II. | Covered Persons Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest |
Overview. A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Person’s private interest interferes with the interests of, or his service to, the Fund. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Person’s, or a member of the Covered Person’s family or household, receives improper personal benefits as a result of the Covered Person’s position with the Fund.
Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Persons and the Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (including the regulations thereunder, the “1940 Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (including the regulations thereunder, the “Investment Advisers Act”). For example, Covered Persons may not engage in certain transactions with the Fund because of their status as “affiliated persons” of the Fund. The Funds and their investment advisers; subadvisers; distributors and administrators (each a “Service Provider” and, collectively, the “Service Providers”) 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. See also Section V of this code.
Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts may arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the Funds and their Service Providers of which the Covered Persons are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Persons will, in the normal course of their duties (whether for the Funds or for a Service Provider, or for each), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on the Service Providers and the Funds. The participation of the Covered Persons in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationships between the Funds and their Service Providers and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Persons of their duties as officers of the Funds. Thus, if performed in conformity with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Funds’ Boards of Trustees (“Boards”) that the Covered Persons may also be officers or employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes and that such service, by itself, does not give rise to a conflict of interest.
Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not the subject of provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Persons should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Person should not be placed improperly before the interest of a Fund.
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