There are some conflict of interest situations that may be discussed with counsel if material. Examples of these include:
| • | | service as a director on the board of any public or private company in which the Fund may invest or with which the Fund has a material business relationship; |
| • | | the receipt of any non-nominal gifts; |
| • | | the receipt of any entertainment from any company with which the Fund has current or prospective business dealings unless such entertainment is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety; |
| • | | any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any of the Fund’s service providers; |
| • | | a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by the Fund for effecting portfolio transactions, for selling or repurchasing the Fund’s shares, or for borrowing money, other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s employment, such as compensation or equity ownership; and |
| • | | the receipt of any non-nominal gifts or entertainment from any company with which the Fund has current or prospective business dealings with respect to effecting portfolio transactions, for selling or repurchasing the Fund’s shares, or for borrowing money unless such entertainment is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety. |
If a Covered Officer is in doubt as to the application or interpretation of this SOX Code of Ethics, he/she should consult with, and make full disclosure of all relevant facts and circumstances to, the CCO.
III. | Disclosure and Compliance |
Each Covered Officer should become familiar with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Fund.
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:
| • | | 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 (see Exhibit A); |
| • | | annually thereafter affirm to the Board that the Covered Officer has complied with the requirements of this SOX Code of Ethics (see Exhibit A); |
| • | | 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 |
| • | | 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.