Code of Conduct for Principal Executive and Financial Officers (SOX)
Covered Officers and Purpose of the Code
The Funds’ code of ethics (the “Code”) for investment companies within the Legg Mason family of mutual funds (each a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”) applies to each Fund’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, and Controller (the “Covered Officers”) for the purpose of promoting:
| • | | honest and ethical conduct, including 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 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; |
| • | | prompt internal reporting of Code violations to appropriate 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.
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 or her service to, a Fund. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her 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 (“Investment Company Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Investment 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. The Funds’ and the investment advisers’ 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 relationship between a Fund and an investment adviser of which Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for a Fund or for the adviser, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and