Each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Fund to others, whether within or outside the Fund, including to the Fund’s shareholders and auditors, governmental regulators, and self-regulatory organizations.
Each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his or her area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Fund with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in the reports and documents the Fund files with or submits to the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund.
It is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by this policy and applicable laws, rules and regulations.
IV. | Reporting and Accountability |
Each Covered Officer must:
| a. | upon adoption of this SOX Code of Ethics (or thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing to the Board that the Covered Officer has received, read, and understands this SOX Code of Ethics (seeExhibit A); |
| b. | annually thereafter affirm to the Board that the Covered Officer has complied with the requirements of this SOX Code of Ethics (seeExhibit A); |
| c. | not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of the Fund or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith; and |
| d. | notify the CCO promptly if the Covered Officer knows of any violation of this SOX Code of Ethics. Failure to do so is itself a violation of this SOX Code of Ethics. |
The CCO is responsible for applying this SOX Code of Ethics to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this SOX Code of Ethics in any particular situation. However, any approvals or waivers sought by the Covered Officer will be considered by the Board.
The Fund will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this SOX Code of Ethics:
The CCO will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to the CCO.
If, after such investigation, the CCO believes that no violation has occurred, the CCO is not required to take any further action.
Any matter that the CCO believes, after investigation, is a violation, will be reported to the Independent Directors.
If the Independent Directors determine that a violation has occurred, it will consider appropriate action, which may include appropriate disciplinary action and preventative action; review of and appropriate modifications to applicable policies and procedures; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer.
The Independent Directors will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate.
Any changes to, or waivers of, this SOX Code of Ethics will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules.