EX-99.(P)(9) 7 osterweiscodeofethics-2023.htm EX-99.(P)(9) Osterweis Code of Ethics - 2023
*J. Scott Coleman and J. Stephen MacLellan are directors of OCM who are not involved in the day-to-day
operations of OCM. They are not employees of OCM and, in the ordinary course of business, they do not have
knowledge of securities that are being actively purchased or sold by OCM on behalf of its clients. These directors
are considered to be “Independent Directors” and are not subject to certain provisions of this Code.
1 “Federal securities laws” means the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the “1934 Act”), the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, Title V of Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLB Act”),
any rules adopted by the SEC under these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to investment companies and
investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the SEC or the Department of the Treasury.
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Code of Ethics
INCLUDING PERSONAL TRADING POLICIES AND COMPLIANCE
PROCEDURES,
INSIDER TRADING AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION POLICIES
(as amended 2023)
OSTERWEIS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
OSTERWEIS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
Osterweis Capital Management, Inc. and Osterweis Capital Management, LLC (together,
“OCM” or the “Company”), each registered as an investment adviser with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), have adopted this Code of Ethics
(“Code”) pursuant to Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended
(“Advisers Act”) and Rule 17j-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (Investment Company Act). OCM has adopted the Code to underscore the
high value the firm places on the principles of honesty, integrity and professionalism.
OCM has adopted the policies and procedures set forth in this Code of Ethics (the
“Code”) which govern the activities of each officer, director, partner, employee,
shareholder and member of OCM (collectively, the “Employees”)*.
Purpose of the Code
Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers requires SEC registered investment advisers to establish,
maintain and enforce a written code of ethics that, at a minimum, sets the standard of
business conduct that OCM requires of its Employees, requires Employees to comply
with applicable federal securities laws,1 and sets forth provisions regarding personal
securities transactions by Employees.
Under Rules 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act and 204A of the Advisers Act, OCM
must establish, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably
designed to prevent the misuse of material, non-public information. Accordingly, OCM
and each of its Employees are prohibited from purchasing or selling any publicly traded
stock, bond, option or other security on the basis of material, nonpublic information
(“Insider Trading”). In addition, OCM and each of its Employees has a fiduciary
obligation to the Company's clients to protect the confidentiality of all proprietary,
sensitive or other confidential information communicated to OCM or such Employees by
its clients. Finally, because OCM and each of its Employees is a fiduciary to OCM’s
clients, OCM and its Employees must also maintain the highest ethical standards and
refrain from engaging in activities that may create actual or apparent conflicts between
their interests and the interests of OCM’s clients.
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To ensure that Insider Trading laws are not violated, that client confidences are
maintained and that conflicts of interest are avoided, OCM has adopted the policies and
procedures set forth in this Code. This Code is intended to articulate OCM's policies,
educate Employees about the issues and OCM's policies, establish procedures for
complying with those policies, monitor compliance with such policies and procedures,
and ensure, to the extent feasible, that OCM satisfies its obligations in this area. By
doing so, OCM hopes that the high ethical standards and reputation of OCM are
maintained.
In addition, Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act requires that every investment
adviser to an investment company adopt a written code of ethics. Because OCM is the
investment adviser to the Osterweis Funds, each a series of Professionally Managed
Portfolios (“PMP”), a registered investment company, OCM has adopted such
requirements in this Code. OCM is required to report to the Board of Trustees of PMP
regarding any material compliance violations of this Code by Access Persons (as defined
below).
As a fiduciary to OCM's clients, each Employee must avoid actual and apparent conflicts
of interest with OCM's clients. Such conflicts of interest could arise if securities are
bought or sold for personal accounts in a manner that would significantly compete with
the purchase or sale of securities for client accounts, or if securities are bought or sold for
client accounts in a manner that is advantageous to such personal accounts. In addition,
the SEC has determined that it is a conflict of interest for an investment adviser’s
employees to personally take advantage of a limited investment opportunity without first
considering whether the investment is appropriate for any of OCM’s clients. If so, OCM’s
employees are first obligated to make such limited opportunity available to OCM’s
clients. More information describing such conflicts of interest and the compliance
procedures for avoiding such conflicts of interest are set forth below.
Fraudulent activities by Employees are prohibited. Specifically, any Employee, in
connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, by such Employee of a
“Security Held or to be Acquired” (defined below) by an OCM client, including the
Reportable Funds, may not:
a)Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Reportable Funds or OCM’s
clients;
b)Make any untrue statement of a material fact to the Reportable Funds or OCM’s
clients or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
made to the Reportable Funds or OCM’s clients, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading;
c)Engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as
a fraud or deceit on the Reportable Funds or OCM’s clients; or
d)Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Reportable Funds or
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OCM’s clients.
If you have any questions regarding this Code, please contact the Chief Compliance
Officer. In the absence of the Chief Compliance Officer, the Chief Operating Officer acts
as the alternate Chief Compliance Officer.
I.Definitions
For purposes of this Code:
“Access Person” means any Employee who, in connection which his or her regular
functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding, the
purchase or sale of Reportable Securities by a Reportable Fund, or whose function relates
to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales. At the
present time, OCM applies the Access Person designation to all Employees rather than
attempting to distinguish only those who technically meet this definition. The Chief
Compliance Officer shall notify each person who becomes an Access Person of the
reporting obligations under this Code at the time such person becomes an Access Person.
Note: Interns, temporary staff and other non-employees who may be granted access to
OCM’s office space from time to time shall be precluded from meeting the definition of
Access Person by means of limitations on their duties and network access rights. Any
exception to this practice must be approved by the CCO.
“Automated investment plan” means a program in which regular periodic purchases
(or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance
with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An automatic investment plan includes a
dividend reinvestment plan.
“Beneficial ownership” is interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule
16a-1(a)(2) in determining whether a person has beneficial ownership of a security for
purposes of Section 16 of the 1934 Act. However, any report filed under this Code may
state that the report is not to be construed as an admission that the person making the
report has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security to which the report
relates.
Confidential information” means any non-public information concerning OCM’s
activities or developed by OCM or received by OCM under an express or implied
agreement or understanding the information will be treated in confidence or used only
for a limited purpose, regardless of whether or not it would be considered to be
important by investors. Examples of confidential information include stocks
recommended for purchase or sale for client accounts, details of financial transactions,
and identity and terms of customer accounts.
“Exempt ETF” means an Exchange Traded Fund that seeks to mimic the investment
performance of a major market or commodity. Determination as to whether an
Exchange Traded Fund is an Exempt ETF is subjective but Employees may rely on the
following guidance: Any ETF which seeks to track the performance (including multiple
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or inverse performance) of a major US market or index (for example but without
limitation: the Nasdaq-100, DJIA, S&P (100, 250, midcap-400 or 500), any non-US
market or any major commodity market (US or non-US), shall generally be considered
an Exempt ETF.
“Fund” means an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act.
“Independent Directors” means J. Scott Coleman and J. Stephen MacLellan,
directors of OCM.
“Initial Public Offering (IPO)” means an offering of securities registered under the
1933 Act, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the
reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.
Insider information” means material, nonpublic information (i.e. information which
is not available to investors generally) that a reasonable investor would consider to be
important in deciding whether to buy, sell or retain a security (e.g., stock; bond; option)
including, for example, non-public information relating to a pending merger, acquisition,
disposition, joint venture, contract award or termination, major lawsuit or claim,
earnings announcement or change in dividend policy, significant product development,
or the gain or loss of a significant customer or supplier. Any non-public information may
be insider information regardless of whether it is developed internally or obtained from
others (e.g., the issuer, current or prospective customers, suppliers or business partners).
Information is considered non-public until it is available to investors generally.
“Limited Offering” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the 1933
Act pursuant to Sections 4(a)(2) or 4(a)(5) or pursuant to Rule 504, 505 or 506. This
generally includes all private placements, limited partnerships (including hedge funds)
and any other non-public stock or warrants.
“Misappropriation” is a basis for insider trading liability that is established when
trading occurs based on material, nonpublic information that was misappropriated from
another person. This theory can and has been used to reach a variety of individuals who
are not traditional or temporary insiders.
“Option” means a contract whereby one party (the buyer) has the right, but not the
obligation, to exercise a feature of the contract (the option) on or before a future date
(the exercise date or expiry). The other party (the seller) has the obligation to honor the
specified feature of the contract.
“Personal Account” means any account through which Reportable Securities can be
traded and in which the Employee has a direct or pecuniary interest or for which such
Employee influences or controls the investment decisions (other than accounts of OCM
clients). Such an account established for the benefit of the following will be presumed to
be a Personal Account unless the Employee and the Chief Compliance Officer agree
otherwise in writing: (i) an Employee of OCM; (ii) the spouse of an Employee; (iii) any
child under the age of 21 of an Employee, whether or not residing with the Employee; (iv)
any other family member of the Employee residing in the same household with the
Employee or to whose financial support the Employee makes a significant contribution;
2 "Security" means any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or
participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription,
transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided
interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security (including a certificate
of deposit) or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put,
call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general,
any interest or instrument commonly known as a "security," or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or
interim certificate for, receipt for, guaranty of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing.
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and (v) any other account in which the Employee has a beneficial interest (e.g. joint
accounts, trustee accounts, partnerships, investment clubs or closely held corporations in
which the Employee has a material beneficial interest).
“Publicly Traded Securities” are any equity or debt instruments traded on an
exchange, through NASDAQ or through the “Pink Sheets,” any option to purchase or sell
such equity or debt instrument, index stock or bond group options that include such
equity or debt instrument, futures contracts on stock or bond groups that include such
equity or debt instrument, and any option on such futures contracts. Publicly Traded
Securities also includes securities traded on foreign security exchanges, shares of
registered closed-end investment companies (other than Exempt ETFs (see definition
above)), unit trusts, partnership and similar interests, notes, warrants, or fixed income
instruments, and bonds and debt obligations issued by foreign governments, states, or
municipalities.
“Non-covered Securities” are not considered Publicly Traded Securities for the
purpose of this Code and therefore do not require pre-clearance. These are: securities
issued by open-end Funds (other than Reportable Funds), Exempt ETFs, U.S. treasury
bonds, notes and bills, U.S. savings bonds and other instruments issued by the U.S.
government, debt instruments issued by a banking institution, such as bankers’
acceptances and certificates of deposit, commercial paper and other high-quality short-
term debt instruments, U.S. and foreign currency, cryptocurrency, real estate, and any
non-securitized assets (e.g. see exclusions to the definition of “Reportable Security”
below).
“Purchase or sale of a security” includes, among other things, the writing of an
option to purchase or sell a security.
“Reportable Fund” means (i) any fund for which OCM serves as investment adviser or
sub-adviser or (ii) any fund whose investment adviser or principal underwriter controls
OCM, is controlled by OCM, or is under common control with OCM. Currently, the
Osterweis Funds are the only Reportable Funds. Reportable Funds are also considered
Reportable Securities.
“Reportable Security” means a security as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the
Advisers Act2, except that it does not include:
a)direct obligations of the Government of the United States;
b)bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high-
quality short-term debt instruments (including repurchase agreements);
c)shares issued by money market funds;
d)shares issued by open-end funds other than Reportable Funds;
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e)shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or
more open-end funds, none of which are Reportable Funds;
f)ownership interests in OCM;
g)participation interests in OCM’s 401(k) plan;
h)personal loans (i.e. private investments not evidenced by any transferable
Security); or
i)real property.
“Security Held or to be Acquired” includes: (i) any Reportable Security which,
within the most recent 15 days: (a) is or has been held by the Reportable Funds; or (b) is
being or has been considered by the Reportable Funds or OCM for purchase by the
Reportable Funds; and (ii) any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible
into or exchangeable for, a Reportable Security described in paragraphs (a) or (b) above.
Tipping” is disclosing material, nonpublic information about a company or its
securities to a third party, when such disclosure is not made strictly for corporate
purposes. The disclosure may be by an insider of the company, by one who has
misappropriated the information from the company in question or from another person
or company, or by anyone who received information traceable to an insider or one who
has misappropriated the information. Those who disclose the information are called
“tippers”; those who receive the information are called “tippees.” If an Employee trades
on the basis of tipped information, they may incur criminal and civil liability, even if
Employee receives the information second or third hand, or more remotely, if the other
requirements for a finding of liability are present. The same legal standards apply to
remote tippees. In addition, if an Employee tips information to others, the Employee
may be liable for any profits gained or losses avoided by a tippee, even if Employee did
not trade. If someone tips information to Employee, Employee shall not disclose the
information to anyone except as required and with approval of the CCO. The Employee
and OCM may be liable if anyone trades on material, nonpublic information received
from or through the Employee.
II.Insider Trading
It is unlawful to engage in “Insider Trading.” This means, in general, that no “insider”
may (i) purchase or sell a security on the basis of material, nonpublic information; (ii)
communicate material, nonpublic information to another where the communication
leads to, or is intended to lead to, a purchase or sale of securities or (iii) knowingly
assisting someone engaged in these activities. Although the Insider Trading prohibitions
extend to the activities of its Employees, OCM does not have an investment banking
division or affiliate and it is anticipated that Employees will not routinely receive “insider
information.” However, in order to educate OCM’s Employees, more information
describing “Insider Trading” is set forth below,
and the penalties for trading using such insider information are also described below. In
the event an OCM Employee comes into possession of insider information, compliance
procedures regarding the use and treatment of the information are set forth below.
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A.Insider Trading Defined
The term “Insider Trading” is generally used to refer to (i) a person’s use of
material, nonpublic information in connection with transactions in securities and
(ii)certain communications of material, nonpublic information.
The laws concerning Insider Trading generally prohibit:
The purchase or sale of securities by an insider, on the basis of material,
nonpublic information;
The purchase or sale of securities by a non-insider, on the basis of material,
nonpublic information where the information was disclosed to the non-
insider in violation of an insider’s duty to keep the information confidential
or was misappropriated; or
The communication of material, nonpublic information in violation of a
confidentiality obligation where the information leads to a purchase or sale
of securities (see “Tipping” definition above).
Who is an Insider?
The concept of “insider” is broad. It generally includes officers, directors,
partners, employees and controlling shareholders of a company or other entity. In
addition, a person can be considered a “temporary insider” of a company or other
entity if he or she enters into a confidential relationship in the conduct of the
company's or entity's affairs and, as a result, is given access to information that is
intended to be used solely for such company's or entity's purposes. A temporary
insider can include, among others, an entity's attorneys, accountants, consultants,
investment bankers, commercial bankers and the employees of such
organizations. In order for a person to be considered a temporary insider of a
particular entity, the entity must expect that the person receiving the information
keep the information confidential and the relationship between the entity and the
person must at least imply such a duty. Analysts are usually not considered
insiders of the entities that they follow, although if an analyst is given confidential
information by an entity's representative in a manner in which the analyst knows
or should know to be a breach of that representative's duties to the entity, the
analyst may become a temporary insider. Similarly, any OCM employee could be
deemed a temporary insider if he or she comes into possession of material non-
public information about a publicly traded entity.
What is Material Information?
Trading on the basis of insider information is not a basis for liability unless the
information is “material.” Material information is generally defined as
information that a reasonable investor would likely consider important in making
his or her investment decision, or information that is reasonably certain to have a
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substantial effect on the price of a company's securities. Information that should
be considered material includes, but is not limited to; dividend changes, earnings
estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger
or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidity problems and
extraordinary management developments. Material information does not have to
relate to a company's business, it can be significant market information. For
example, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal was found criminally liable for
disclosing to others the dates on which reports on various companies would
appear in The Wall Street Journal and whether or not those reports would be
favorable.
What is Nonpublic Information?
Information is nonpublic unless it has been effectively communicated to the
market place. For information to be considered public, one must be able to point
to some fact to show that the information has been generally disseminated to the
public. For example, information found on the internet in a report filed with the
SEC or appearing in Dow Jones, Reuters Economic Services, The Wall Street
Journal or another publication of general circulation is considered public.
What is “Trading on the Basis of” Material Nonpublic Information?
Generally, a purchase or sale of a security is made “on the basis of” material
nonpublic information about that security or issuer if the person making the
purchase or sale was aware of the material nonpublic information when the
person made the purchase or sale. Additionally, all information relating to the
OCM’s activities, including investment analyses, investment recommendations,
and proposed and actual trades for OCM or client accounts, is proprietary to OCM
and must be kept confidential, except as necessary for an Employee to perform his
or her duties for OCM. Such information should be treated as material, nonpublic
information; that is, Employees must not trade on it for personal accounts and,
without the prior approval of the CCO, must not disclose it to anyone inside or
outside OCM who does not need the information in the course of OCM’s business..
B.Penalties for Insider Trading
Penalties for trading on or communicating material nonpublic information are
severe, both for the individuals involved in the unlawful conduct and for their
employers. A person can be subject to some or all of the penalties set forth below
even if he or she does not personally benefit from the violation. Penalties include:
civil injunctions;
disgorgement of profits;
jail sentences of up to 20 years; criminal fine of up to $5 million for an
individual or $25 million for an entity (in addition to civil penalties
based on the profit gained or the loss avoided);
fines for the person who committed the violation of up to three times
the profit gained or loss avoided (per violation, or illegal trade), whether
or not the person actually benefited from the violation; and
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fines for the employer or other controlling person of the person who
committed the violation of up to the greater of $1,000,000 or three
times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided (per violation, or
illegal trade).
In addition, any violation of the procedures set forth in this Code can be expected to
result in serious sanctions by OCM, including dismissal of the person(s) involved.
C.Policy Statement Regarding Insider Trading
OCM expects that each of its Employees will obey the law and not trade on the
basis of material, nonpublic information. In addition, OCM discourages its
Employees from seeking or knowingly obtaining material, nonpublic information.
It is also preferable for OCM Employees to refrain from serving as an officer or
director of any company that issues publicly traded securities if such an
opportunity arises. Service by an OCM Employee in such outside positions is
subject to prior written approval by OCM. Such approval may be conditioned on
the Employee’s adherence to additional procedures.
D.Procedures to Prevent Insider Trading
As indicated above, because OCM does not have an investment banking division
or affiliate and because OCM does not currently have any Employees serving as
officers or directors of any company having publicly traded securities, OCM does
not anticipate that its Employees will routinely be in receipt of material, nonpublic
information. From time to time, however, an Employee may receive such
information. If any Employee receives information which may constitute
nonpublic information material to publicly traded securities, the Employee (i)
should not buy or sell such securities, including options or other securities
convertible into or exchangeable for such securities, for a Personal Account or a
client account, (ii) should not communicate such information to any other person
(other than the Chief Compliance Officer) and (iii) should discuss promptly such
information with the Chief Compliance Officer. Under no circumstances should
information that may constitute material, nonpublic information be shared with
any person(s) not employed by OCM, including family members and friends.
It is good practice for each Employee who routinely contacts issuers or analysts to
identify him- or herself as being associated with OCM, an investment
management firm.
III.Other Confidential Information
Certain information obtained by OCM that does not constitute “insider” information still
constitutes confidential information that must be protected by OCM and its Employees.
Compliance procedures regarding the use and treatment of that confidential information
are set forth below as well as in OCM’s Privacy Policy.
A.Confidential Information Defined
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As noted above, even if OCM and its Employees do not receive material, nonpublic
information (i.e., “insider information”), such persons may receive other
confidential or sensitive information from or about OCM’s clients and will receive
confidential or proprietary information about OCM's affairs. Confidential
Information may be in written, audio, video or computer readable form, or may be
received through conversations in which an Employee is a party or has overheard.
Such Confidential Information may include, among other things, information
entrusted to OCM by a client, including his or her name and related financial
information, the names of securities OCM intends to buy or sell, and new product
information or business plans. In general, any information privately given to an
Employee, that if publicly known, would be likely to (i) affect the price of any
security in the portfolio of any client of OCM or (ii) embarrass or harm a client or
OCM should be considered Confidential Information.
Given the breadth of the above, all information that an Employee obtains through
OCM during the normal course of his or her duties should be considered
confidential unless the Employee knows that information is specifically available
to the public.
B.Policy Statement Regarding Use and Treatment of Confidential
Information
All confidential information, whatever the source, may be used only in the
performance of the Employee's duties with OCM. Confidential Information may
not be used for any personal purpose, including the purchase or sale of securities
for a personal or proprietary account.
C.Procedures Regarding Use and Treatment of Confidential
Information
Employees of OCM have an obligation to be aware of, and sensitive to their
treatment of Confidential Information. To safeguard this information, OCM
adopted a Consumer and Customer Privacy Policy Statement and Compliance
Procedures (the “Privacy Policies and Procedures”). Generally, the Privacy
Policies and Procedures require the following:
Precautions must be taken to avoid storing Confidential Information in plain
view in public areas of OCM’s facilities, including the reception areas,
conference rooms and kitchens, and employees must remove Confidential
Information from these areas where it may be seen by visitors or other third
parties.
Visitors must be escorted in and out of the office by OCM employees.
Particular care must be exercised when Confidential Information must be
discussed in public places, such as restaurants, elevators, taxicabs, trains or
airplanes.
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Under no circumstances may Confidential Information be shared with any
person, including any spouse or other family member, who is not an employee
of OCM and who does not have a reason relating to such employee’s
responsibilities within OCM to know that information.
IV.Conflicts of Interest Involving Personal Trading
A.Fiduciary Duty to Avoid Conflicts of Interest Between OCM
Client and Personal Trading
As noted above, because OCM and each of its Employees is a fiduciary to OCM's
clients, such persons must avoid actual and apparent conflicts of interest with
OCM's clients. Clients’ interests have precedence over the personal interests of
OCM and its Employees. If a potential conflict arises, OCM and the Employee
must resolve the matter in the client's favor.
An actual or apparent conflict of interest could arise when both an Employee and
OCM, on behalf of a client, engage in a transaction involving the same security. In
such cases, transactions for client accounts must be given precedence over
transactions in Employees’ personal accounts.
Conflicts of interest may arise when an Employee becomes aware of limited
investment opportunities, such as private placements, Initial Public Offerings,
limited partnerships or any other non-public stock or warrant. Because of the
inherent potential for conflict, such investment opportunities demand extreme
care and are subject to closer scrutiny in the pre-approval procedures discussed
below.
B.Personal Account Exemptions
If an Employee certifies in writing that (a) the certifying Employee does not
influence the investment decisions for any specified account of such spouse, child
or dependent person and (b) the person or persons making the investment
decisions for such account do not make such decisions, in whole or in part, upon
information that the certifying Employee has provided, the Chief Compliance
Officer may, in his or her discretion, determine that such an account is not subject
to the Code.
Similarly, if an Employee certifies in writing that trading in an account in which
he has direct or indirect beneficial ownership is handled by someone other than
the Employee, such as a third party who exercises complete investment discretion
in managing the account, the Chief Compliance Officer, may determine that such
account is not subject to the pre-clearance requirements of the Code set out below.
Written verification from the third party involved in the management of the
account may also be required in certain circumstances. Securities held or traded
in an excepted account are nonetheless required to be included in the Employee’s
initial, annual and quarterly reports unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by
the Chief Compliance Officer. Any actual or apparent conflict of interest in the
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trading in the Employee’s excepted accounts may render these accounts subject to
all of the provisions of the Code.
The other examples of conflict of interests, including but not limited to, are
knowingly purchasing or selling securities for Employee’s personal accounts,
directly or indirectly, in a way that adversely affects transactions in client
accounts; using knowledge of securities transactions by a client account to profit
personally, directly or indirectly, by the market effect of such transactions; and
giving to any person information not generally available to the public about
contemplated, proposed or current purchases or sales of securities by or for a
client account, except to the extent necessary to effect such transactions or with
the approval of the CCO.
Without the prior approval of the Compliance department, no Employee may
execute a transaction in a security for Employee’s personal account if the
Employee is aware or should be aware that an order for a client account for the
same security, same way, remains unexecuted or OCM is considering same-way
trades in the security for client accounts. Transactions in options, derivatives or
convertible instruments for a Employee account that are related to a transaction
in an underlying security for a client account (“inter-market front running”) are
subject to the same restrictions.
C.Policy Statement Regarding Trading for Personal Accounts
OCM recognizes that the personal investment transactions of its Employees and
members of their immediate families demand the application of a strict code of
ethics. Consequently, OCM requires that all personal investment transactions be
carried out in a manner that will not endanger the interest of any client or create
any apparent or actual conflict of interest between OCM Employees and OCM’s
clients. To this end, OCM has adopted the procedures set forth below.
D.Procedures Regarding Trading for Personal Accounts
Pre-Clearance: OCM requires pre-clearance of all volitional purchases and sales
of Publicly Traded Securities (other than Reportable Funds), IPOs and Limited
Offerings in the Personal Accounts of its Employees (other than the Independent
Directors). This pre-clearance is intended to protect both OCM and its Employees
from even the appearance of impropriety with respect to transactions in an
Employee’s Personal Account. OCM reserves the right to require an Employee to
reverse, cancel or freeze, at the Employee’s expense, any transaction or position in
a security including limited investment opportunities any time if OCM believes
such transaction or position might violate OCM’s policies and procedures and
code of ethics rules or appears improper. Except as required to enforce OCM’s
policies and procedures or to participate in any investigation concerning
violations of applicable law, OCM will keep all such information confidential.
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If you have any doubt as to whether the pre-clearance requirement applies to a
particular security, please check with the Chief Compliance Officer before
entering into that transaction.
The pre-clearance requirement is satisfied by completing the appropriate pre-
clearance process. The web-based ComplySci portal, a third-party service hosted
by Compliance Science, is to be used for the pre-clearance of trades and other
reporting pursuant to this Code whenever possible. If ComplySci cannot be used,
then a hardcopy form (the Personal Trade Pre-Clearance Form (Exhibit 2.1)) is
to be used instead (with the exception of investments in Limited Offerings and
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”), which require completion of the Limited
Investment Opportunity Pre-Clearance Form (Exhibit 2.2) or its web-based
equivalent available via ComplySci).
Employees are encouraged to make and retain a copy of each approved pre-
clearance request for their own personal records.
Employees may delegate the submission of their personal pre-clearance requests
to other OCM staff, but are personally responsible for the accuracy of these
requests and should therefore review such requests either before approval or as
soon thereafter as practicable.
Employees should know that pre-clearance is not automatically granted for every
trade. Trades for Personal Accounts preferably should be consistent with
recommendations and actions that OCM has taken on behalf of its clients.
Transactions in complex derivatives whose underlying securities are held in client
accounts will generally not be approved.
As part of the pre-clearance process, each Employee, other than the Independent
Directors, wishing to buy or sell a Publicly Traded Security for a Personal Account
must confirm that he or she is not in receipt of any material nonpublic
information (i.e., “insider information”) concerning the security or its issuer.
Duly-submitted pre-clearance requests may be approved by any member of the
Compliance department, except that a member of the Compliance department
may not approve pre-clearance requests for his or her own Personal Account(s).
Approval of a pre-clearance request means that, to the best of an OCM’s
knowledge:
The security is not currently held in any OCM client account
(ignoring unmanaged positions).
-or-
The security may be held in one or more client account(s) but OCM
has not traded the security for clients that day, has no intent to trade
the security for clients in the immediate future and the requested
trade is unlikely to create any material conflict with clients’ interests.
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Pre-clearance requests should be delivered directly to the Compliance department
by the Employee, either via ComplySci or in hardcopy form. OCM will treat the
pre-clearance process as Confidential Information and will not disclose this
information except as required by law or appropriate business purposes, and
employees must do the same with respect to approvals or denials of any request
for pre-clearance.
Watchlist: OCM’s Compliance Department maintains multiple Watchlists, which
contain the names of all equity securities currently held in discretionary accounts,
equity securities currently under consideration, or for which OCM is presently
restricted due to MNPI (Materially Non-Public Information) concerns. Employee
trades in such securities are subject to additional pre-clearance requirements as well
as a 60-day minimum holding period (described below). Employees is responsible
for obtaining additional approvals from the Trading and Portfolio Management staff
responsible for investment decisions regarding that particular security. In general,
Compliance staff will withhold their approval if the security is on a Watchlist because
it is under consideration for purchase, the Trader will withhold their approval if
orders for the security have been executed that day or remain open at the time of the
request, and the Portfolio Manager and Portfolio Assistant will each withhold their
approvals if, based on information currently available, they are aware of any intent to
trade the security for clients in the immediate future, or if he or she believes the trade
creates a material conflict with clients’ interests.
Minimum Holding Period: Employee-owned securities that are on OCM’s
Watchlist may not be sold within 60 days of being purchased by the Employee
without specific approval from OCM’s Chief Compliance Officer. It is the duty of
the Employee to verify that they have satisfied this requirement prior to pre-
clearing a sell of a Watchlist security. Furthermore, OCM employees are
encouraged to avoid, under normal circumstances, any short-term trading in their
Personal Accounts as this may create additional conflicts of interest with
employment at OCM. Moreover, no Employees may engage in any trading activity
with respect to a security, or an option, derivative or convertible instrument
related to that security, while that security is restricted or on the Watch List.
Process for Pre-Clearance of Limited Investment Opportunities
(Exhibit 2.2): As discussed above, when an Employee intends to effect a
transaction that is a Limited Offering (e.g., a private placement, limited
partnership (including hedge funds) or any other non-public stock or warrant) or
an IPO (each, a “Limited Investment Opportunity”), the Employee must consider
whether or not the planned investment is one that is appropriate for any of OCM’s
clients. Generally, OCM employs a risk-averse investment strategy that would not
include most Limited Investment Opportunities. However, if the clients’ account
investment strategy and restrictions do not prohibit the acquisition of the security,
the Limited Investment Opportunity may be an appropriate investment for the
client. Therefore, the Employee must complete a Limited Investment Opportunity
Pre-Clearance Request and allow the CCO, or in his absence a member of the
Compliance Committee to determine whether it is appropriate to approve the
request. Employees should be aware that completion of the Limited Investment
Opportunity Pre-Clearance Request serves as confirmation that the Employee has
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already considered the interests of OCM’s clients. Approval must be received prior
to executing an investment in a Limited Offering or IPO.
Execution of Trades: The Personal Trade Pre-Clearance process must be
completed on the day the Employee intends to initiate a transaction and the trade
must be executed on that day. If for some reason an Employee cannot initiate
trade instructions on that date, or the trade cannot be executed on that date, a
new request must be submitted and the appropriate authorization must be
obtained on the day the Employee next proposes to initiate the trade. The date on
which the Limited Investment Opportunity Request is completed will generally be
considered to be the trade date. However, in many cases, the trade date may not
have been established by the issuer or seller of the Limited Offering or IPO at the
time the trade is initiated. The Employee should then indicate that the trade date
will be the date on which the seller or issuer finalizes the trade. As long as the
Limited Investment Opportunity Request is completed prior to the closing date of
the transaction, the Employee will be considered to be in compliance with this
Code. This is also the case in the event that an Employee is the seller of a security
originally purchased by such Employee in a Limited Investment Opportunity,
such as a Limited Offering. Any preclearance approval may be cancelled by the
Compliance Department at any time by notifying the Employee and documenting
the cancellation.
E.Exceptions to the Pre-clearance Requirements
In addition to investments in Non-covered Securities and Reportable Funds, the
following types of investments are not required to be pre-cleared, however, it
should be noted that the transactions below are not exempt from all periodic
reporting requirements.
Non-Volitional Transactions: The pre-clearance requirements do not apply to
transactions as to which an Employee does not exercise investment discretion at
the time of the transaction. For example, if a security owned by an Employee is
called by the issuer of that security, the resulting transaction does not have to be
pre-cleared and the security may be delivered without pre-clearance. Similarly, if
a written option is exercised against an Employee, then the stock may be delivered
pursuant to that option without pre-clearing the transaction. However, if it is
necessary to purchase securities in order to deliver them, the purchase of the
securities must be pre-cleared. In the event the rules of an exchange provide for
automatic exercise or liquidation of an in-the-money derivative instrument upon
expiration, the exercise or liquidation of that position by the exchange does not
require pre-clearance. All non-volitional transactions are required to be
reported on the Employee’s Quarterly Transaction Report and, if
necessary, the Annual Holdings Report.
Automated Investment Plans: Purchases that are part of an established
periodic automated investment plan do not have to be pre-cleared, but Reportable
Securities so acquired must still be reported on an Employee’s Quarterly
Transaction Report and on his or her Annual Holdings Report.
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Tender Offers: Tendering shares pursuant to a public tender offer is subject to
special rules. If the tender offer is for 100% of the outstanding shares of a
particular class, pre-clearance is not required with respect to securities of that
class. If the tender offer is for less than 100% of the outstanding shares of a
particular class, pre-clearance is required. (OCM may be participating in the
transaction on behalf of client accounts and an employee’s participation could
reduce the number of shares able to be tendered on behalf of a client.) In either
case, tender offers must be reported on an Employee’s Quarterly
Transaction Report and, if necessary, the Annual Holdings Report.
F.Reports of Personal Transactions (for All Reportable Securities)
Submission of Reports: In order for OCM to monitor compliance with this
Code, each Employee shall submit, or shall cause to be submitted, to the Chief
Compliance Officer the following reports in electronic form (generally via
ComplySci) or in hardcopy equivalent:
Notification of Personal Accounts: Existing Employees shall disclose any
newly-opened Personal Accounts no later than the due date of their next Quarterly
Transaction Report. New Employee shall submit to the Chief Compliance Officer
a complete and accurate Initial Holdings Report (See Exhibit 3) within 10 days of
becoming an Employee. The information in the Initial Holdings Report must be
current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the person becoming an
Employee. The Initial Holdings Report must include all Reportable Securities,
including Limited Offerings, the Employee had any beneficial ownership of upon
commencement of employment by OCM.
The Initial Holdings Report must contain, at a minimum, the following
information:
1.The name and, as applicable, type, ticker symbol or CUSIP number of each
Reportable Security.
2.The number of shares or principal amount of each Reportable Security.
3.The name of any broker, dealer, bank or Reportable Fund’s transfer agent
at which the Employee maintains an account in which any Reportable
Securities are held.
4.Employee’s signature and the date the Initial Holdings Report is being
submitted.
Duplicate Confirmations and Account Statements: Each Employee shall
authorize the brokerage firm or other firm where such Employee’s Personal
Accounts are maintained to send to OCM’s Compliance department duplicate
confirmations of all transactions in all Reportable Securities effected for such
Employee’s Personal Accounts. A sample letter to be used for this purpose is
attached hereto as Exhibit 4. Such records should be transmitted electronically
directly to ComplySci whenever possible.
Alternatively, each Employee shall cause all of his or her brokers or other
custodians to submit at least quarterly account statements for each of his or her
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Personal Accounts to OCM. The account statements shall be sent electronically,
directly by the broker or other custodian to the Compliance department,
regardless of whether any trading activity took place in the Personal Account
during the quarter.
Quarterly Transaction Reports: Each Employee must submit Quarterly
Transactions Reports on ComplySci (or using Exhibit 5) within 30 days of each
calendar quarter’s end for all transactions during the quarter in Reportable
Securities. The Quarterly Transaction Reports must contain, at a minimum, the
following information:
1.The trade date of the transaction and the name of the Reportable Security.
2.As applicable, the ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and
maturity date, number of shares and principal amount of each Reportable
Security.
3.The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or other type of
acquisition or disposition).
4.The price of the Reportable Security at which the transaction was effected.
5.The name of the broker, dealer, bank or transfer agent with or through
which the transaction was effected, as applicable.
6.A list of any Personal Account(s) opened during the quarter, indicating
account number, title date the account was established and the name of
the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Employee opened the Personal
Account.
7.The signature of the Employee (or its electronic equivalent) and the date
the report is being submitted.
If an Employee’s outside activity and brokerage report statement should become
inaccurate or incomplete at any time, such Employee shall promptly submit to the
Chief Compliance Officer a report correcting all inaccurate or incomplete
information.
Annual Holdings Report: Each Employee shall submit a complete and
accurate Annual Holdings Report on ComplySco (or using Exhibit 6). The Annual
Holdings Report is due by February 1st of each year and the information in the
Annual Holdings Report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior
to the date of the Annual Holdings Report is submitted. At a minimum, the
Annual Holdings Report must contain the same information as required in the
Initial Holdings Report.
Review and Retention of Reports, Reporting of Violations: The Chief
Compliance Officer, or his designee, shall compare the transactions reported
against the preclearance records that were prepared during the period to
determine whether any violations of OCM’s policies or of the applicable securities
laws took place. If any discrepancies are identified, the Chief Compliance Officer
or his designee shall promptly contact such Employee to resolve the discrepancy.
Upon discovering a violation of these procedures, OCM may impose such
sanctions as it deems appropriate, including additional training, a memorandum
of censure or suspension, or termination of the employment of the violator.
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Insofar as warranted by the facts and circumstances surrounding the violation,
OCM may require the Employee’s profits (or their tax benefit in the case of a loss)
to be disgorged and/or compensation be made to affected client account(s). All
violations of these procedures and any sanctions imposed with respect thereto
shall be reported periodically to the board of any investment company client of
OCM (unless otherwise instructed by such board). OCM shall retain all
documents required to be submitted by Employees under this provision, including
all duplicate confirmations and any documents referred to or incorporated
therein, as part of the books and records required by the Advisers Act and
Investment Company Act, as amended, and the rules thereunder. The Chief
Compliance Officer’s Personal Account reports shall be reviewed by the Chief
Operating Officer or another member of the Compliance Department staff.
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V.Registration, Licensing and Testing Requirements
Each Employee should check with the CCO to ensure that he or she has complied
with any applicable registration, licensing and testing requirements required as a
result of such Employee’s duties and position. These requirements may arise
under the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act, the 1933 Act, the 1934Act,
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, state broker-dealer and
investment adviser statutes, rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, the
Department of Labor and state and other regulatory authorities. Employees are
responsible for immediately informing the CCO about any situation that may
result in affecting the registration, licensing or testing requirements.
VI.Record Maintenance
The Chief Compliance Officer, or her designee, shall maintain or cause to be
maintained in a readily accessible place the following records:
1.A copy of all Codes of Ethics adopted by the firm that have been in
effect during the past five years;
2.A record of any violation of this Code and any action that was taken as a
result of such violation for a period of five years from the end of the
fiscal year in which the violation occurred;
3.A record of compliance certifications for each Access Person for the last
five years;
4.A copy of all reports made pursuant to Advisers Act Rule 204A-1 and
Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act;
5.A copy of each report made by an Access Person, as required by this
Code, including any information provided in lieu of the reports, for at
least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is
made or the information provided;
6.A list of all persons who are, or within the preceding five years have
been, Access Persons or who are or were responsible for reviewing
reports submitted by Access Persons.
7.A copy of each report provided to the Board of the Reportable Funds
pursuant to this Code, for at least five years after the end of the fiscal
year in which it is made; and
8.A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to
approve the acquisition by Access Persons of IPOs or Limited Offerings,
for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the
approval is granted.
VII.Conclusion
A.Importance of Adherence to Procedures
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It is very important that all Employees adhere strictly to this Code. Any violations
of such policies and procedures may result in serious sanctions, including
dismissal from OCM.
B.Circulation/Certification of Receipt of Code and Amendments
This Code shall be circulated to all Employees either in electronic or hardcopy
form, and each Employee shall be asked to certify that he or she has received and
agrees to follow the Code. Each Employee will also be asked to certify to the
receipt of any amendments to this Code as such amendments are made from time
to time.
C.Reports to Board of the Reportable Funds
On at least an annual basis, the Chief Compliance Officer shall prepare a written
report describing any issues arising under the Code, including information about
any material Code violations by Access Persons and any sanctions imposed due to
such violations, and submit the information to the Board of the Reportable Funds
via the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (unless otherwise instructed). On an
annual basis, OCM shall certify to the Board of the Reportable Funds that it has
adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent its Access Persons from
violating the Code of Ethics. Typically, the timing and format of all such reports
shall be subject to the discretion of the Board of the Reportable Funds.
D.Questions
Any questions regarding OCM’s policies or procedures with respect to this Code
should be referred to the Chief Compliance Officer.