AMG PANTHEON FUND, LLC AND
AMG PANTHEON MASTER FUND, LLC
Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics
for Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officers
Policy and Procedures
I. | COVERED OFFICERS/PURPOSE OF THE CODE |
AMG Pantheon Master Fund, LLC and AMG Pantheon Fund, LLC (each, a “Fund”) have adopted this Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics (this “Code”) to apply to the Funds’ Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer/Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (the “Covered Officers” each of whom are set forth in Exhibit A) 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in other public communications made by the Funds; |
| • | | compliance with applicable laws and governmental 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.
The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the Funds.
II. | COVERED OFFICERS SHOULD ETHICALLY HANDLE ACTUAL AND 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, the Funds. 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 the Funds.
Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the Funds and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). For example, Covered Officers may not
individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Funds because of their status as “affiliated persons” of the Funds. The compliance programs and procedures of the Funds and AMG Funds LLC (together with AMG Distributors, Inc., “AMGF”) 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 relationship between the Funds and the administrator of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the Funds or for AMGF, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on AMGF and the Funds. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Funds and AMGF and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Funds. Thus, if performed in conformity with the provisions of the 1940 Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Funds’ Board of Directors (“Directors”) 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. 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.
* * * *
Each Covered Officer must not:
| • | | use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Funds whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Funds; |
| • | | cause the Funds to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer, rather than for the benefit of the Funds; |
| • | | use material non-public knowledge of portfolio transactions made or contemplated for the Fund to profit personally or cause others to profit, by the market effect of such transactions; and |
| • | | retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of AMGF or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations made in good faith. |
There are some conflict of interest situations that should usually be discussed with the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (the “Fund CCO”), who shall serve as the Compliance Officer for this Code. Examples of these include:
| • | | any outside business activity other than with AMGF that detracts from an individual’s ability to devote appropriate time and attention to his or her responsibilities with the Fund; |
| • | | service as a director on the board of any company that files periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”); |
| • | | service as a board member of any organization, public or private including non-profits; |
| • | | the receipt of any gifts in excess of $300; |
| • | | the receipt of any entertainment from any company with which the Funds 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 Funds’ service providers, other than AMGF, the principal underwriter or any affiliated person thereof; and |
| • | | a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by the Funds for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or redeeming shares other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s employment, such as compensation or equity ownership. |
III. | DISCLOSURE AND COMPLIANCE |
Each Covered Officer should:
| • | | familiarize himself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Funds; |
| • | | not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Funds to others, whether within or outside Funds, including the Directors of the Funds and independent accountants, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations; |
| • | | to the extent appropriate within his area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of AMGF with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds; and |
| • | | assume responsibility for promoting compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations. |
IV. | REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY |
Each Covered Officer must:
| • | | report at least annually a list of affiliations or other relationships related to conflicts of interest that the Funds’ Directors and Officers Questionnaire covers; |
| • | | upon adoption of the Code, including amendments to the Code (or thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing to the Directors or Fund CCO that he/she has received, read, and understands the Code; |
| • | | annually thereafter affirm to the Directors that he/she has complied with the requirements of the Code; and |
| • | | notify the Fund CCO promptly if he/she knows of any violation of this Code. |
Failure to take any of the preceding four actions is itself a violation of this Code.
On an annual basis the Fund CCO will provide each Covered Officer with a copy of this Code. Each Covered Officer will complete and deliver to the Fund CCO a completed Acknowledgement and Certification form (as set forth in Exhibit B). A completed Acknowledgement and Certification is one that has been initialed next to each acknowledgement and certification, signed, and dated, with any affiliations or other conflicting relationships provided.
The Fund CCO is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. However, any approvals or waivers sought by a Covered Officer will be considered by the Funds’ Independent Directors (the “Committee”).
The Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:
| • | | the Fund CCO will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him/her; |
| • | | if, after investigating a potential violation, the Fund CCO believes that no violation has occurred, the Fund CCO is not required to take any further action; |
| • | | any matter that the Fund CCO believes is a violation will be reported to the Committee; |
| • | | if the Committee concurs that a violation has occurred, it will make a recommendation to the Directors, which will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of AMGF; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer as an officer of the Funds; |
| • | | the Committee will be responsible for granting waivers and/or approvals, as appropriate; |
| • | | the Fund CCO is responsible for identifying and documenting waivers; |
| • | | any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules currently in effect. |
V. | OTHER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES |
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Funds, AMGF, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they conflict with the provisions of this Code.
The Funds’ and AMGF’s codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and the more detailed policies and procedures set forth in the Code of Ethics for AMGF are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this Code. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures.
Any material changes to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibit A, must be approved by a majority vote of the Directors, including a majority of Independent Directors. Any non-material changes to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibit A, must be ratified by a majority vote of the Directors, including a majority of Independent Directors.
All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the Directors and its counsel, including counsel for the Funds and the Independent Directors.
The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the Funds and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of any Funds, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion and does not create any rights of third parties.
EXHIBIT A
COVERED OFFICERS
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Jeffrey T. Cerutti | | President and Principal Executive Officer |
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Donald S. Rumery | | Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer |
EXHIBIT B
AMG PANTHEON FUND, LLC AND
AMG PANTHEON MASTER FUND, LLC
SARBANES-OXLEY CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICERS
(Insert Year) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CERTIFICATION
Please initial each individual item and then provide your signature below.
I acknowledge and affirm that I have received, reviewed, and understand the Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers (the “Code”) (each a “Covered Officer”) adopted by the Board of Directors of each of AMG Pantheon Master Fund, LLC and AMG Pantheon Fund, LLC (each, a “Fund”).
I understand that as a Covered Officer it is my responsibility now and going forward to comply with the Code and any revisions made to it. Most importantly, I understand that the Code’s overarching principle is that my personal interests should not be placed improperly before the interests of the Funds.
I affirm that I have notified the Compliance Officer for the Code (the “Compliance Officer’) promptly if I knew of any violation of the Code by myself or any other Covered Officer.
I affirm that I have discussed with the Compliance Officer any material personal conflict of interest comparable to those discussed within Section II of the Code prior to entering into any such arrangements.
On Schedule A of this (insert year) Acknowledgement and Certification, I have provided a complete and accurate listing of all affiliations or other relationships related to conflicts of interest that the Funds’ Directors and Officers Questionnaire covers.
I acknowledge and affirm that since I last signed an Acknowledgement and Certification related to the Code, to the best of my knowledge, I have complied with the requirements of the Code.
If I have not so complied with the requirements of the Code, I have included a detailed description of any instances of non-compliance immediately below:
Covered Officer’s Name (Printed):
Covered Officer’s Signature:
Date:
SCHEDULE A
TO THE
(Insert Year) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CERTIFICATION
RELATING TO THE FUNDS’
SARBANES-OXLEY CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND
SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
Please list below all affiliations or other relationships related to conflicts of interest that the Funds’ Directors and Officers Questionnaire covers as of the date of my signing of the (insert year) Acknowledgement and Certification: