from any person or entity with which the Firm is currently or potentially conducting business. See Section 3.5(b), "Reporting and Pre-Clearance of Entertainment", below.
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A vendor sends you a large box of chocolates and you are unsure what the cost is. What action(s) |
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are required to accept this gift? |
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Use reasonable efforts to determine the cost (e.g., Google search) and reach out to |
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BusinessConduct@aqr.com with any questions. Depending on the value, report (if under $50) or pre- |
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clear (if over $50). Please note, if pre-clearance is required, the gift should not be opened until approval |
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is received. |
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A vendor sends you an OpenTable gift card, valued at $150. What action(s) are required to accept |
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this gift? |
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You should contact the Compliance Department. Cash and cash equivalents are generally prohibited, |
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but gift cards or gift certificates that can only be used at specific vendors will be considered on a case- |
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by-case basis. |
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A vendor sends you a box of cookies, valued at $85, and you leave them out in the kitchen. What |
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action(s) are required to accept this gift? |
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Because the box of cookies is left out in a common area for anyone's consumption, it is not considered |
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a gift to a specific recipient, and neither pre-clearance nor reporting is required. |
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(b) Reporting and Pre-Clearance of Entertainment |
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Employees are required to promptly report to the Compliance Department through the Firm's Compliance |
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System all Entertainment benefits they give to, or receive from, persons or entities with which the Firm is |
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currently or potentially conducting business. Employees must pre-clear all Entertainment exceeding $150 |
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per person, per occurrence given to, or received from persons with whom the Firm is currently or |
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potentially conducting business through the Firm's Compliance System. |
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Individual employees should not provide or accept any Entertainment (including non-educational events) |
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that would result in the total amount of Entertainment given to or received from persons with which the |
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Firm is currently or potentially conducting business to be in excess of $1,000 in value during any calendar |
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year unless approved by the CCO or his designee. |
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If an employee is receiving Entertainment from a business contact and is accompanied by a guest (such |
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as a spouse) or is providing Entertainment to a business contact and his or her guest, the guest's portion |
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will be allocated to the employee's or business contact's aggregate annual limit. |
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A Client invites you to attend a baseball playoff game. The ticket is valued at $600. What action(s) |
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are required to attend this event? |
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Pre-clearance is required. |
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A counterparty invites you to attend the U.S. Open. The ticket value is $140, and you estimate |
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that they will also cover $50 of food and beverage. What action(s) are required to attend this |
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event? |
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A: |
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The total cost exceeds $150; pre-clearance is required. |
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A Client invites you to their corporate suite at a football game. The per person cost is unclear. |
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What action(s) are required to attend this event? |
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Ask the Client if they can provide a per person cost for the event and then, depending on the value, pre- |
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clear (if over $150) or report (if under $150) to Compliance. If you have any questions regarding cost, |
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please contact Compliance. |
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Q: |
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Person A at a Client invites you to the U.S. Open and the ticket is $900 face value. Person B at |
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the same Client invites you to the Major League Baseball playoffs, face value of the ticket is |
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$1,100. What action(s) are required to attend these events? |
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A: |
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Pre-clearance is required for both. Depending on the specific facts and circumstances, because each |
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invitation is from different people at the same Client, the $1,000 annual entertainment limit is treated |
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separately for each contact. |
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A Client invites you and your spouse to a golf outing, the cost of which is $100 per person. What |
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action(s) are required to attend this event? |
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Pre-clearance is required. If a spouse attends, his or her expense counts towards the employee's annual |
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entertainment limit. The total value attributed to the employee in this hypothetical is $200. |
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(c)Gifts and Entertainment Involving U.S. and Foreign Officials
Under certain circumstances, Gifts and Entertainment can be provided to or received from U.S. Officials and/or Foreign Officials. However, those circumstances are limited. The Compliance Department must pre-approve all Gifts, Entertainment and hospitality provided to or received from U.S. Officials and/or Foreign Officials. Employees must pre-clear these Gifts, Entertainment and hospitality through the Firm's Compliance System.
See Section IV, "Anti-Bribery Policy" below, for further discussion on interacting with U.S. and Foreign Officials.
Q:A Foreign Official requests a car service from AQR's offices to the airport. What action(s) are required to pay for the car service?
A: Pre-clearance is required.
Q: You would like to provide a copy of an AQR partner's published book to a U.S. Official. What action(s) are required to give this gift?
A: Pre-clearance is required.
(d)Gifts and Entertainment Involving ERISA Plan Fiduciaries
Significant limitations apply to the giving of Gifts and Entertainment to ERISA Plan Fiduciaries. ERISA Plan Fiduciaries may be required to report to the government any Gifts and Entertainment provided by AQR. Moreover, Gifts and Entertainment provided in excess of $250 in any given year to such individuals may be subject to enforcement by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Employees must pre-clear through the Firm's Compliance System all Gifts and Entertainment provided to or received from ERISA Plan Fiduciaries. Employees should not provide any Gifts or Entertainment to ERISA Plan Fiduciaries in excess of $250 per individual during any calendar year. Please contact the Legal or Compliance Departments if you are unsure whether a Client or prospect is an ERISA Plan Fiduciary.
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Q: |
You would like to cover the dinner expense of an ERISA Client. What action(s) are required to pay |
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for this dinner? |
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A: |
Pre-clearance is required. |
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Q: |
You would like to send a few AQR logo items valued at less than $20 to an ERISA Client. What |
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action(s) are required? |
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Pre-clearance is required. |
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(e)Educational Events
All educational and training events that the Firm hosts for persons outside the Firm (e.g., AQR Forum, AQR University) or events where a non-AQR firm will cover the cost for an employee to attend must be pre-cleared with the Compliance Department through the Firm's Compliance System or at BusinessConduct@aqr.com. The event must be intended to provide training or education to the attendee(s). Payment or reimbursement, whether given or received by the Firm or an employee, for associated reasonable meals, lodging and transportation is generally permissible. Reimbursement or payment for other forms of entertainment (e.g., golf outings, tours) while at a location for the purpose of training or education would generally not be permissible. Additionally, any expenses for a spouse, partner or guest of the attendee at an educational event will not be paid for or reimbursed.
(f)Prohibitions and Restrictions on Gifts and Entertainment
(i)General Prohibitions
The following Gifts and Entertainment are prohibited and may not be given or accepted:
•Gifts and Entertainment prohibited by law;
•Gifts and Entertainment given or received as a bribe, payoff or kickback (e.g., in order to obtain or retain business or to secure an improper advantage);
•Gifts and Entertainment that create the appearance or an implied obligation that the provider is entitled to preferential treatment, an award of business, better prices or improved terms;
•Gifts and Entertainment that could influence the employee or recipient or appear to influence the employee's or recipient's ability to act in the best interest of AQR or its Clients or the recipient's organization;
•Gifts and Entertainment that could negatively impact the Firm's reputation;
•Gifts and Entertainment the employee/recipient knows or reasonably should know are prohibited by the provider's or recipient's organization or by their legal contract, if applicable, with AQR (when in doubt, check with the Compliance Department);
•Gifts of cash or cash equivalents16;
•Gifts given in the form of non-cash benefits (e.g., the promise of employment);
•Entertainment not in good taste or that is not business appropriate; or
•Entertainment that might be viewed as excessive in the context of the business occasion.
16Gift cards or gift certificates that can only be used at specific vendors (e.g., Starbucks, CoreCar) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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(ii)Travel and Accommodations
Generally, travel and accommodations benefits offered to or by persons or entities with which the Firm is currently or potentially conducting business will be denied. However, in certain limited circumstances, travel and accommodation benefits will be permitted. For example, ground transportation, such as a car service that is typically provided in the ordinary course of business, or travel associated with educational events (see Section 3.5(e), "Educational Events", above) will be permitted. Employees should contact the Compliance Department to discuss reimbursement requirements related to air travel (e.g., travel on a private plane) and accommodations concerning an educational event or business meeting.
IV. Anti-Bribery Policy
4.1Overview
The Firm and its employees are subject to various U.S. and international laws and regulations prohibiting the giving or promising of anything of value in exchange for business from, or to influence the decision of, U.S. or foreign governments and officials as well as commercial counterparties and AQR active and prospective Clients or business partners (collectively, "AQR Business Partners"). This policy establishes what the Firm, its employees, agents and representatives can and cannot do under these laws and regulations and the level of ethical conduct that is expected when transacting Firm business.
If you have any questions regarding the Firm's Anti-Bribery Policy and/or the various international anti-bribery laws, please contact the CCO or any member of the Compliance Department.
4.2Relevant Law
(a)U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") prohibits the bribing of Foreign Officials and requires U.S. businesses to maintain internal accounting controls and to keep books and records that accurately reflect all transactions associated with Foreign Officials.
The FCPA prohibits the offering or promising of anything of value to a Foreign Official in order to obtain or retain business for the Firm. The FCPA's prohibitions are broad and cover:
•cash payments;
•non-cash payments, benefits, and/or favors; and
•in certain circumstances, otherwise legitimate business expenditures such as Gifts, Entertainment and hosted travel or training.
The FCPA prohibits the above-referenced examples whether they are made directly or indirectly through third parties, such as consultants, agents and/or joint venture partners. Employees must pre-clear all third- party foreign business arrangements with the Compliance Department at BusinessConduct@aqr.com.
(b)Financial Institution Bribery Laws
It may be a felony under U.S. law to corruptly give, promise or offer anything of value to an officer, director, employee, agent or attorney of a financial institution with the intent to influence that individual in connection with any business transaction with the financial institution. The Firm and employees are prohibited from passing anything of value to any representative or agent of a financial institution with the intent to influence such recipient in connection with any business transaction with the financial institution.
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(c)UK Bribery Act
The UK Bribery Act 2010 (the "Bribery Act") created broad anti-bribery rules to prevent public and private sector corruption. The UK Bribery Act's prohibitions are relevant to this Anti-Bribery Policy. In addition, AQR Europe has established an Anti-Bribery Policy to comply with the provisions of the Bribery Act and to demonstrate AQR Europe's commitment to preventing bribery.
Under the Bribery Act, bribery is illegal, and an individual or company that commits bribery is guilty of an offense. Offenses include bribing another person; accepting a bribe; and bribing a foreign public official. Additionally, companies are also strictly liable if they fail to prevent such acts by those working for or on their behalf.
It is important to appreciate the wide ranging territorial scope of the Bribery Act. Violations of the Bribery Act can occur if the individual has a close connection with the UK or if the organization is incorporated in the UK or merely carries on a business in the UK.
Please contact the Compliance Department (BusinessConduct@aqr.com) with any questions related to AQR Europe's Anti-Bribery Policy.
4.3General Policy
The Firm, its employees, agents and representatives are prohibited from offering or promising anything of value to a domestic or foreign government official or an AQR Business Partner in order to obtain or retain business.
(a)Prohibited Payments
Examples of prohibited payments (including offers or promises of payments) of anything of value include, but are not limited to, the following:
•payments to prevent some governmental action, such as the imposition of a large tax or fine, or the cancellation of an existing government contract or contractual obligation;
•payments to obtain a license or other authorization from a government (such as the right to distribute investment products) where the issuance involves the Foreign Official or government's discretion;
•payments to improperly obtain confidential information about business opportunities or the activities of competitors;
•payments to influence the rate of taxes levied on the Firm's business;
•payments to resolve commercial litigation in foreign courts; or
•payments to alter the nature of foreign regulations or the application of regulatory provisions on the Firm's business.
(b)Non-Cash Payments
Requests for payments by Foreign Officials and AQR Business Partners that would violate the relevant anti-bribery laws can consist of non-cash payments. Examples of such non-cash payments (including offers or promises of non-cash payments) include, but are not limited to, the following:
•non-cash gifts;
•gifts or sales of stock or other investment opportunities in other than an arm's-length transaction for demonstrated fair market value (e.g., selling to a Foreign Official or AQR Business Partner at inflated prices or buying from a Foreign Official or AQR Business Partner at deflated prices);
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•contracts or other business opportunities awarded to a company in which a Foreign Official holds a financial interest;
•medical, educational, or living expenses;
•travel, meals, lodging, shopping or entertainment expenses; or
•internships or employment, letters of recommendation or introduction, or informal calls of support.
(c)Gifts and Entertainment
To prevent violations of the relevant anti-bribery laws, it is required that employees strictly adhere to the Firm's Gifts and Entertainment Policy (see Section 3.5, "Gifts and Entertainment", above).
(d)Internships/Employment Opportunities
On occasion, Foreign Officials or AQR Business Partners may request that AQR provide internships or employment to certain individuals, write letters of recommendation or introduction, or make informal calls of support (collectively, "Favors of Introduction/Support"). Offering or providing Favors of Introduction/Support for (1) Foreign Officials or AQR Business Partners, (2) relatives of either, or (3) other individuals at the request of a Foreign Official or AQR Business Partner may be viewed as providing an item of value to the Foreign Official or AQR Business Partner.
Providing Favors of Introduction/Support is not inherently improper, but employees must involve Compliance before responding to such requests to ensure that the Firm can avoid any appearance of impropriety. Additionally, an employee who is aware that a candidate for employment at AQR is related to a Foreign Official or AQR Business Partner, regardless of how the individual came to the attention of AQR, must notify the Compliance Department of the candidate's relationship.
Employees must not interview candidates for employment at AQR related to or recommended by a Foreign Official or AQR Business Partner outside of the ordinary course of the employment process without prior approval by the Compliance Department (BusinessConduct@aqr.com). The Compliance Department will work with the Human Resources Department to consider the qualifications of any employment candidates related to or recommended by a Foreign Official or AQR Business Partner to ensure that such individuals have the appropriate experience for any positions. The Compliance and Human Resources Departments will consider the nature of the relationship between the employee and any individual for whom a recommendation or informal call of support is requested, as well as the qualifications of the individual versus the nature of the recommendation in determining the appropriate course of action.
V.Communications with the Public and Media
5.1Media and the Public
All employees (excluding the Founding Principals) must receive prior approval from the Chief Marketing Officer (the "CMO") or designee before communicating with the media. This includes media communications with journalists from any print or internet publication, television or radio program or any other media outlet. Employees are reminded that all oral and written statements given to the media and/or the public must be professional, accurate and not misleading. If you are contacted by a journalist, blogger or person in a similar media or reporting type of role, please do not provide any comments and instead promptly notify the CMO (marketing@aqr.com).
Unless expressly approved in advance by the (1) CMO and (2) the CCO or CLO, the following topics/comments are prohibited for any discussion with the media and the public:
• comments made regarding a privately offered fund or filing of registration statement;
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•comments made regarding fund or Firm performance;
•discussing the securities that the Firm is currently buying or selling or intends to buy or sell in the near future on behalf of the Firm's Client or Proprietary Accounts;
•how the Firm will vote on a specific proxy matter or how the Firm has voted proxies in the past;
•comments on actual or pending litigation or any similar matter involving the Firm or actions by government regulators relating to the Firm; and
•comments regarding employee personal holdings.
5.2Marketing Activities
The Marketing Activities Policies and Procedures outline the controls adopted by the Firm related to the use of advertising and marketing of its investment products and services. The Firm is subject to various federal, state and international laws and regulatory authorities governing the creation, use, and distribution of advertising and marketing material.
As such, the policy has been designed to ensure that the Firm, employees and AQR Funds comply with the applicable provisions of federal, state and foreign securities laws and general anti-fraud rules and regulations. In general, all new or revised advertising and marketing materials17 must be reviewed and approved by the Compliance Department via the Compliance Marketing Review Tool ("CMRT"). Materials must be submitted, approved and recorded in CMRT prior to use with anyone outside of the Firm, including, but not limited to any client, investor, prospect, financial advisor, registered investment advisor, home office analyst, consultant, or reporter.
For more information on employee obligations relating to marketing activities, please see the AQR Marketing Activities Policies and Procedures. Any questions related to the Firm's marketing activities or the policy should be directed to the Compliance Department at ComplianceMarketingReview@aqr.com.
5.3Public Appearances
Employees must receive prior approval before making any public appearances, such as speaking at any industry conferences, panels or similar events, from the CMO or designee (Marketing@aqr.com), and copy the Compliance Department (BusinessConduct@aqr.com) on the request. Any materials, including but not limited to presentations, decks, or speeches, that are scheduled to be delivered during such a public appearance must be submitted to the Compliance Department (ComplianceMarketingReview@aqr.com) for pre-approval.
5.4Client Complaints
A "client complaint" is defined as any grievance by a Client or any person authorized to act on behalf of a Client involving the activities of AQR or an employee in connection with the solicitation or execution of any transaction or the disposition of securities or funds of that Client. Client complaints must be promptly escalated to the Compliance Department.
17Advertising and marketing materials include, but are not limited to: (1) specific requests for a customized presentation, data, or analysis; (2) white papers, journal articles, research papers and articles; (3) article reprints; (4) materials used in connection with media appearances; (5) educational/conference presentations and materials to be presented to a large audience, regardless of purpose; (6) commentaries and quarterly letters; (7) newly created reports (first use of fact sheets, risk reports, etc.); (8) invitations and registration sites for AQR-sponsored events; (9) materials created specifically for marketing purposes at events (e.g., logo ads); (10) AQR webpages or posts; (11) analysis tool output, including the output of any PSG tool, other in-house regression tools or output from third-party tools; and (12) any material that is created to promote AQR or Firm products or services.
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Please note that non-U.S. jurisdictions may have specific requirements for addressing client complaints. If you are employed by an AQR entity located outside the United States, please see your local jurisdiction compliance manual for any specific guidance on addressing Client complaints.
5.5Rumors
Employees shall not originate or circulate a rumor regarding a security, an issuer or counterparty that the employee knows or has reason to believe is false. It is illegal to intentionally originate or circulate a rumor known to be false to manipulate the price of a security. Generally, a rumor is defined as unsubstantiated information circulated or obtained by any means of communication.
Any questions as to whether information is appropriate to circulate should be directed to the Compliance Department.
5.6E-Communications
The Firm provides employees with access to E-Communications Systems to conduct the Firm's business and operations. This includes individual computers, mobile devices, tablets, the computer network, access to the internet/intranet, and any other technology used to facilitate communications through Firm-approved messaging systems. The Firm-approved messaging systems are AQR email, Bloomberg messaging, Cisco Jabber instant messaging and Slack instant messaging (and others as approved by Compliance from time to time). Employees are required to conduct Firm business on the Firm's E Communications Systems.
Employees are prohibited from using personal email accounts, SMS text messaging and other messaging applications or systems not approved for use by the Firm (e.g., Snapchat, WhatsApp, WeChat) for business purposes, including any communications with Clients or prospects about Firm-related business. If an employee receives an electronic message from a Client or prospect using a form of communication that is not approved for business purposes, the employee should forward, screenshot or copy the complete message to their AQR email and the employee should promptly notify Compliance (esurveillance@aqr.com).
Note that certain employees may be permitted to use SMS text messaging for business purposes only if (1) pre-cleared by Compliance and (2) their SMS messages are sent using a corporate-issued device that has the ability to archive the messages in the Firm's books and records. However, employees are permitted to use SMS text messages for short administrative and ministerial communications (e.g., texting to indicate that he/she may be late to a meeting) without Compliance pre-clearance.
Moreover, employees are prohibited from sending any Firm proprietary and confidential information or work product to their non-AQR email accounts, such as personal or academic email accounts. This includes, but is not limited to client/prospect and fee information, Firm financials, information regarding Firm portfolio, trading, research or models, etc. See also Section 2.3(a), "Confidential Information", above. If you believe that there is a business need to send Firm work product to your personal email account, you must obtain pre-approval from Compliance (esurveillance@aqr.com) before sending.
Employees should conduct themselves with the utmost integrity and professionalism when utilizing any of the Firm's E-Communications Systems.
The E-Communications Systems and all associated information contained therein are the property of the Firm. This information is not private or confidential to employees. The Firm conducts monitoring and ad hoc reviews of the information and data stored in the Firm's E-Communications Systems, including employees' AQR emails and instant messages. All employees are deemed to acknowledge and consent to the Firm's right to monitor and review any employee's use of the E-Communications Systems.
Employees should assume that any and all messages may be read by the Firm for any legitimate business purpose, including, but not limited to, regulatory requirements, investigating possible misconduct, risk mitigation, retrieving business data, reviewing and evaluating performance, finding unauthorized or illegal software installed on Firm computers, or complying with any state, federal or international laws, or other legal process. Subject to applicable law, all electronic communications and associated information on the Firm's E- Communications Systems may be discoverable in Firm litigation and subject to review by federal, state or
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international authorities, the SEC, FINRA, or other regulatory agencies and exchanges in connection with exams, inquiries and investigations.
Employees should work to prevent the unauthorized use of their E-Communications Systems by safeguarding their user IDs, passwords and equipment. Additionally, employees should immediately report all lost/stolen equipment (e.g., mobile devices, tablets) to HelpDesk@aqr.com so that the Firm can take the necessary action to limit access to these devices.
5.7Protection of the Firm's Reputation
Employees should at all times be aware that the Firm's name, logo, reputation and credibility are valuable assets and must be protected from any actual or potential damage. Please take care to avoid the unauthorized use of the Firm's name or logo in any manner that can be misinterpreted to indicate an incorrect relationship between the Firm and any other person, entity or activity.
5.8Recording Meetings
The Firm prohibits the recording of meetings with Clients, prospects, consultants, or other third parties (even if the Client or prospect requests the recording) unless pre-approved by the CCO or CLO. This prohibition applies to meetings at all locations, whether onsite at AQR or at Client offices. The prohibition on recording meetings includes, but is not limited to:
•In-person meetings with Clients/prospects/consultants;
•Videoconferences or Webex meetings; or
•Conference calls or individual calls.
To the extent that an employee is aware that a Client or others intend to record a meeting or call, the employee should contact esurveillance@aqr.com for pre-approval. In addition, if in the middle of a meeting an employee becomes aware that the meeting is being recorded without prior approval, please inform the individual(s) of AQR's policy and request that they refrain from doing so until the employee confers with Compliance.
VI. Social Media Policy
6.1Background
The Firm maintains specific controls related to the use of external social media by AQR and its employees. Social media can encompass many forms of communication, and the universe of social media is rapidly expanding. For purposes of this policy, Social Media generally refers to any and all external web-based methods of publishing user-generated content, including, but not limited to:
•Multi-media and social networking websites (e.g., LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube);
•"Blogs," "vlogs," "podcasts," electronic chat rooms, live video feeds or forums;
•Photo, video or other content sharing sites;
•Collaborative "wikis" (e.g., Wikipedia);
•Other Internet or Intranet sites where media or other content can be posted; and
•Any similar present or future medium of exchange.
While Social Media provides a unique vehicle for expression and large-scale communication, they also represent potential regulatory, security, and reputational risks to AQR. AQR's employees work in a highly regulated industry in which public communications (including those conveyed via Social Media) may be viewed by unintended audiences and scrutinized by regulators and law enforcement. AQR and its employees are
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subject to regulation by, among others, the SEC with respect to the advisory services offered by AQR. Specifically, Section 206(4) of the Advisers Act and Rule 206(4)-1 thereunder, regulate advertisements by investment advisers and prohibit advertising practices deemed to be fraudulent, deceptive, and/or manipulative. Generally, all communications made via Social Media by employees with respect to AQR's advisory business may be considered "advertisements" under the Advisers Act, and subject to these prohibitions.
If you have any question as to whether any specific communication is subject to this policy, please seek guidance from the CCO or a member of the Compliance Marketing Review team (ComplianceMarketingReview@aqr.com) prior to making such communication.
6.2Use of Social Media
(a)Firm Accounts
AQR has established its own Social Media accounts and will only allow specified individuals to post information on its behalf via Social Media websites, in each case subject to prior approval by the Compliance Marketing Review team. AQR's Compliance Marketing Review team will maintain a list of all persons authorized to post information on AQR's behalf, and a list of access information (e.g., login and password) for all accounts. No individual Social Media account or web page may be established or maintained by employees for business use, or otherwise purport to represent AQR or the AQR Funds.
(b)Employee Personal and LinkedIn Accounts
(i)Personal Accounts
The restriction described above does not apply to the maintenance of Social Media accounts or web pages for personal use outside the scope of employment. However, no employees may post any information (including status updates, photos, videos or tagging) through a personal Social Media account or to a third-party website that is related to AQR's advisory business, the AQR Funds, strategies or Clients, or relating to AQR parties, events or other AQR sponsored social gatherings without prior approval by the Compliance Marketing Review team.
(ii)Biographical and Job Description Information
Notwithstanding these restrictions, employees are permitted to post limited, accurate biographical information (e.g., name, title, phone number, email address, and a short description of professional experience) concerning themselves on Social Media (e.g., on LinkedIn), and engage in similar communications that do not discuss AQR's advisory business, as described below. Employee job titles must substantively and accurately reflect the title and department of the employee. Employees may include job descriptions and responsibilities at previous places of employment but may only include information about their activities at AQR that is disclosed in their official AQR job description.
(iii)AQR Content on LinkedIn
In addition, employees are permitted, using only the employee's personal LinkedIn account, to "like" and "share" AQR content that is made available on AQR's LinkedIn account, provided that the employee does not change the format, alter or abbreviate the content, or otherwise substantively comment (or respond to any third-party comment). If employees choose to share AQR content that is made available on AQR's LinkedIn account from their personal LinkedIn account, they must use the following copy as an introduction (or can opt to use no text at all while sharing):
"Sharing the latest [research/Cliff's Perspective/announcement/podcast)] from AQR"
"Take a look at [INSERT TITLE OF CONTENT], [Perspectives post/research paper] authored by AQR's [INSERT NAMES OF AUTHORS]"
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"Take a look at [INSERT TITLE OF CONTENT] from AQR"
NoteEmployees may not share AQR content on non-LinkedIn Social Media.
(iv)Job Postings
Employees are permitted to "like" and "share" AQR job postings, whether posted on LinkedIn or elsewhere. However, employees may not provide substantive comment when "sharing" a job posting and instead should use the following copy as an introduction (or can opt to use no text at all while sharing):
"AQR is recruiting for the following rolesee attached job posting"
6.3Guidance
(a)Firm Accounts
Social Media accounts managed by AQR will be subject to the following guidelines:
•Likes. Social Media accounts that allow "likes", "follows", or similar functionality should be presented and managed in a fashion that does not imply that clients who "like" AQR have provided a testimonial regarding the services offered by AQR. To avoid this risk, AQR's Social Media accounts that allow "likes", "follows", or similar functionality must exhibit disclosure substantially in the following form:
"At AQR, we appreciate your interest in our firm, and invite you to follow us on Twitter. Although our clients may follow this account, this should not be interpreted as a testimonial regarding any client's experience with our firm."
•Comments. Social Media accounts that allow third-party comments (including "trackback" links) also raise special risks because statements made by third parties may be imputed to AQR. Accordingly, AQR's Social Media accounts that allow comments from third parties must exhibit disclosure substantially in the following form (which may also be integrated into the disclosure above):
"At AQR, we appreciate your interest in our firm, and invite you to follow us on Facebook. While you are welcome to comment on this site, we reserve the right to remove comments that are inappropriate or that violate (or may violate) applicable regulations or our terms of use. AQR does not approve or endorse any communications or third-party commentary posted on its account."
The Firm will review third-party comments on each AQR Social Media account periodically and will manage comments as follows:
•Comments that would violate applicable regulations (including prohibited testimonials) if made by AQR will be removed;
•Comments that make false or materially inaccurate statements will be removed;
•Comments that contain profanity, sexual content, threats of violence, or similar inappropriate content will be removed; but
•Comments that exhibit a negative opinion of AQR, but do not otherwise violate these standards, will not be removed.
The Firm will maintain records regarding the basis for each removal of a comment.
(b)Personal Accounts
Except in the limited circumstances described above relating to an employee's ability to "like" or "share" certain AQR content on LinkedIn, employees are prohibited from discussing AQR's advisory business,
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the AQR Funds, strategies or Clients via their personal Social Media accounts, except as provided herein and unless approved by the CCO and the CMO, or their designees.
This prohibition includes, without limitation:
•Discussion of AQR's advisory business, the AQR Funds, strategies or Clients;
•Discussion of personal or other investments related to the securities, commodities or other financial products or instruments (this includes but is not limited to blogs or posts regarding one's personal portfolio performance);
•Past or future recommendations for the purchase, sale, or exchange of securities;
•Offers to contact AQR regarding new business;
•Communications that relate, directly or indirectly, to client testimonials;
•Publication of AQR's past or present performance;
•Publications of market commentary; and
•Discussions of any client-related or internal business-related matters.
This prohibition does not include the following communications, which are permitted:
•Identification of AQR as your employer, including your AQR department and title;
•Any communications protected by applicable law, including concerted protected activity; and
•Any other communication approved in writing by the Compliance Marketing Review team.
6.4Supervision
Except as noted in Section 6.2 above, all communications made on behalf of AQR via Social Media must be reviewed and approved by the Compliance Marketing Review team and the Marketing team prior to publication. Employees should have no expectation of privacy when using Social Media sites on AQR's equipment or systems. AQR reserves the right to monitor all Social Media activity using AQR's equipment and systems, including by using content management tools to monitor, review or block content on Social Media sites that violate AQR's policies and guidelines. Unless permission is granted by the CCO, AQR will disable the ability to access, post or upload to certain Social Media websites when using AQR's equipment or systems.
In general, AQR is not legally responsible for third-party postings on AQR's Social Media pages. However, AQR may become liable for content posted by third-parties if AQR or any AQR employee has a sufficient nexus to the content such that AQR can be said to have adopted or approved the content. This includes, but is not limited to, forwarding or re-posting the third-party content, endorsing the content through other posts (e.g., "liking" the content or citing it favorably before linking), or maintaining a relationship with the third-party responsible for posting the content. AQR does not permit any activity of AQR employees that would establish liability for third-party posts. As such, AQR will not forward, re-post or "re-tweet" third-party Social Media posts or their contents without prior approval of the Compliance Marketing Review team.
The CCO or his designee is responsible for implementing and monitoring this policy and for reviewing and approving all materials to be utilized via Social Media to ensure the materials are consistent with AQR's internal guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements. The CCO or his designee is also responsible for maintaining, as part of AQR's books and records, copies of all Social Media materials including all backup documentation and a record of reviews and approvals in accordance with applicable record keeping requirements.
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VII. Anti-Money Laundering
The Firm has adopted Anti-Money Laundering ("AML") policies to ensure that the Firm, employees and AQR Funds comply with the applicable provisions of federal, state and non-U.S. AML laws, rules and regulations. The Firm's AML polices are designed to combat money laundering and to ensure that the Firm conducts appropriate due diligence on Clients and prospective Clients. Money laundering consists of the transfer of funds, securities or other property for the purpose of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the funds or property or promoting unlawful activity.
The Firm or a service provider must verify the identity of any investor seeking to open an account in an AQR Fund or a Client seeking to open a managed account to the extent reasonable and practicable. The Firm or a service provider does not need to know every detail about the Investor or Client but needs to know enough to determine if there is a money laundering concern.
Prior to accepting an investment from a Client or an Investor that the Firm, the Fund or a service provider believes presents a higher risk with regard to money laundering or illegal activity, the Firm, the Fund or a service provider will conduct enhanced due diligence with regard to the Client or Investor in addition to the routine customer identification procedures listed above.
As part of the due diligence process, the Firm or the administrator for the AQR Funds screens prospective Clients against the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") sanctions programs, including the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by OFAC, as well as other lists mandated by law or regulation. Additionally, the Firm or the administrator for the AQR Funds conducts enhanced due diligence on Clients and prospective Clients that are Politically Exposed Persons ("PEPs"). PEPs include (i) current or former Senior Foreign Political Figures, (ii) Immediate Family Members of Senior Foreign Political Figures, and (iii) Close Associates of Senior Foreign Political Figures. The Firm also conducts enhanced due diligence on any Client or prospective Client residing in, or organized or chartered under the laws of, a Financial Action Task Force non-cooperative or high-risk jurisdiction.
For additional guidance, please see the Firm's Anti-Money Laundering policies. Any questions related to AML or potential suspicious activity should be directed to the Compliance Department at AML@aqr.com.
VIII. Definitions
1.529 Plan: A college savings plan established and maintained by a state, state agency, or other state entity for which the Firm or a control affiliate does not manage, distribute, market or underwrite the plan or the investments and strategies underlying the plan.
2.AQR Mutual Funds: U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by AQR or CNH.
3.AQR Funds: Investment products provided through collective investment vehicles, including private investment partnerships, foreign investment companies, and SEC registered open-end investment companies that are exclusively managed by AQR or CNH.
4.Beneficial Interest: Having or sharing a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a security through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise. Pecuniary interest means the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the security.
5.Charitable Contribution: Any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value contributed to a charitable organization.
6.Client: A person or entity with an advisory or sub-advisory agreement with the Firm.
7.Close Associate of a Senior Foreign Political Figure: A person publicly known to maintain an unusually close relationship with a Senior Foreign Political Figure or is in a position to conduct substantial domestic and international financial transactions on behalf of a Senior Foreign Political Figure.
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8.Compliance System: The Firm's Compliance Pre-clearance, Reporting and Certification System, which is currently Star Compliance and can be accessed on AQRLive under Quick Links or on the Compliance Home Page.
9.Covered Person: AQR employees and any other persons designated by the CCO as a Covered Person of AQR.
10.E-Communications Systems: Any technology used to facilitate communications, such as individual computers, tablets, the computer network, electronic mail ("e-mail"), Bloomberg messages, instant messaging, mobile devices and access to the Internet/Intranet.
11.Entertainment: Any event, activity or meal attended by an employee and one or more non-employees with the intent to foster a business relationship. Entertainment is considered a Gift if it is not mutually attended by the employee and the non-employee.
12.ERISA Plan Fiduciaries: Fiduciaries of accounts subject to ERISA (e.g., corporate retirement plans, corporate welfare plans, union retirement/welfare plans, or "Taft-Hartley" plans). A plan's fiduciaries may include Plan administrators, trustees and investment managers; individuals exercising discretion in the administration of the plan; and members of a plan's administrative committee and those who select committee officials.
13.Foreign Official: Any officer, employee or person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of a Non-U.S. government or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or of a public international organization. This includes consultants holding foreign government positions; any foreign political party or party officials, or any candidate for foreign political office. Foreign Officials also include spouses and other immediate family members (e.g., parents, siblings, spouse, children and in-laws) of Foreign Officials. Any doubts about whether a particular individual is a Foreign Official should be resolved by assuming that the individual is covered under this definition.
14.Gift: Anything of value for which the recipient is not required to pay the retail or usual and customary cost. A gift may include meals or refreshments, goods, services, tickets to entertainment or sporting events, or the use of a residence, vacation home, or other accommodation. If the person offering or giving the meal, event, or accommodation is not present, then it would be considered a gift.
15.High Quality Short-Term Debt Instruments: Any instrument having a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and which is rated in one of the highest two rating categories by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization, or which is unrated but is of comparable quality.
16.Immediate Family Member of a Senior Foreign Political Figure: The parents, siblings, spouse, children and in-laws of a Senior Foreign Political Figure.
17.Members of Household: Persons who share a residence and personal assets with employee (e.g., partner, child, parent), or those that directly or indirectly provide to or receive from employee material support (e.g., more than 25% annual income).
18.Personal Securities Account: Any account that can hold or transact in Reportable Securities in which the Covered Person has any direct or indirect Beneficial Interest.
19.Political Activities: Coordinating or soliciting any person/entity to make a Political Contribution or holding any management role or formal position with a Political Organization.
20.Political Contribution: The provision of anything of value (monetary or non-monetary) to influence (or to pay any debt incurred in connection with) any election, or to pay for transition or inaugural expenses of a successful candidate.
21.Political Official: Any person (including any election committee of the person) who is an incumbent, candidate or successful candidate for elective office of a federal, state, or local government entity, including any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof.
22.Political Organization: Any entity engaging in activity to influence an election (e.g., political party, campaign committee, political action committee, 501(c)(4) entity, ballot initiative committee) or formed to benefit a Political Official (e.g., legal defense fund).
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23.Politically Exposed Persons: U.S. or non-U.S. individuals entrusted with prominent public functions (e.g., Heads of State, senior politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials, senior executives of state owned corporations, important political party officials).
24.Private Placements: An offering of unregistered securities to a limited pool of investors (e.g., hedge fund, private equity fund, venture capital fund, real estate fund).
25.Proprietary Accounts: An account managed by AQR or CNH for which AQR or CNH and/or AQR's or CNH's Covered Person(s) in aggregate own 25% or more of the account's NAV.
26.Related Person: A spouse or partner, parent/stepparent, grandparent, in-laws, sibling, children, or grandchildren; and any other person an employee supports directly or indirectly to a material extent (i.e., more than 25% of annual income).
27.Reportable Securities: Common or preferred stock, debt securities, ETFs, shares issued by a close-end investment company, AQR Mutual Fund or non-U.S. registered mutual funds, or any other security other than those that are exempt from the reporting requirements.
28.Restricted List: The Firm's list of securities for which Personal Securities Account and Firm trading is either partially or wholly prohibited unless pre-approved by the CCO or his designee.
29.Senior Foreign Political Figure: A senior official in the executive, legislative, administrative, military or judicial branches of a non-U.S. government (whether elected or not), of a major non-U.S. political party, or a senior executive of a non-U.S. government-owned corporation. This includes any corporation, business or other entity that has been formed by or for the benefit of a Senior Foreign Political Figure.
30.Significant Non-Related Person: Any non-related individual with whom the employee shares a close personal relationship, such as a roommate or partner.
31.Social Media: Any and all external web-based methods of publishing user-generated content. This includes:
(1)multi-media and social networking websites (e.g., LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube);
(2)Blogs, vlogs, podcasts, electronic chat rooms, live video fees or forums; (3) photo, video, or other content sharing sites; (4) collaborative wikis (e.g., Wikipedia); (5) other Internet or Intranet sites where media or other content can be posted; and (6) any similar present or future medium of exchange.
32.Third-Party Managed Account: A type of Personal Securities Account that is managed by an investment manager who has exclusive discretionary authority over all investment decisions in the account.
33.U.S. Official: Any officer or employee or person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of the U.S., or any department, agency or branch of U.S. government (federal, state or local). This also includes labor organizations (and their employees), union officials, labor relations consultants, a state sponsored pension or endowment, a state sponsored university/college, a sovereign wealth fund, any government (foreign or domestic) asset plan, a Taft-Hartley plan or any union.
AQR Capital Management, LLC | Two Greenwich Plaza | Greenwich, CT 06830 | U.S. | p: +1.203.742.3600 | f: +1.203.742.3100 | w: aqr.com
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Outside Activities
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Political Contributions
Other Policy Highlights
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A Message from Our Co-CEOs
The success of Dimensional Fund Advisors can be traced directly back to our firm's first two guiding principles: Act in the best interest of clients, and act ethically and legally. These beliefs have helped us set the industry standard in exceptional service and build lasting partnerships with our clients.
These strong relationships, some spanning over 20 years, are built on trust treating our clients as we would want to be treated and always doing what we say we are going to do. We take our fiduciary obligation seriously and continually work to act as stewards of our clients' assets, free from conflicts of interest.
Our firm's commitment to integrity makes us stand out in a financial industry where competitive pressures are intense to behave otherwise. Dimensional will never compromise its principles or its compliance with laws and regulations, and we depend on our employees, as representatives of the firm, to uphold our ideals.
Please read this guide to learn the rules that influence our decisions and enable us to maintain the highest legal and ethical standards. Your cooperation with our code of ethics and standard of conduct will guarantee our reputation well into the future. We would like to thank you for your continued dedication to Dimensional and to our clients, which in turn allows us to continue providing for your success.
Dave Butler and Gerard O'Reilly
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TA B L E O F CO N T E N TS |
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Standard of Conduct ........................................................................................................................ |
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Reporting Code Violations ....................................................................................................................... |
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Code of Ethics.................................................................................................................................. |
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Who is subject to the Code of Ethics? ..................................................................................................... |
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New Accounts ........................................................................................................................................... |
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Personal Securities Transactions............................................................................................................... |
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Private Placements.................................................................................................................................... |
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Reportable Transactions (transactions which do not require pre-clearance, but must be reported) ........................ |
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Personal Trading Restrictions and Prohibited Activities .......................................................................... |
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Certification Requirements ....................................................................................................................... |
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Reporting Requirements........................................................................................................................... |
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Summary of Reporting Obligations .................................................................................................................... |
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Sanctions ................................................................................................................................................... |
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Communications with Disinterested Trustees and Outside Directors ..................................................... |
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Japan Supplement .................................................................................................................................... |
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Outside Activities ............................................................................................................................. |
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Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................... |
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Approval Process .................................................................................................................................... |
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Gifts and Business Entertainment ................................................................................................... |
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Gifts ......................................................................................................................................................... |
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Political Contributions .................................................................................................................... |
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Other Policy Highlights .................................................................................................................. |
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Policy Against Bribery and Corruption ................................................................................................... |
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Privacy Policies ........................................................................................................................................ |
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S TA N D A R D O F CON D U CT
All of us at Dimensional are responsible for maintaining the very highest ethical standards when conducting business. In keeping with these standards, we should adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of the law. Dimensional's Code of Ethics (the "Code") is designed to help ensure that our actions are consistent with these high standards.
The Code has been adopted by Dimensional pursuant to SEC Rules with the objectives of promoting:
•honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
•full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents filed with relevant global regulatory agencies and in other public communications made by Dimensional;
•compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations;
•the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to the Global Chief Compliance Officer
("Global CCO") and the Deputy Chief Compliance Officer ("Designated Officer"); and
•accountability for adherence to the Code.
Adherence to the Code is a basic condition of employment. Whether or not a specific situation is addressed, you must conduct yourself in accordance with its general principles and in a manner that is designed to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest. Failure to comply could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Reporting Code Violations
Dimensional is committed to fostering a culture of compliance. If you have any questions or concerns, or become aware of a violation or potential violation of the Code, you are required to report the matter to one of the following:
•The Global CCO and/or Designated Officer
•General Counsel or
•a member of the Ethics Committee
The Global CCO will receive reports on all violations of the Code reported to a Designated Officer and/or a member of the Ethics Committee.
You have the option of reporting compliance-related matters on a confidential basis through the Compliance Reporting System ("CRS"), or by email at Compliance@dimensional.com.
Retaliation against any employee for reporting compliance-related issues is cause for appropriate corrective action up to and including termination of the retaliating employee.
General Code or Standard of Conduct questions should be directed to your local Compliance Team members.
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CO D E OF E TH I CS
Who is subject to the Code of Ethics?
The Code applies to all Dimensional employees, directors/trustees, officers and general partners, all of whom are considered Access Persons. In addition, certain provisions of the Code apply to Immediate Family Member(s) living in the same household.
Restrictions on personal investment transactions may also be applied to temporary personnel (i.e., interns, contractors or consultants) whose tenure exceeds ninety (90) days and/or who have access to nonpublic systems.
Covered Accounts
You are required to report all investment accounts (i.e., Covered Accounts) with which you, your spouse, domestic partner, child or any other Immediate Family Member have Beneficial Ownership or interests. Covered Accounts include but are not limited to the following:
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IOOF) (Australia specific) |
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Wrap Accounts |
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New Accounts
You must promptly report any new Covered Account for yourself, your spouse, domestic partner, child or any other Immediate Family Member. Unless the account has been reported, no personal securities transactions can occur within the account.
The U.S. Compliance Team will send a standard letter to U.S. broker-dealer(s) or bank(s), requesting duplicate statements and confirmations. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that duplicate statements and confirmations (or the local equivalent) are provided promptly. Confirmations should be provided within ten (10) calendar days.
Non-Reportable Accounts
You do not need to report the following accounts as Compliance has independent access to these records for monitoring and verification purposes:
1Discretionary Accounts must be disclosed and supporting documentation must be provided to Compliance.
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•Dimensional 401(k) account (or local equivalent);
•Dimensional Health Savings Accounts (HSAs);
•Dimensional Managed Fund accounts established through Fund Operations; and
•If applicable, holdings in Dimensional's privately issued shares.
Although these accounts do not need to be reported, investment activities in these accounts must comply with the standards of conduct embodied in the Code.
Personal Securities Transactions
You must pre-clear any personal securities transactions in covered securities prior to execution.2 This also applies to transactions by any Immediate Family Member of the Access Person.
All personal securities transaction reports and requests for pre-clearance must be processed through Dimensional's compliance reporting system (CRS), a web-based compliance system. Compliance will evaluate and review each pre-clearance transaction request and notification will be provided to employees through the CRS, in a timely manner.
Pre-clearance approval is valid for T+1 (i.e., market orders), from the time of approval. In addition, you are required to provide confirmations (or the local equivalent) for each approved and executed transaction.
Covered securities, which require pre-clearance, include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Derivatives |
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(documentation must be provided) |
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CDA trades, etc.) |
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Closed-End Funds and REITs |
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Warrants & Rights |
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Convertible Securities |
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Voluntary Corporate Actions |
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Depository Receipts |
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Limited Partnerships and limited |
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(ADRs or GDRs) |
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liability company interests2 |
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Fixed Income Securities |
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Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) |
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must be pre-cleared if the value of the |
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advised Exchange Traded Funds |
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Government issuances)2 |
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transaction is >$10,000 (USD) |
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(ETFs) must be pre-cleared |
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Covered securities do not include exempt securities. Exempt securities include:
•shares of registered open-end investment companies (i.e., open-end mutual funds);
•shares of money market funds;
•direct obligations of the U.S. Government, or direct obligations of a "Sovereign Government" (e.g., Government of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth Government of Australia, etc.);
2Designated Officers (other than the Global CCO) are required to receive prior written approval of their personal securities transactions from Dimensional's Global CCO. The Global CCO is required to receive prior approval of his personal securities transactions from one of the Dimensional Co-Chief Executive Officers.
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•bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt instruments (including repurchase agreements);
•shares issued by a unit investment trust that are invested exclusively in one or more registered open-end investment companies (none of which are Dimensional Managed Funds); and
•privately issued shares of the Advisor.
Private Placements
You may not purchase a private placement unless approved by the Global CCO or Designated Officer.
Approval would be based upon a determination that the investment opportunity was not being offered to you due to your employment with Dimensional, along with other relevant factors. Each private placement pre-clearance is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Reportable Transactions (transactions which do not require pre-clearance, but must be reported)
Although the following transactions do not require pre-clearance, you must report them through the CRS on a quarterly basis:
•Dimensional Managed Funds (through a third party service provider or financial advisor);
•Investments in 1940-Act Funds sub-advised by Dimensional;
•529 Accounts that hold or are exclusively made up of Dimensional Funds;
•Automatic Investment Plans (including dividend reinvestment plans) in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation; and
•Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), other than Dimensional-advised or sub-advised ETFs, where the principal value of the transaction is less than USD $10,000.
Please note: Although transactions in ETFs under USD $10,000 do not require pre-clearance, post-trade review will be performed and all other Code provisions will still apply, such as the sixty (60) day profit restriction.
Personal Trading Restrictions and Prohibited Activities
The following transactions are prohibited:
•Initial public offering (IPO) investments;
•Short selling of securities;
•Transactions in securities that are subject to firmwide restriction; and
•Transactions in a security while in possession of insider information. Such transactions are unethical and illegal and will be dealt with decisively (reference the Global Insider Trading Policy, the Singapore Supplemental Insider Trading Policy, and the Japan Insider Trading Management Policies ) .
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You are prohibited from executing personal investment transactions with individuals with whom business is being conducted on behalf of certain institutional clients. Therefore, Compliance may request the name of the account contact (or agent) before processing the pre-clearance request.
Blackout Period Restriction
•A pre-clearance request involving a covered security will be denied if Dimensional has traded in the same or equivalent security within the past seven (7) calendar days, and the pre-clearance request is in an amount over USD $10,000. Please note that, with the exception of ETFs not managed by Dimensional, a transaction in a covered security in an amount less than USD $10,000 must be pre- cleared and reported.
•Compliance will monitor trading activity for seven (7) calendar days following the pre-clearance approval date for conflicts of interest on non-Discretionary Accounts.
Short Term Trading Restrictions
•Access Persons cannot profit from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) of the same or equivalent security within sixty (60) calendar days.
•Gains are calculated based on a last-in, first-out (LIFO) method.
Excessive Trading of Dimensional Managed Funds
Employees are prohibited from engaging in excessive trading of any Dimensional Managed Funds in order to take advantage of short-term market movements. Excessive trading activity, such as a frequent pattern of exchanges, could result in harm to shareholders or clients.
ETFs for which Dimensional Serves as Advisor or Subadvisor
Employees with knowledge of the composition of the underlying ETF constituents are prohibited from using such information or from disclosing such information to any other person, except as authorized in the course of their employment, until such information is made public.
Cryptocurrencies
When seeking to acquire a digital currency, either directly or in the form of a security, please be aware of the following:
•If you purchase or sell a digital currency considered to be a "security" within the meaning of the
U.S. federal securities laws (or any other applicable laws for non-U.S. personnel), you need to pre- clear the transaction just as you would any other Covered Security. Likewise, if you purchase or sell a fund or other instrument that invests in a digital currency (e.g., Bitcoin Investment Trust ("GBTC")), you need to pre-clear the transaction just as you would any other covered security.
•As with any initial public offering (IPO), your participation in an Initial Coin Offering or Initial Token Offering (ICO), is not permitted under the Code.
•Holding or transacting in actual cryptocurrency that has been determined not to constitute a security within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws (or any other applicable laws for non-U.S. personnel), including holding or transacting in Bitcoin or Ethereum, does not require pre- clearance or reporting to Compliance.
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Exceptions to Code Restrictions
In cases of hardship, the Global CCO or Designated Officer may grant an exception (or waiver) to the personal trading restrictions of the Code. The decision will be based on a determination that a hardship exists and the transaction for which the exception (or waiver) is requested would not result in a conflict with our clients' interests or violate any other policy embodied in the Code. Any exception (or waiver) will be evidenced in writing and will be reported to the Ethics Committee.
Certification Requirements
All employees are required to complete a Code of Ethics Acknowledgement Form upon commencement of their employment with Dimensional, and annually thereafter, to acknowledge and certify that they have received, reviewed, understand and shall comply with the Code. In addition, all material amendments to, or any new interpretations of the Code, shall be conveyed to employees (which may include temporary personnel) and require their acknowledgment of receipt and understanding of the amendments or interpretations.
Reporting Requirements
All personal securities transactions and holdings reports will be reviewed by Compliance. The records and reports created or maintained pursuant to the Code are intended solely for internal use and are confidential unless required to be disclosed to a regulatory or governmental agency.
New employees who fail to submit their Compliance New Hire Questionnaire and Initial Holdings Report within ten (10) calendar days of their employment start date will be prohibited from engaging in any personal securities transaction until such report is submitted and may be subject to other sanctions.
Summary of Reporting Obligations
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All Employees |
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quarter) |
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New Hire Questionnaire |
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Quarterly and Annual Compliance |
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(Disciplinary Action Disclosure) |
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Initial Holdings Report |
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Annual Holdings Certification |
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report new accounts upon opening. |
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to start date) |
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Code of Ethics, Insider Trading |
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Code of Ethics, Insider Trading |
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and Compliance Manual |
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and Compliance Manual |
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Acknowledgements |
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Acknowledgements |
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Sanctions
Depending on the severity of the infraction, you may be subject to sanctions for violating the Code of Ethics and related personal trading controls (e.g., failure to pre-clear transactions, report accounts, and submit
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statements and/or initial, quarterly and annual certification forms). Sanctions may include but are not limited to:
•verbal or written warnings,
•letters of reprimand,
•suspension of personal trading activity,
•disgorgement and forfeiture of profits,
•suspension, and/or
•termination of employment
Repeated immaterial violations will be communicated to your supervisor, Department Head and the Global CCO for corrective action. Material violations will be escalated to the Ethics Committee and may be subsequently reported to the Board of Directors of Dimensional and other sub-advised boards as required.
Communications with Disinterested Trustees and Outside Directors
Dimensional attempts to keep directors/trustees informed with respect to Dimensional's investment activities through reports and other information provided to them in connection with board meetings and other events. However, it is Dimensional's policy not to communicate specific trading information and/or advice on specific issues to Disinterested Trustees and Outside Directors unless the proposed transaction presents issues on which input from the Disinterested Trustees or Outside Directors is appropriate (i.e., no information is given regarding securities for which current activity is being considered for clients). Any information requests by Disinterested Trustees or Outside Directors should be reported to the General Counsel or the Global CCO.
Disinterested Trustees are not subject to the reporting requirements except to the extent the Disinterested Trustee knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her duties as a director, should have known that during the fifteen (15) days immediately before or after the Disinterested Trustee's transaction in a Covered Security, a U.S. Mutual Fund purchased or sold the covered security, or an Advisor considered purchasing or selling the covered security for a U.S. Mutual Fund.
Japan Supplement
Pursuant to local rules and regulations, Japanese employees have additional restrictions on personal trading (see the Japanese Code of Ethics Addendum ) .
OU TS I D E A CT I V I TI E S
Certain types of outside business activities may cause a conflict of interest or an appearance of a conflict of interest. There is no absolute prohibition on a Dimensional employee participating in certain outside activities such as charitable foundations and endowments, provided your participation does not present a conflict of interest and you comply with the Code. However, as a practical matter there may be circumstances in which it would not be in Dimensional's best interest to allow an employee to participate in activities with an outside organization, even if the employee's participation did not violate Dimensional's policies and procedures (such as whether the activity would absorb a good part of the employee's time, potentially affecting their performance at Dimensional).
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It is impossible to anticipate every conflict of interest that may arise, but activities with outside organizations should be limited to those that either do not present or have the least potential of presenting conflicts of interest. As a result, Dimensional requires that outside business and charitable activities must be approved by your supervisor and Compliance prior to the acceptance of such a position (or if you are new, upon joining the firm).
Guidelines
Serving on the Boards of Public Companies
•As a general matter, directorship or (an equivalent position) in an unaffiliated public company (or companies reasonable expected to become public companies) will not be authorized because of the potential conflicts.
•If you wish to accept a directorship or (an equivalent position), you must obtain prior approval from the Boards of Directors of the Dimensional entities in which you are an employee and/or an officer.
Activities with a private organization
•If you wish to be involved with a private organization (non-Dimensional) in an official capacity (officer, directorship or an equivalent position), you must obtain approval from the Co-CEOs and the Global CCO.
Activities with a non-profit organization
•If you wish to be involved with a non-profit organization in an official capacity (directorship or an equivalent position), you must notify Compliance in writing as further approval may be required.
Compensation
•If you receive compensation from an outside organization, you must obtain prior written approval from your supervisor and Compliance.
Approval Process
Outside activity requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and approval will be granted only if it is determined that the activity does not present a significant conflict of interest. Obtain written approval from your supervisor with the activity details and copy your local Compliance Team Designee(s). If any additional information is required, Compliance will reach out to you.
In instances where you receive authorization to serve as a director on an outside organization, you are expected to refrain from any direct (or indirect) involvement in the consideration by a Dimensional client of any purchase or sale for securities of that outside organization (or any affiliates of the outside organization) for which you serve as a director.
GI F T S A N D B U S I N E S S E N T E R TA I N M E N T
If you accept or provide gifts or entertainment (including business entertainment) relating to Dimensional business, you must comply with regulatory requirements, Dimensional's business practices, and the Code. The giving (or accepting) of gifts and entertainment may create (or appear to create) a conflict of interest and place Dimensional or a client in a difficult or embarrassing position. Therefore, embarrassing gifts should never be given (or accepted), and you always should use your best judgment when giving (or accepting) any gift or entertainment to determine whether it is appropriate.
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Under certain circumstances, Section 17(e)(1) of the 1940 Act may prohibit Dimensional's Fund Advisory Personnel from accepting gifts and entertainment from Broker Donors. Accordingly, Dimensional has adopted additional restrictions that apply when Broker Donors offer gifts and entertainment to Authorized Traders. If you are a member of Fund Advisory Personnel, you must comply with these additional restrictions.
Gifts
In general, you may give (or accept) gifts that do not exceed the annual aggregate amount of USD $100 (or the local currency equivalent). However, you must be mindful that some clients (or prospective clients) may be subject to additional regulatory restrictions or prohibitions on the acceptance of gifts or entertainment and may have to comply with related disclosure requirements. Therefore, you should inquire about any restrictions or disclosure requirements, prior to giving any gifts (or providing business entertainment). The giving (or accepting) of all Gifts and Business Entertainment must be reported and logged promptly. Please contact a member of your local Compliance Team for reporting details. (U.S. employees refer to the designee(s) list on Be.Dimensional.)
Gifts include logo items (e.g., pens, hats, etc.), tickets for events, gift baskets, meals and transportation.
This policy does not apply to gifts or charitable donations made by you outside the scope of your responsibilities with Dimensional.
Gift Restrictions
•You may not give (or accept) gifts in excess of USD $100 (or the local currency equivalent).
•You may not give (or accept) gifts in the form of cash or cash equivalents.
•Gifts valued in excess of USD $100 must be reported to Compliance and returned unless an exception is granted by the Global CCO or Compliance Designee.
•No exceptions will be granted for gifts subject to FINRA's USD $100 gift limit.
If you are a member of Fund Advisory Personnel, you must also comply with the following restrictions:
•You may not accept any gifts from Broker Donors except gifts of de minimis value, such as non- lavish, logoed items or gifts of less than $25 in reasonably estimated value. If you have a long- standing personal relationship with a Broker Donor, you may attend a non-business, social event hosted by the Broker Donor, or accept a non-de minimis gift or entertainment greater in value than USD $25 from the Broker Donor if the event, gift, or entertainment is pre-approved first by your supervisor and then Compliance. You must report all gifts from Broker Donors regardless of value.
Business Entertainment
Business entertainment includes any event, meal or activity whose primary purpose is business and is offered by and attended by a person who has (either directly or through their employer or affiliate) a current or prospective business relationship with Dimensional. This also includes instances where a Dimensional employee is offering the event, meal or activity on behalf of a current or prospective Dimensional client or vendor. If the person (or entity) paying for the entertainment does not have a representative in attendance, the event constitutes as a gift and is subject to the gift restrictions above.
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Providing Business Entertainment
You may provide business entertainment as long as it is appropriate and reported in writing to your supervisor. Business entertainment provided to a current or a prospective client or vendor will be overseen by your supervisor through the Dimensional expense reporting and approval process. If the business entertainment exceeds USD $100 per person, you will need to provide to your supervisor a written explanation along with the name of the client, business vendor or organization.
Receiving Business Entertainment
You may receive business entertainment as long as it is appropriate and reported in writing to your supervisor. If the estimated value of the business entertainment you receive is expected to exceed USD $100 per person, you will need to report the event in writing to the head of your department. The following types of business entertainment require pre-approval by your department head:
•Attending business-related events with an expected value in excess of USD $100 per person (or the local equivalent);
•Meals or events in which family members or friends are present; and
•Attending meals or events in which five (5) or more Dimensional employees are in attendance.
If you are a member of Fund Advisory Personnel, you must also comply with the following restrictions:
•You may not accept entertainment (such as sporting events) from Broker Donors. You may accept business meals from Broker Donors of less than USD $100 in anticipated value, and you must report those meals to your supervisor and Compliance. You may accept business meals from Broker Donors of greater than USD $100 in anticipated value provided you first pre-clear the meal with your supervisor and Compliance.
Unions and Union Officials
Special reporting rules apply when Dimensional employees furnish any gift or entertainment in excess of USD $250 in any calendar year to labor unions, union officials, agents or consultants of a Taft-Hartley plan. Please report all gifts or entertainment involving a union or union official to either Legal or Compliance. If applicable, Legal will be responsible for filing the required LM-10 form with the Department of Labor.
Supplemental Policies
•Japan Addendum to Gift and Entertainment
P O L I TI CA L CON TR I B U T I O N S
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's political contribution regulation and FINRA's Rule 2030, also known as "pay to play" rules3, limit contributions4 by investment advisers and certain of their employees to certain Covered Government Officials. In addition, Dimensional is subject to a variety of federal, state and local restrictions regarding political contributions, as well as contractual restrictions between Dimensional and certain clients.
3Political Contributions by Certain Investment Advisors, Rule 206(4)-5; Engaging in Distribution and Solicitation Activities with Government Entities, FINRA Rule 2030.
4Contributions include, but are not limited to, monetary contributions, gifts and loans (including in-kind contributions, such as donation of goods or services).
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Although Dimensional encourages civic and community involvement by its directors, officers and employees, Dimensional desires to avoid any situation that could curtail Dimensional's current business or business prospects, raise potential or actual conflicts of interest, or create an appearance of impropriety in the context of Dimensional's business relationships. Accordingly, all contributions by a director, officer, employee or Immediate Family Member of a director, officer or employee of Dimensional (each a "Contributor"), must be made on the Contributor's behalf, entirely voluntary, and should not be in an amount (determined by Contributor taking into account the Code) that is likely to influence a candidate's judgment regarding any continued or future business with Dimensional.
Specifically, this policy prohibits a Contributor from making political contributions when the solicitation or request for such contributions implies that continued or future business with Dimensional depends on making such contributions. Similarly, no contributions should be made that create the appearance that Dimensional stands to benefit in its business relations because of the Contributor's contribution. If a Contributor is unsure if a particular political contribution would be in compliance with this policy, they should consult Dimensional's U.S. Legal and/or Compliance Department.
More specifically, the following actions are prohibited:
•Contributors are prohibited from making political or charitable contributions for the purpose of obtaining or retaining potential or existing public entity clients;
•Contributors are prohibited from making any contributions that create the appearance that Dimensional stands to benefit in its business relations because of such contribution; and
•Contributors from Dimensional's non-U.S. based advisor affiliates are prohibited from making any political contributions to political action committees (PACs) federal, state or local candidates for elective office in the United States.
In order to prevent an inadvertent violation of the "pay to play" rules, Contributors are prohibited from making political contributions without prior approval from the Global CCO to any of the following:
•Covered Government Officials
•Political action committees (PACs)
Requests for approval of political contributions must be submitted through the CRS and cannot exceed Federal, state or client limitations. Dimensional's Compliance Department will be responsible for maintaining the required books and records associated with employee political contributions to ensure the reports are kept confidential. In addition, Dimensional's Global CCO or a Chief Executive Officer may grant exceptions to the contribution limitation on a case-by-case basis. Violations of this policy will not necessarily be deemed to be violations of the "pay to play" rules; all violations of this policy will be discussed by Dimensional's Global Legal and Compliance Officers in making that determination. If you have any questions about the policy, please contact the U.S. Legal and/or Compliance Department.
OTH E R P OL I CY H I GH L I G H T S
Policy Against Bribery and Corruption
Dimensional employees are prohibited from giving, offering or promising anything of value to a foreign official with the intent to improperly obtain or retain any business or any other advantage.
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For a full explanation of the policy, please refer to the Bribery and Corruption Policy and the supplemental policies for the following:
•Anti-Corruption Policy (U.K.)
Privacy Policies
You should be aware of your local privacy policies, Dimensional Privacy Policy and Procedures , Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. , Australian Privacy Policy Statement, the Japan Personal Information Protection Policies and the Singapore Privacy Policy . Information concerning Dimensional's clients that you acquire in connection with your employment at Dimensional is proprietary. As an employee, contractor or consultant you have access to computers, systems and corporate information in order to do your job. This access means that you have an obligation to use these systems responsibly and follow company policies to protect information and systems.
You are prohibited from sending or forwarding sensitive or confidential data to your personal email address.
If you have any general questions about the Code, please contact a member of your local Compliance Team.
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GL OS S A R Y O F TE R M S
The following definitions apply to the bold terms used throughout the brochure:
1940 Act means the Investment Company Act of 1940.
529 Account(s) (or 529 Plans) which have the ability to hold Dimensional Managed Funds are listed on Be.Dimensional.
Access Person means:
•any director/trustee, officer or general partner of the U.S. Mutual Funds or Dimensional Entities;
•any officer or director of the Distributor who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of covered securities for any registered investment company for which the Distributor acts as the principal underwriter;
•employees of Dimensional who, in connection with their regular functions or duties, make, participate in, or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of covered securities, or other advisory clients for which the Advisors provide investment advice, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales;
•any natural persons in a control relationship with one or more of the U.S. Mutual Funds or Advisors who obtain information concerning recommendations made to such the U.S. Mutual Funds or other advisory clients with regard to the purchase or sale of covered securities, or whose functions or duties, as part of the ordinary course of their business, relate to the making of any recommendation to U.S. Mutual Funds or advisory clients regarding the purchase or sale of covered securities; and
•any Supervised Person (which may include contractors or consultants) who has access to nonpublic information regarding client securities transactions, research or portfolio holdings of any Dimensional Managed Funds.
Advisers Act means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Advisor means Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC, Dimensional Fund Advisors Pte. Ltd., Dimensional Japan Ltd. and Dimensional Ireland Limited.
Beneficial Ownership means the employee has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the securities held in an account. Employees have pecuniary interest in securities if they have the ability to directly or indirectly profit from a securities transaction. It is presumed that you have beneficial ownership interests in any account held individually or jointly, by you or by your Immediate Family Member or domestic partner (or an unrelated adult with whom you share your home and contribute to each other's support) including but not limited to family trusts and family partnerships (Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 16a-1; 17 CFR 240.16a-1).
Broker Donors mean broker-dealers or similar financial intermediaries and their employees, officers, directors, and other representatives.
Covered Account includes any broker-dealer, investment adviser, bank or other financial institutions in which an Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held or the account has the ability to hold securities for the direct or indirect benefit of such Access Person.
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Covered Government Official means any person who is, at the time of the contribution, an incumbent or a candidate for state or local government office (including any candidate for a federal office currently holding a state or local office).
Designated Officer means the Global Chief Compliance Officer or any employee from the Dimensional Entities designated by the Global CCO.
Dimensional means (i) DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., the DFA Investment Trust Company, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund and Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (collectively, the "U.S. Mutual Funds"), (ii) Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC, Dimensional Retirement Plan Services LLC, Dimensional Fund Advisors Pte. Ltd., Dimensional Japan Ltd., Dimensional Hong Kong Limited, and Dimensional Ireland Limited (collectively, the "Dimensional Entities"); and (iii) DFA Securities LLC (the "Distributor").
Dimensional Managed Funds means any series/portfolio of the U.S. Mutual Funds or any other fund advised by or sub-advised by any of the Advisors.
Discretionary Account means a personal account in which you have completely turned over decision- making authority to a professional money manager (who is not an Immediate Family Member or not otherwise covered by the Code) and you have no direct or indirect influence or control over the account. Such accounts are often referred to "professionally managed" or "managed accounts."
Disinterested Trustee means a director/trustee of the U.S. Mutual funds who is not considered to be an "interested person" of the U.S. Mutual Funds within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19)(A) of the 1940 Act.
Ethics Committee means the Ethics Committee appointed by the directors/trustees of the Dimensional Entities and consists of the following officers of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP: Co-Chief Executive Officers, General Counsel, Co-Head of Portfolio Management, Head of Global Institutional Services, Head of Global Human Resources, and Global Chief Compliance Officer.
Fund Advisory Personnel mean those persons whose names appear on the effective list of Authorized Traders kept by Dimensional.
Immediate Family Member of an employee means any of the following person(s) sharing the same household with the employee:
•spouse, civil union or domestic partner, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister- in-law, adoptive relationships and legal guardianships;
•someone who holds account(s) in which the employee is a joint owner, has trading authority, or Beneficial Ownership; and/or
•someone for whom the employee contributes to the maintenance of the household and the financial support of such person.
Outside Director means a director of any Advisor who is not considered to be an "interested person" of the Advisor within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19)(B) of the 1940 Act, provided that a director shall not be considered interested for purposes of this Code by virtue of being a director or knowingly having a direct or indirect beneficial interest in the securities of the Advisor if such ownership interest does not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding voting securities of such Advisor.
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Insurance General Book June 2019 - Products and Performance
DIMENSIONAL |
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SEC Rules include but are not limited to Rule 206(4)-5 and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, and Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act.
Supervised Person means any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employee of an Advisor, or other person who provides (i) investment advice on behalf of an Advisor and (ii) is subject to the supervision and control of the Advisor with respect to activities that are subject to the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act.
Effective January 1, 2019 (22035.7)
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