TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
Transactions with Related Persons
The following transactions, although not necessarily required to be reported in this proxy statement, occurred during fiscal 2018.
John R. Van Kirk, the Managing Director of the Trust, provides office space and office services to the Trust at cost. During fiscal 2018 and 2017, the Trust reimbursed him a total of $26,873 and $25,015, respectively, for such office space and office services.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
The Trustees have adopted a written policy with respect to transactions with related persons (the “Policy”). The Policy is set forth in the Trust’s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and is available on the Trust’s website, http://neort.com/governance.html. The Policy provides that any proposed Related Person Transaction (as defined below) be submitted to the Trustees for consideration. In determining whether or not to approve the transaction, the Policy provides that the Trustees shall consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances available to the Trustees, including (if applicable): the benefits to the Trust; the impact on a Trustee’s independence; the availability of other sources for comparable products or services; the terms of the transaction; and the terms available to unrelated third parties or to employees, Trustees, officers, agents or consultants of the Trust generally. The Policy provides that the Trustees shall approve only those Related Person Transactions that are in, or are not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Trust and its unit owners.
For purposes of the Policy, a “Related Person Transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which the Trust was, is or will be a participant, and in which any Related Person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
For purposes of the Policy, a “Related Person” means (1) any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of the Trust’s last fiscal year was, a Trustee or executive officer of the Trust or a nominee to become a Trustee of the Trust; (2) any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Trust’s units; and (3) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of the Trustee, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such Trustee, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner.