EX-99.P CODE ETH 6 p3.htm

Exhibit p(3)

DEUTSCHE ASSET MANAGEMENT

CODE OF ETHICS

May, 2000

Revised July, 2001

A Member of the

Deutsche Bank Group

(logo_graphic)

DEUTSCHE ASSET MANAGEMENT

CODE OF ETHICS

I.

Overview

1

II.

General Rule

1

III.

Definitions

2

IV.

Restrictions

3

General

3

Specific Blackout Period Restrictions

3

New Issues (IPOs)

5

Short-Term Trading

5

Restricted List

5

Private Placements

5

V.

Compliance Procedures

6

Designated Brokerage Accounts

6

Pre-Clearance

6

Reporting Requirements

6

Confirmation of Compliance with Policies

7

VI.

Other Procedures/Restrictions

7

Service on Boards of Directors

7

Gifts

7

Rules for Dealing with Governmental Officials and

Political Candidates

9

Confidentiality

10

VII.

Sanctions

10

VIII.

Interpretations and Exceptions

10

Appendix:

  • Acknowledgement Form

11

  • Initial (and Annual) Holdings Report

12

  • Deutsche Bank Policies and Procedures:

13

- Employee/Employee Related Trading

- Procedures for Establishing Brokerage Accounts

- Procedures for Pre-Clearing Personal Trades

(parts not yet effective for DeAM)

DEUTSCHE ASSET MANAGEMENT - U.S.

CODE OF ETHICS

I. Overview

This Code of Ethics ("Code") sets forth the specialized rules for business conduct and guidelines for the personal investing activities that generally are required of employees involved in the United States investment management areas of the Deutsche Bank Group and its affiliates (collectively "Deutsche Asset Management" or "DeAM").1

The provisions of this Code shall apply to all employees deemed to be "Access Persons" (see definition on next page) and such other employees as the Compliance Department ("Compliance") may determine from time to time. This Code supplements the Deutsche Bank Code of Professional Conduct and Global Master Compliance Manual (available at http://compliance.cc.db.com on the intranet). Each Access Person must observe those policies, as well as abide by the additional principles and rules set forth in this Code, and any other applicable legal vehicle or division specific policies and obligations.

II. General Rule

DeAM employees will, in varying degrees, participate in or be aware of fiduciary and investment services provided to registered investment companies, institutional investment clients, employee benefit trusts and other types of investment advisory accounts. The fiduciary relationship mandates adherence to the highest standards of conduct and integrity.

Accordingly, personnel acting in a fiduciary capacity must carry out their duties for the exclusive benefit of the client accounts. Consistent with this fiduciary duty, the interests of DeAM clients take priority over the investment desires of DeAM and DeAM personnel. All DeAM personnel must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the requirements and procedures set forth in this Code.

  • There must be no conflict, or appearance of conflict, between the self-interest of any employee and the responsibility of that employee to Deutsche Bank, its shareholders or its clients.
  • Employees must never improperly use their position with Deutsche Bank for personal or private gain to themselves, their family or any other person.

DeAM employees may also be required to comply with other policies imposing separate requirements. Specifically, they may be subject to laws or regulations that impose restrictions with respect to personal securities transactions, including, but not limited to, Section 17(j) and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act"). The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to ensure that, in connection with his or her personal trading, no Access Person shall conduct any of the following acts upon a client account:

  • To employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud;
  • To make any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement not misleading;

1 Deutsche Asset Management is the marketing name in the U.S. for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Fund Management, Inc., Bankers Trust Company, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc., Deutsche Asset Management Inc. (formerly Morgan Grenfell Inc.), and Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Limited.

  • To engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit; or
  • To engage in any manipulative practice.

III. Definitions

A. "Access Person" shall mean:

(i) All employees of DeAM, including investment personnel, traders and portfolio managers who, in connection with their regular functions or duties, participate in making decisions or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of a security by any client accounts, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales;

(ii) All natural persons in a control relationship to DeAM who obtain information concerning investment recommendations made to any client account. The term "control" shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act; and

(iii) Any other personnel with asset management responsibilities or frequent interaction with Access Persons as determined by Compliance (e.g., Legal, Compliance, Risk, Operations, Sales & Marketing, as well as certain long-term temporary employees and consultants).

B. "Accounts" shall mean all securities accounts, whether brokerage or otherwise, and securities held directly outside of accounts, but shall not include open-end mutual fund accounts in which securities transactions cannot be effected.

C. "Employee Related Account" of any person subject to this Code shall mean:

(i) The employee's own Accounts;

(ii) The employee's spouse's Accounts and the Accounts of minor children and other members of the household (whether by marriage or similarly committed status) living in the employee's home;

(iii) Accounts in which the employee, his/her spouse/domestic partner, minor children or other persons living in their home have a beneficial interest (i.e., share in the profits even if there is no influence on voting or disposition of the shares); and

(iv) Accounts (including corporate Accounts and trust Accounts) over which the employee or his/her spouse/domestic partner exercises investment discretion or direct or indirect influence or control.

NOTE: ANY PERSON SUBJECT TO THIS CODE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RULES WITH RESPECT TO ANY EMPLOYEE RELATED ACCOUNT, AS APPLICABLE.

D. "Securities" shall include equity or debt securities, derivatives of securities (such as options, warrants, and ADRs), closed-end mutual funds, futures, commodities and similar instruments, but do not include:

(i) Shares of open-end mutual funds (unless otherwise directed by Compliance);

(ii) Direct obligations of the United States government; or

(iii) Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements.

IV. Restrictions

A. General

(i) The Basic Policy: Employees have a personal obligation to conduct their investing activities and related securities transactions lawfully and in a manner that avoids actual or potential conflicts between their own interests and the interests of Deutsche Bank and its clients. Employees must carefully consider the nature of their Deutsche Bank responsibilities - and the type of information that he or she might be deemed to possess in light of any particular securities transaction - before engaging in that transaction.

(ii) Material Nonpublic Information: Employees in possession of material nonpublic information about or affecting securities, or their issuer, are prohibited from buying or selling such securities, or advising any other person to buy or sell such securities.

(iii) Corporate and Departmental Restricted Lists: Employees are not permitted to buy or sell any securities that are included on the Corporate Restricted List (available on the intranet) and/or other applicable departmental restricted lists.

(iv) "Frontrunning:" Employees are prohibited from buying or selling securities or other instruments in their Employee Related Accounts so as to benefit from the employee's knowledge of the Firm's or a client's trading positions, plans or strategies, or forthcoming research recommendations.

B. Specific Blackout Period Restrictions

(i) Access Persons shall not knowingly effect the purchase or sale of a Security for an Employee Related Account on a day during which any client account has a "buy" or "sell" order for the same Security, until that order is executed or withdrawn;

(ii) Access Persons shall not effect the purchase or sale of a Security for an Employee Related Account within seven calendar days before or seven calendar days after the same Security is traded (or contemplated to be traded) by a client account with which the Access Person is associated.

(iii) Employees must always act to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest between their DeAM duties and responsibilities, and their personal investment activities. To avoid potential conflicts, absent specific written approval from your Managing Officer2 and Compliance, employees should not personally invest in securities issued by companies with which they have significant dealings on behalf of DeAM, or in investment vehicles sponsored by them. Additional rules that apply to securities transactions by employees, including the requirement for employees to pre-clear personal securities transactions and rules regarding how Employee Related Accounts must be maintained, are described in more detail later in this Code.

(iv) Deutsche Bank Securities: During certain times of the year, all Deutsche Bank employees are prohibited from conducting transactions in the equity and debt securities of Deutsche Bank, which affect their beneficial interest in the firm. Corporate Compliance generally imposes these "blackout" periods around the fiscal reporting of corporate earnings. Blackouts typically begin two days prior to the expected quarterly or annual earnings announcement, and end after earnings are released publicly. Additional restricted periods may be required for certain individuals and events, and Compliance will announce when such additional restricted periods are in effect.

2 For purposes of this policy, "Managing Officer" is defined as an officer of at least the Managing Director level to whom the employee directly or indirectly reports, who is in charge of the employee's unit (e.g., a Department Head, Division Head, Function Head, Group Head, General Manager, etc).

(v) Exceptions to Blackout Periods (above items i, ii, and iii only)

The following Securities are exempt from the specified blackout periods:

  • Securities that are within the S&P 100 Index;
  • Futures and options transactions on indexes;
  • ETF's (Exchange Traded Funds - e.g., SPDRs or "Spiders" (S&P 500 Index), DIAs or "Diamonds" (Dow Jones Industrial Average), etc.);
  • Shares purchased under an issuer sponsored Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIPs"), other than optional purchases;
  • To the extent acquired from the issuer, purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued pro rata to holders of a class of securities; and
  • Securities purchased under an employer sponsored stock purchase plan or upon the exercise of employee stock options.

Note: Transactions in Securities in derivative instruments, including warrants, convertible Securities, futures and options, etc. shall be restricted in the same manner as the underlying Security.

C. New Issues (IPOs)

Access Persons are prohibited from purchasing or subscribing for Securities pursuant to an initial public offering. This prohibition applies even if Deutsche Bank (or any affiliate of Deutsche Bank) has no underwriting role and/or is not involved with the distribution.

D. Short -Term Trading

Employees must always conduct their personal trading activities lawfully, properly and responsibly, and are encouraged to adopt long-term investment strategies that are consistent with their financial resources and objectives. Deutsche Bank generally discourages short-term trading strategies, and employees are cautioned that such strategies may inherently carry a higher risk of regulatory and other scrutiny. In any event, excessive or inappropriate trading that interferes with job performance, or compromises the duty that Deutsche Bank owes to its clients and shareholders, will not be tolerated.

Access Persons are prohibited from transacting in the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) Securities within 30 calendar days. The following Securities are exempted from this restriction:

  • Futures and options transactions on indexes;
  • ETF's (Exchange Traded Funds - e.g., SPDRs or "Spiders" (S&P 500 Index), DIAs or "Diamonds" (Dow Jones Industrial Average), etc.);
  • Shares purchased under an issuer sponsored Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIPs"), other than optional purchases;
  • To the extent acquired from the issuer, purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued pro rata to holders of a class of securities; and
  • Securities purchased under an employer sponsored stock purchase plan.

E. Restricted List

All Deutsche Bank employees, including all Access Persons, are prohibited from buying or selling any securities that are included on the Corporate Restricted List (available on the intranet) and/or other applicable departmental restricted lists.

F. Private Placements

Prior to effecting a transaction in private securities (i.e., Securities not requiring registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and sold directly to the investor), all Access Persons must first obtain the approval of his/her supervisor and then pre-clear the transaction with the Compliance Department, including completing a questionnaire. Any person who has previously purchased privately-placed Securities must disclose such purchases to the Compliance Department before he or she participates in a Fund's or an advisory client's subsequent consideration of an investment in the Securities of the same or a related issuer.

V. Compliance Procedures

A. Designated Brokerage Accounts

All employees must obtain the explicit permission of the Corporate Compliance Department prior to opening a new Employee Related Account. Upon joining Deutsche Bank, new employees are required to disclose all of their Employee Related Accounts (as previously defined) to Corporate Compliance and must carry out the instructions provided to conform such accounts, if necessary, to the Firm's policies.

Under no circumstance is an employee permitted to open or maintain any Employee Related Account that is undisclosed to Compliance. Also, the policies, procedures and rules described throughout this Code apply to all Employee Related Accounts.

Accordingly, all Access Persons are required to open and maintain their Employee Related Accounts in accordance with the Deutsche Bank Employee Trading and Pre-Clearance Policy, including directing their brokers to supply duplicate copies of transaction confirmations and periodic account statements, as well as additional division-specific requirements, if any.

B. Pre-Clearance

Proposed Securities transactions must be pre-cleared with the Compliance Department in accordance with the Deutsche Bank Employee Trading and Pre-Clearance Policy prior to their being placed with the broker. Employees are personally responsible for ensuring that the proposed transaction does not violate the Firm's policies or applicable securities laws and regulations by virtue of the employee's Deutsche Bank responsibilities or information he or she may possess about the securities or their issuer.

The following Securities are exempted from the preclearance requirement:

  • Futures and options transactions on indexes;
  • ETF's (Exchange Traded Funds - e.g., SPDRs or "Spiders" (S&P 500 Index), DIAs or "Diamonds" (Dow Jones Industrial Average), etc.);
  • Shares purchased under an issuer sponsored Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIPs"), other than optional purchases;
  • To the extent acquired from the issuer, purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued pro rata to holders of a class of securities; and
  • Securities purchased under an employer sponsored stock purchase plan.

C. Reporting Requirements

(i) Disclosure of Employee Related Accounts/Provision of Statements

As stated in section V.A. above, upon joining Deutsche Bank, new employees are required to disclose all of their Employee Related Accounts to Corporate Compliance, and must carry out the instructions provided to conform such accounts, if necessary, to Deutsche Bank policies. In addition, pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the Act, no later than ten days after an individual becomes an Access Person (i.e., joining/transferring into DeAM etc.), he or she must also complete and return an "Initial Holdings Report" (see Appendix) to DeAM Compliance.

(ii) Quarterly Personal Securities Trading Reports ("PSTs")

Pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the Act, within ten (10) days of the end of each calendar quarter, all Access Persons must sign and return to Compliance a PST report, unless exempted by a division-specific requirement, if any. All PSTs that have reportable personal Securities transactions for the quarter will be reviewed by the appropriate supervisory and/or compliance person.

(iii) Annual Holdings Report

Once each year, at a date to be specified by Compliance, each Access Person must provide to Compliance an Annual Holdings Report (see Appendix) current as of a date not more than 30 days prior to the date of the report.

D. Confirmation of Compliance with Policies

Annually, each Access Person is required to sign a statement acknowledging that he or she has received this Code, as amended or updated, and confirm his or her adherence to it. Complying with this Code, and truthfully completing the Acknowledgment is the obligation of each Access Person. Failure to perform this obligation may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal, as well as possible civil and criminal penalties.

VI. Other Procedures/Restrictions

A. Service on Boards of Directors

Employees may not maintain outside business affiliations (e.g., officer or director, governor, trustee, part-time employment, etc.) without the prior written approval of the appropriate senior officer of their respective business units after consultation with Compliance, and disclosure to the Office of the Secretary as required. Service on Boards of publicly traded companies should be limited to a small number of instances. However, such service may be undertaken based upon a determination that these activities are consistent with the interests of DeAM and its clients. Employees serving as directors will not be permitted to participate in the process of making investment decisions on behalf of clients which involve the subject company.

B. Gifts

(i) Accepting Gifts

Employees are prohibited from soliciting any personal payment or gift to influence, support or reward any service, transaction or business involving Deutsche Bank, or that appears to be made or offered in anticipation of any future service, transaction or business opportunity. A payment or gift includes any fee, compensation, remuneration or thing of value.3

Subject to the prerequisites of honesty, absolute fulfillment of fiduciary duty to Deutsche Bank, relevant laws and regulations, and reasonable conduct on the part of the employee, however, the acceptance of some types of unsolicited, reasonable business gifts may be permissible. The rules are as follows:

  • Cash gifts of any amount are prohibited. This includes cash equivalents such as gift certificates, bonds, securities or other items that may be readily converted to cash.
  • Acceptance of non-cash gifts, momentos, tickets for sporting or entertainment events, and other items that are not excessive in value, is generally permitted with supervisor approval, when it is clear that they are unsolicited, unrelated to a transaction and the donor is not attempting to influence the employee. In accordance with regulations and practices in various jurisdictions, as well as the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers, certain employees may be subject to more stringent gift giving and receiving guidelines. For example, employees who are "associated persons" of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc. (NASD licensed) are generally not permitted to offer or accept gifts with a value greater than U.S. $100. Compliance should be consulted with questions.
  • Acceptance of gifts, other than cash, given in connection with special occasions (e.g., promotions, retirements, weddings), that are of reasonable value in the circumstances are permissible.
  • Employees may accept reasonable and conventional business courtesies, such as joining a client or vendor in attending sporting events, golf outings or concerts, provided that such activities involve no more than the customary amenities.
  • The cost of working session meals or reasonable related expenses involving the discussion or review of business matters related to Deutsche Bank may be paid by the client, vendor or others, provided that such costs would have otherwise been reimbursable to the employee by Deutsche Bank in accordance with its travel and entertainment and expense reimbursement policies.

(ii) Gift Giving (to Persons other than Government Officials)

In appropriate circumstances, it may be acceptable and customary for DeAM to extend gifts to clients or others who do business with Deutsche Bank. Employees should be certain that the gift will not give rise to a conflict of interest, or appearance of conflict, and that there is no reason to believe that the gift will violate applicable codes of conduct of the recipient. Employees with appropriate authority to do so may make business gifts at DeAM's expense, provided that the following requirements are met:

  • Gifts in the form of cash or cash equivalents may not be given regardless of amount.
  • The gift must be of reasonable value in the circumstances, and should not exceed a value of U.S. $100 unless the specific prior approval of the appropriate Managing

3 Under the Bank Bribery Act and other applicable laws and regulations, severe penalties may be imposed on anyone who offers or accepts such improper payments or gifts. If you receive or are offered an improper payment or gift, or if you have any questions as to the application or interpretation of Deutsche Bank's rules regarding the acceptance of gifts, you must bring the matter to the attention of the Compliance Department.

Officer4 is obtained.

  • The gift must be lawful and in accordance with generally accepted business practices of the governing jurisdictions.

(iii) Gifts to Government Officials

The Compliance Department must be contacted prior to making any gift to a governmental employee or official. Various governmental agencies, legislative bodies and jurisdictions may have rules and regulations regarding the receipt of gifts by their employees or officials. In some cases, government employees or officials may be prohibited from accepting any gifts. (See next section for additional rules regarding political contributions.)

C. Rules for Dealing with Governmental Officials and Political Candidates

(i) Corporate Payments or Political Contributions

No corporate payments or gifts of value may be made to any outside party, including any government official or political candidate or official, for the purpose of securing or retaining business for Deutsche Bank, or influencing any decision on its behalf.

  • The Federal Election Campaign Act prohibits corporations and labor organizations from using their general treasury funds to make contributions or expenditures in connection with federal elections, and therefore Deutsche Bank departments may not make contributions to U.S. Federal political parties or candidates.
  • Corporate contributions to political parties or candidates in jurisdictions not involving U.S. Federal elections are permitted only when such contributions are made in accordance with applicable local laws and regulations, and the prior approval of a member of the DeAM Executive Committee has been obtained, and the Deutsche Bank Americas Regional Cost Committee has been notified.

Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Bank Bribery Law, Elections Law and other applicable regulations, severe penalties may be imposed on Deutsche Bank and on individuals who violate these laws and regulations. Similar laws and regulations may also apply in various countries and legal jurisdictions where Deutsche Bank does business.

(ii) Personal Political Contributions

No personal payments or gifts of value may be made to any outside party, including any government official or political candidate or official, for the purpose of securing business for Deutsche Bank or influencing any decision on its behalf. Employees should always exercise care and good judgment to avoid making any political contribution that may give rise to a conflict of interest, or the appearance of conflict. For example, if a DeAM business unit engages in business with a particular governmental entity or official, DeAM employees should avoid making personal political contributions to officials or candidates who may appear to be in a position to influence the award of business to Deutsche Bank.

(iii) Entertainment of Government Officials

Entertainment and other acts of hospitality toward government or political officials should never compromise or appear to compromise the integrity or reputation of the official or Deutsche Bank. When hospitality is extended, it should be with the expectation that it will become a matter of public knowledge.

4 For purposes of this policy, "Managing Officer" is defined as an officer of at least the Managing Director level to whom the employee directly or indirectly reports, who is in charge of the employee's unit (e.g., a Department Head, Division Head, Function Head, Group Head, General Manager, etc).

D. Confidentiality

Access Persons must not divulge contemplated or completed securities transactions or trading strategies of DeAM clients to any person, except as required by the performance of such person's duties, and only on a need-to-know basis. In addition, the Deutsche Bank standards contained in the Confidential, Material, Non-Public Information - Chinese Walls Policy, as well as those within the Code of Professional Conduct must be observed.

VII. Sanctions

Any Access Person who violates this Code may be subject to disciplinary actions, including possible dismissal. In addition, any Securities transactions executed in violation of this Code, such as short-term trading or trading during blackout periods, may subject the employee to sanctions, ranging from warnings and trading privilege suspensions, to financial penalties, including but not limited to, unwinding the trade and/or disgorging of the profits. Finally, violations and suspected violations of criminal laws will be reported to the appropriate authorities as required by applicable laws and regulations.

VIII. Interpretations and Exceptions

Compliance shall have the right to make final and binding interpretations of this Code, and may grant an exception to certain of the above restrictions, as long as no abuse or potential abuse is involved. Each Access Person must obtain approval from the Compliance Department before taking action regarding such an exception. Any questions regarding the applicability, meaning or administration of this Code shall be referred in advance of any contemplated transaction, to Compliance.

Deutsche Asset Management

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In connection with my employment with, or support of, one or more of the legal entities which make up Deutsche Asset Management, I acknowledge that I have received, read and understand the Deutsche Asset Management Code of Ethics ("the Code") dated July, 2001, and agree to adhere to and abide by the letter and spirit of its provisions.

I have reviewed my own situation and conduct in light of the Code. I confirm that I am in compliance with the Code and have been in compliance with it since the date of my previous Acknowledgement, if any, including the requirements regarding the manner in which I maintain and report my employee related brokerage accounts and conduct my personal securities trading, as well as those surrounding the giving/receiving of gifts.

I understand that any violation(s) of the Code is grounds for immediate disciplinary action up to, and including, dismissal.

Signature

_______________________________

Print Name

_______________________________

Date

_______________________________

Please return this form to DeAM Compliance at 130 Liberty Street, 17th Floor (MS NYC02-1702).

A Member of the

Deutsche Bank Group

(logo_graphic)

Deutsche Asset Management

To: "Access Person"

From: DeAM Compliance

Re: Initial/Annual Holdings Report - Personal Securities Accounts

In conformance with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17j-1 pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 you are required to provide Compliance with this "Initial Holdings Report" within 10 days of joining Deutsche Asset Management ("DeAM"), and annually thereafter.

Accordingly, please fill in the following requested information (or attach a copy of your most recent statement) for all securities5 either held directly or held in your Employee-Related Accounts6.

Broker/Acct.#

Name of Issuer

No. of Shares

Principal Amount

Signature:

Date:

Print Name:

Expense Code:

5 "Securities" includes equity or debt securities (both privately and publicly offered), derivatives of securities (such as options, warrants, indexes and ADRs), futures, commodities and similar instruments, but does not include: (i) shares of open-end mutual funds (unless otherwise directed by compliance) or (ii) direct obligations of the United States government.

6 "Employee Related Accounts" include (i) employee's own accounts; (ii) the employee's spouse's accounts and the accounts of minor children and other members of the household (whether by marriage or similarly committed status) living in the employee's home; (iii) accounts in which the employee, his/her spouse/domestic partner, minor children or other persons living in their home have a beneficial interest (i.e., share in the profits even if there is no influence on voting or disposition of shares); and (iv) accounts (including corporate accounts and trust accounts) over which the employee or his/her spouse/domestic partner exercises investment discretion or control.

**PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO COMPLIANCE AT MS NYC02-1702**

NOTICE

On the following pages are the Deutsche Bank Compliance Policies and Procedures relating to personal trading by employees. All employees of Deutsche Bank in the Americas (including employees of Deutsche Asset Management and Mutual Funds Administration (the former Mutual Funds Group of DeAM) are required to comply with the policies therein in addition to complying with the DeAM Code of Ethics ("the Code").

Since the Deutsche Bank Compliance Policies and Procedures are a separate set of rules which correspond to the Deutsche Bank Code of Professional Conduct, terms and definitions may differ from those used in the Code. In some cases, the rules in the Code are more restrictive than the rules in the Deutsche Bank Compliance Policies and Procedures. Please note specifically:

Outside Accounts.

The rule allowing employees to maintain personal securities accounts at an "approved brokerage firm" does not apply to employees of Mutual Funds Administration (the former Mutual Funds Group of DeAM). Employees of Mutual Funds Administration are required to maintain personal accounts (except open-end mutual fund only accounts) only at Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, unless they have received an exemption from Mutual Funds Compliance.

Pre-Clearance.

The rules relating to pre-clearance differ for employees of Mutual Funds Administration (the former Mutual Funds Group of DeAM). Until Mutual Funds Administration Group receives the Employee Trade Request System, the pre-clearance process requires the submission of an Employee Trading Pre-Clearance Form to Sarah Reilly in Mutual Funds Compliance (410-895-3499) and calling Corporate Compliance (212-469-8787).

Blackout Period.

The blackout period(s) in the Code is more broad than the blackout period in the Deutsche Bank Compliance Policies and Procedures. DeAM employees are subject to an additional blackout period surrounding trades by DeAM client accounts, as described in the Code.

Initial Public Offerings.

DeAM employees are prohibited from purchasing securities in any initial public offering. This prohibition applies even if Deutsche Bank has no underwriting role and/or is not involved with the distribution.

Questions about these requirements? Please call Odenis Abreu (250-9507), Jeff Silver (212-250-8053) or Mary Mullin (212-250-8353) in DeAM Compliance or Jennifer Vollmer (410-895-3628), Rebecca Farrell (410-895-3389) or Sarah Reilly (410-895-3499) in Mutual Funds Compliance.

COMPLIANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

No.: 101

Subject: Employee/Employee Related Trading

Effective Date: 10/1/97

Approved By: Mary Owen MD/Compliance

Revision Date: 5/20/99

Applicability: All Personnel

Employee Trading Policy -- Employee Accounts

Introduction

The Employee/Employee-Related Trading Policy is designed to prevent legal, business and ethical conflicts and to guard against the misuse of proprietary or confidential information. In addition, the policy is intended to discourage employees from engaging in personal trading on a scale that would distract them from their daily responsibilities to the Firm. Employees are cautioned not to engage in trading that might result in the appearance of impropriety. Deutsche Bank ("DB") strongly encourages investment by employees that is long-term in nature, and strongly discourages short-term, speculative trading.

To whom does this policy apply?

This policy applies to the brokerage accounts of employees, long-term temporary employees, full-time consultants, and to those accounts over which such persons expect to exercise influence or control, including (1) accounts of your spouse, minor children or relatives of you or your spouse to whom substantial support is contributed; (2) accounts of any other member of your household, such as a relative (of you or your spouse) living in your home; (3) trust accounts for which you act as trustee, custodian, power-of-attorney or otherwise exercise any type of guidance or influence; and (4) corporate accounts that you directly or indirectly control. All such accounts are referred to as "Employee/Employee-Related Accounts".

a. Employee/Employee-Related Accounts (In-house--At an Approved Brokerage Firm)

DB requires that its employees maintain their brokerage accounts at an "Approved Brokerage Firm" as determined by DB. If you choose to maintain your accounts "in-house", your accounts will be established and serviced by Alex Brown. If you decide to maintain your accounts outside of DB you are required to make written application identifying yourself as a DB employee. Transactions effected in Employee/Employee-Related Accounts are subject to continuous review by the Control Group on a regular basis. The Control Group will receive duplicate confirmations and monthly statements for every account. Accounts established without the prior approval of your Supervisor and the Control Group may be frozen.

b. Trading Pre-Clearance

All trades in an Employee/Employee-Related Account must be pre-cleared by your Supervisor and by Compliance. Until your group has received the Employee Trade Request ("ETR") System, the pre-clearance process requires the submission of an "Employee Trading Pre-Clearance Form" to your Supervisor, or respective delegate, and Compliance. Execution of a trade may not take place until you have received both approvals. Failure to obtain the required approvals will result in cancellation of your transaction. Losses incurred by you as the result of the cancellation of unauthorized trading will be charged to the account in question. Profits in trades that were not pre-cleared must be given to a charitable organization.

Approvals are good for the day on which they are issued. The one exception is for trade requests placed after 4:00 PM ET; these will be valid for the next trading day.

GTC ORDERS (Good Till Canceled): GTC orders will not be approved. The sole exception is the entering of a STOP-LIMIT order simultaneously with the initial BUY order.

c. Black-Out, Holding Periods and Other Prohibitions

The following black-out and holding periods apply to each transaction in your account or in an Employee-Related Account, as previously defined. These requirements enable Compliance to more efficiently monitor the trading activities of DB employees and to prevent trading by employees in sensitive departments (i.e., Investment Banking, Research, Capital Markets) that could be perceived as inappropriate.

Black-Out Period: The "black-out" period is described as two business days immediately preceding the release of quarterly earnings, and two business days after the release of quarterly earnings. No employee of Investment Banking, Research, or Capital Markets areas will receive clearance from their Reviewing Department Head ("RDH") to purchase or sell securities during this period. Exceptions may be granted only on a case-by-case basis, by Compliance.

Holding Periods: The firm imposes a holding period for all investments in equity, non-investment grade debt, preferred instruments and any security that is convertible into such securities. Exceptions may be granted only on a case-by-case basis, by Compliance. The standard holding periods are:

  • Investment Banking - 6 months
  • All Others - 30 days
  • Alex Brown Retail - None

As a general rule, no employee of the Research Division, Investment Banking Division, or Capital Markets Division may trade in the securities of issuers that are covered by you, i.e., the Research Analyst covering XYZ may not trade XYZ securities, the Investment Banker servicing XYZ may not trade XYZ securities. Exceptions to this general rule will be made on a case by case basis, at the sole discretion of Compliance.

d. Options, Futures, Options on Futures and Other Derivative Securities

You may trade options (except for uncovered options), futures, options on futures, forwards, warrants or options on physical commodities or currencies subject to a 30 day holding period. You may not write covered calls, unless you have held the underlying security for the required 30 day or 6 month holding period.

Short sales are permitted only to the extent they are "short vs. the box" or covered. Compliance monitors employee-trading carefully for adherence to these guidelines. Employees found violating these policies may be subject to sanctions, including the suspension of trading privileges and termination.

e. Primary and Secondary Public Offerings

You may not purchase any security that is part of a primary or secondary offering on which DB is acting as a lead or co-managing underwriter until the offering is priced and the syndicate is terminated.

Please keep in mind that the NASD has regulations prohibiting associated persons of member firms from purchasing public offerings that are considered HOT ISSUES. Hot Issues are defined as public offerings that are trading in the secondary market at a price above the offering price.

f. Restrictions Arising from DB's Research Recommendations

You are restricted from trading in an issuer's securities for a period of two days from the time a DB research analyst initiates coverage, or changes the recommendation on that issuer. If you are aware of any such research recommendation prior to publication, you are prohibited from trading for your own account from the time you learn of the research recommendation until two business days after its publication. The New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers regularly inquire about trades executed ahead of a research rating change or initiation of coverage.

g. Information Regarding Customer or Firm Orders

You are prohibited from "frontrunning" customer or Firm orders, i.e., trading for your own account with knowledge and in advance of a customer or Firm order in the same security.

In addition, you are strongly discouraged from "piggybacking" on customer or Firm trades, i.e., engaging in identical trades as those that a client or Firm account has completed. While piggybacking is not itself illegal, it can create the appearance of impropriety.

h. Trading Securities that are on DB's Restricted List

Employees of DB may not effect trades in securities that appear on the Restricted List. For your information and convenience, the Restricted List is posted daily on CCMail under the Compliance Department's Bulletin Board and is also available on the Intranet Homepage.

PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS

The Deutsche Bank ("DB") Compliance Policy requires all DB personnel to take a number of steps with respect to their personal securities accounts and transactions. The Policy requires that all personal securities accounts be maintained at an "Approved Brokerage Firm."

The Compliance Department has established procedures that have allowed the designation of the majority of Broker/Dealers as "Approved Brokerage Firms," the main requirement being the Carrying Broker/Dealer's ability to deliver confirmations of transactions electronically to the DBS Compliance Control Group ("Control Group").

The following firms are the only Broker/Dealers not approved for use by DB employees:

1. A. B. Watley

2. BuyAndHold.com

3. Datek Online

4. Edward Jones

5. Ernst & Company (a.k.a. Investek)

6. Firstar

7. FOLIO[fn]

8. The Glenmede Trust Company

9. Global Capital Markets

10. JP Morgan

11. Mutual, Inc.

12. Netstock Investment Corp.

13. People's Securities

14. Regal Discount Securities

15. Salomon Grey Financial Corp.

16. Sharebuilder.com

17. Sutro & Co.

18. Viewtrade.com

19. Washington Mutual

20. WealthBuilder.com

21. Web Street Securities

If you choose to establish/maintain your accounts at an Approved Brokerage Firm, you are required to make a written application to that Firm, identifying yourself as a DB employee (see attachment).

Special arrangements have been established with the following firms:

Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, Employee Brokerage Center, 877-333-6269

Smith Barney Rasweiler Group, Garrett Buckley, 212-643-5769

Quick & Reilly, Siobhan Deasy, 212-232-4728

Merrill Lynch, Richard Verlin, 212-236-5044

Fidelity Brokerage Services, 212-371-2327

Charles Schwab, Designated Brokerage, 877-602-7419

National Discount Brokers, 201-209-7061

Date

Account Number

Account Title

Tax ID Number

Name of Carrying Broker Dealer

Address

RE: Intent to open an account

To Whom it may concern;

As an employee, or an associated person of a Member Firm, Deutsche Bank Group ("DB"), I am obligated under NYSE Rule 407(a) to express my intention to open a securities or commodities account with your firm in writing both to you as the carrying firm and to my employer.

This letter shall serve as notification that I intend to establish such an account with your firm and the signature of the Reviewing Department Head (or his/her Authorized Delegate) below shall evidence said notification of my employer.

You will receive detailed instructions regarding the delivery of duplicate confirmations and statements directly from DB's Compliance Department once the account has been established and an account number has been provided.

Should you require further information please contact Peter Rock at (212) 469-2195.

Very truly yours,

Supervisor Signature

Employee Signature

Name

Name

cc: Supervisor

Compliance Department (with account numbers and Disclosure Form)

NOTE: The procedure detailed below was not yet effective for DeAM at the time this Code was approved and is provided for future reference. You will be notified in advance of implementation and availability. Until such time, you must continue to call 212-469-8787 to pre-clear all Securities transactions.

PROCEDURES FOR PRE-CLEARING PERSONAL TRADES

In order to facilitate the above referenced process with as little inconvenience as possible, Compliance has designed a web site on the IntraNet. The site includes a Compliance Home Page with a Restricted List query facility and a menu of "Employee Trading Pre-Clearance Forms". The form that you are required to fill out and submit for approval will depend upon your place of employment. Be sure to select the appropriate form. The site provides for the automatic submission of the form to your supervisor and Compliance. When the form is approved it will be routed back to you for your records, at which point you may proceed with the execution of your transactions.

The following are instructions for placing an Employee Trade Request ("ETR"):

1. Launch Netscape

2. Double click on U.S. Compliance (located under Staff Services on the DB Intranet

Home Page)

3. Select Employee Trade Request from the Compliance Department Webpage

4. Type in User Name and Password (case sensitive)

5. The system will ask you to verify your user information. Click "Here to Submit".

6. Type the Security Name in the query box. (If the security is on the Restricted List,

ETR will prompt you to call Compliance. If the security is not on the Restricted

List, ETR will let you proceed to the Forms Webpage.)

7. Select the Request Form that corresponds to your department. Upon submitting

your request, ETR will send an e-mail message informing your supervisor that a

trade request is open. Once your supervisor approves your request, you will receive

another e-mail giving you authorization to execute your trade.

If your supervisor is not available, input your request ticket and contact Compliance at 212-469-8787 for approval.

With the exception of discretionary or third party managed account, all employee and/or employee related accounts must be pre-cleared. Failure to adhere to DB's Employee Trading Policy may result in trades being revoked and/or removal of 407 authorization letter.

Please Note: All employees are subject to a 30-day holding period with the exception of Investment Banking employees who have a 6-month holding period, and Alex Brown Retail Brokers who have no holding period.