CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICERS
I. | Covered Officers/Purpose of the Code |
This code of ethics (the “Code”) is established for the funds listed on Attachment A hereto (each a Fund” and together the “Funds”) pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Code applies to each Fund’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer or Controller, or senior officers performing similar functions (the “Covered Officers” each of whom are set forth in Exhibit B) for the purpose of promoting:
| • | | honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
| • | | full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by a Fund; |
| • | | compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; |
| • | | the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and |
| • | | accountability for adherence to the Code. |
Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.
A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s private interest interferes with the interests of, or his service to, a Fund. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his position with a Fund.
Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and a Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with a Fund because of their status as “affiliated persons” of the Fund. A Fund’s and its investment adviser’s compliance programs and procedures are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code.
Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationships between a Fund and the Fund’s investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator, or other service providers to the Fund (together “Service Providers”), of which the Covered Officers may also be principals or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for a Fund or for a Service Provider, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on such Service Providers and a Fund. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationships between a Fund and its Service Providers and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Fund. Thus, if performed in conformity with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Funds’ Board of Directors/Trustees (“Boards”) that the Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes.
Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act. The following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of a Fund.
Each Covered Officer must:
| • | | not use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by a Fund whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Fund; |