As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2022
1933 Act File No. 333-256560
1940 Act File No. 811-23700
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-2
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 x
AMENDMENT NO. 7
BARINGS PRIVATE EQUITY
OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMITMENTS
FUND
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500
Charlotte, NC 28202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(704) 805-7200
(Registrant’s Telephone Number)
Ashlee Steinnerd
Secretary
Barings Access Pine Point Fund
300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500
Charlotte, NC 28202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Brian D. McCabe
Yana D. Guss
Prudential Tower
800 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
¨ | Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans. |
x | Check box if any securities being registered in this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan. |
¨ | Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto. |
¨ | Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act. |
¨ | Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act. |
Is it proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
¨ | when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act |
The following boxes should only be included and completed if the registrant is making this filing in accordance with Rule 486 under the Securities Act.
x | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) |
¨ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) |
¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) |
If appropriate, check the following box:
¨ | This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement]. |
¨ | This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: _____. |
¨ | This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: _____. |
¨ | This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: _____. |
Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:
x | Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)). |
¨ | Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act). |
¨ | Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act). |
¨ | A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form). |
¨ | Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act). |
¨ | Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”). |
¨ | If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. |
x | New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing). |
Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund)
Class 1 Shares
Class 2 Shares
Class 3 Shares
Class 4 Shares
Prospectus Dated December 16, 2022
Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) (the “Fund”) is a Delaware statutory trust that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund intends to invest in a broad cross section of private equity assets in order to seek, over time:
· | Long-term capital appreciation; |
· | Regular, current income through quarterly distributions; |
· | A diversified portfolio of private equity assets; and |
· | An investment alternative for investors seeking to allocate a portion of their long-term portfolios primarily to middle and lower middle market buyout and growth equity assets through a single investment. |
In furtherance of the foregoing, under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest and/or make capital commitments of at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowing for investment purposes) in private equity investments (“Private Equity Investments”), including primary and secondary investments in private equity funds (“Portfolio Funds”) and co-investments directly or indirectly in private portfolio companies (“Co-Investments”). This test is applied at the time of investment; later percentage changes caused by a change in the value of the Fund's assets, including as a result in the change in the value of the Fund's investments or due to the issuance or redemption of shares, will not require the Fund to dispose of an investment. The Fund will, under normal market conditions, primarily make investments intended to provide an investment return while offering better liquidity than private equity investments and may hold cash, cash equivalents and other short-term investments. For purposes of this policy, any portfolio company of a Portfolio Fund or any portfolio company underlying a Co-Investment held or simultaneously invested in by a private equity fund when the Fund makes the investment in the Co-Investment is a private portfolio company.
The Fund cannot guarantee that it will meet its investment objective. Investing in the Fund involves a high degree of risk. See “General Risks” and “Limits of Risk Disclosure” beginning on page 47.
Class 1 Shares | Class 2 Shares | Class 3 Shares | Class 4 Shares | Total Maximum | |
Price to Public(1) | Current NAV | Current NAV | Current NAV | Current NAV | Up
to $500,000,000 |
Sales Load | None | 1.50% | 3.50% | 5.50% | Up
to $17,500,000 |
Proceeds
to the Fund (Before Expenses)(2) |
Amount Invested at Current NAV | Amount Invested at Current NAV | Amount Invested at Current NAV | Amount Invested at Current NAV | Up
to $482,500,000 |
(1) | ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) acts as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares on a best-efforts basis. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific number of shares, nor have arrangements been made to place shareholders' funds in escrow, trust, or similar arrangement. |
Generally, the stated minimum investment in the Fund is $1,000,000 for Class 1 Shares, $25,000 for Class 2 Shares, $25,000 for Class 3 Shares and $25,000 for Class 4 Shares, which stated minimum may be reduced for certain investors. See “Purchasing Shares” below.
(2) | Assumes all shares currently registered are sold in the offering. Shares will be offered in a continuous offering at the Fund’s then-current net asset value (“NAV”) per Share plus any applicable maximum sales loads. The Fund’s initial offering expenses are described under “Fund Expenses” below. |
This prospectus (the “Prospectus”) applies to the offering of four separate classes of shares of beneficial interests (“Shares”) in the Fund, designated as Class 1 Shares, Class 2 Shares, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares. The Fund has obtained exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that permits the Fund to offer more than one class of Shares. The Fund’s Shares will generally be offered as of the first business day of each month based on the Fund’s NAV per Share as of the close of business on the business day immediately preceding such date plus any applicable sales loads. The Fund has registered $500 million of Shares for sale under the registration statement to which this Prospectus relates. The Fund reserves the right to reject a purchase order for any reason.
This Prospectus is not an offer to sell Shares and is not soliciting an offer to buy Shares in any state or jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted. Investments in the Fund may be made only by “Eligible Investors” as defined in the Prospectus. See “Eligible Investors.”
Shares are speculative and illiquid securities involving substantial risk of loss. An investment in the Fund is subject to, among others, the following risks:
· | Shares are not listed on any securities exchange and it is not anticipated that a secondary market for Shares will develop. |
· | You should generally not expect to be able to sell your Shares (other than through the repurchase process), regardless of how the Fund performs. |
· | Although the Fund may offer to repurchase Shares from time to time, the Fund expects any such quarterly repurchase offer to apply to no more than 5% of the net assets of the Fund. Shares are not redeemable at a Shareholder’s sole option nor are they exchangeable for shares of any other fund. As a result, an investor may not be able to sell or otherwise liquidate his or her Shares. |
· | Shares are appropriate only for those investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk and do not require a liquid investment and for whom an investment in the Fund does not constitute a complete investment program. |
· | Because you will be unable to sell your Shares or have them repurchased immediately, you will find it difficult to reduce your exposure on a timely basis during a market downturn. |
· | Shares are speculative and involve a high degree of risk. See “General Risks.” |
Investors should carefully consider the Fund's risks and investment objective, as an investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors and is not designed to be a complete investment program. An investment in the Fund involves a high degree of risk. It is possible that investing in the Fund may result in a loss of some or all of the amount invested. Before making an investment decision, investors should (i) consider the suitability of this investment with respect to an investor's investment objectives and individual situation and (ii) consider factors such as an investor's net worth, income, age, and risk tolerance. Investment should be avoided where an investor has a short-term investing horizon and/or cannot bear the loss of some or all of the investment.
This Prospectus provides important information that you should know about the Fund before investing. You should read this Prospectus carefully and retain it for future reference. Additional information about the Fund, including the Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”), dated December 16, 2022, has been filed with the SEC. You can access or request a copy of the SAI and annual and semiannual reports of the Fund (when available) without charge on Barings’ website (https://www.Barings.com/fund), by writing to the
-2-
Fund at Barings, 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, or by calling the Fund at (704) 805-7200. You may also call the Fund’s telephone number to request other information about the Fund or to make shareholder inquiries. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus in its entirety. You can view information about the Fund, including the SAI and other material incorporated by reference into the Fund’s registration statement on the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov).
You should not construe the contents of this Prospectus as legal, tax or financial advice. You should consult with your own professional advisers as to legal, tax, financial, or other matters relevant to the suitability of an investment in the Fund.
You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus and the SAI. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information provided by this Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date shown below. Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The Distributor acts as the principal underwriter for the Shares. In addition, certain U.S. institutions (including banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Fund, purchase orders and repurchase requests placed by or on behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Fund, may designate other financial intermediaries to accept such orders.
Shareholders do not have the right to require the Fund to redeem their Shares. To provide a limited degree of liquidity to Shareholders, the Fund may, from time to time, offer to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders by Shareholders. Repurchases will be made at such times, in such amounts and on such terms as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. Barings LLC (“Barings”), the Fund’s investment adviser, will continue to recommend to the Board to make repurchases quarterly. In determining whether the Fund should offer to repurchase Shares, the Board will consider the recommendation of Barings as to the timing of such an offer, as well as a variety of operational, business and economic factors.
Paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports will not be sent by mail unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on Barings’ website (https://www.Barings.com/fund), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform your financial intermediary that you wish to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. You also can inform the Fund itself by contacting the Fund or by telephone at (704) 805-7200. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held with your financial intermediary.
The date of this Prospectus is December 16, 2022.
-3-
Table of Contents
-4-
This is only a summary and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund. Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully read the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus, the SAI, and the agreement and declaration of trust of the Fund (the “Declaration of Trust”).
The Fund |
Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) (the “Fund”) is a Delaware statutory trust that is registered under the 1940 Act as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on May 24, 2021.
The Fund is an appropriate investment only for those investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk and do not require a liquid investment.
The Fund offers four separate classes of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) designated as Class 1 Shares, Class 2 Shares, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares. Each class of Shares is subject to different fees and expenses. The Fund may offer additional classes of Shares in the future. The Fund has obtained an exemptive order from the SEC with respect to the Fund’s multi-class structure.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest and/or make capital commitments of at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowing for investment purposes) in Private Equity Investments. This test is applied at the time of investment; later percentage changes caused by a change in the value of the Fund's assets, including as a result in the change in the value of the Fund's investments or due to the issuance or redemption of shares, will not require the Fund to dispose of an investment.
Private Equity Investment Strategy
Private equity is a common term for investments that are typically made in non-public companies through privately negotiated transactions. Private equity investments may be structured using a range of financial instruments, including common and preferred equity as well as convertible securities or warrants, depending on the strategy of the investor and the financing requirements of the company.
Private equity funds, typically sponsored by an investment firm, or general partner, and organized as limited partnerships, are the most common vehicles for making private equity investments. In such funds, investors usually commit to contribute up to a certain amount of capital as and when requested by the fund’s manager or general partner. The general partner then makes private equity investments on behalf of the fund, typically according to a pre-defined investment strategy and time horizon. The fund’s investments are usually realized, or “exited” after a three to seven year holding period through a private sale, an initial public offering (“IPO”) or a recapitalization (the restructuring of an investment's debt or equity within the investment's capital structure), and the proceeds are distributed to the fund’s investors. The funds themselves typically have a term of ten to thirteen years. |
-5-
The private equity market is diverse and can be divided into several different segments, each of which may exhibit distinct characteristics based on combinations of various factors. These characteristics include the structure of the investment and its financing stage, the geographic region in which the investment is made and the target enterprise value.
Private Equity Financing Stages
In private equity investment strategies, the term “financing stage” is used to describe investments (or funds that invest) in companies at a certain stage of development. The different financing stages have distinct risk and return characteristics, and play different roles within a diversified private equity portfolio. These categories may be further subdivided based on the investment strategies that are employed. Under normal market conditions, the Fund is expected to be invested across the following private equity financing stages:
· Buyouts: Control investments in established, cash flow positive companies are usually classified as buyouts. Buyout investments may focus on small-, mid-, large-, or mega-capitalization companies, and such investments collectively represent a majority of the capital deployed in the overall private equity market. The use of debt financing, or leverage, is prevalent in buyout transactions – particularly in the large and mega-cap segment. Overall, debt financing typically makes up 50-70% of the price paid for a company. After the initial investment period (which will be determined by Barings and may last a significant period of time), Barings anticipates that a majority of the Fund’s assets will fall within the Buyout category. · Growth Equity: Typically involves minority investments in established companies with strong growth characteristics. Companies that receive growth capital investments typically are enterprises earlier in their development with some level of revenue and visibility to break-even or positive cash flow. These businesses are not mature enough for traditional debt capital and will seek private equity capital for organic and acquisition growth strategies and shareholder liquidity.
Private Equity Investment Structures
The Fund’s portfolio will be constructed with investments across the following private equity investment categories:
· Primary Investments: Primary investments (primaries) are limited partnership interests in newly established private equity funds that are typically acquired by way of subscription during their initial fundraising period. Most private equity fund sponsors raise new funds every two to four years, and many top-performing funds are closed to new investors. Because of the limited windows of opportunity for making primary investments in particular funds, strong relationships with leading fund sponsors are highly important for primary investors.
Investors in primaries subscribe for interests during an initial fundraising period, and their capital commitments are then used to fund investments in a number of individual operating |
-6-
companies during a defined investment period and to pay associated management fees and organizational expenses throughout the fund’s term. The investments of the fund are usually unknown at the time of commitment, and investors typically have little or no ability to influence the investments that are made during the fund’s life. Because primary investors must rely on the expertise of the fund manager, an accurate assessment of the manager’s capabilities is essential.
Primary investments typically exhibit a value development pattern, commonly known as the “J-curve,” in which the fund’s NAV typically declines moderately during the early years of the fund’s life as investment-related fees and expenses are incurred before investment gains have been realized. As the fund matures and portfolio companies are sold, the pattern is expected to reverse with increasing NAV and distributions to fund investors. Primary investments have a full term of ten to thirteen years with an average portfolio company investment hold period of three to seven years. Capital is deployed for new investments over the first three to five years, and the portfolio companies are then held for three to seven years before being sold with cash proceeds distributed back to fund investors. The private equity fund sponsor will receive performance-based compensation, also called a carried interest allocation, typically entitling it to approximately 20% of net profits on the fund’s investments after meeting a minimum return. After all of the fund’s assets have been disposed, the fund is dissolved. · Secondary Investments: Secondary investments (secondaries) are the assumption or purchase of existing limited partner interests, typically in seasoned private equity funds or co-investments that are acquired in privately negotiated transactions or the investment in limited partner interests in funds that have been organized by a third-party sponsor for the purpose of buying specific holdings of funds sponsored by such third-party sponsor. The original subscriber of the primary investment is often the seller of the asset. The stage of maturity for the asset can vary from early in the investment period of the fund to near full term of the fund.
Pricing for a secondary investment is negotiated based on the reported NAV and expected timing of cash flows of the underlying fund(s) or co-investment(s). A majority of available secondaries have existing investments in portfolio companies. As a result, the secondary buyer has greater visibility to the assets of the fund, investment returns are less impacted by the J-curve pattern expected from a primary investment and distribution patterns may be accelerated as the buyer’s participation is at a later stage in the primary’s life. The secondary buyer does not participate in prior distributions from the acquired limited partnership interest or the previous growth in value of the assets. The secondary investment liquidates and dissolves in the same manner as a primary investment. · Co-Investments: Co-investments are direct investments in specific companies or assets or indirect investments in specific companies or assets through a vehicle managed and controlled by a general partner or sponsor. Co-investments are typically offered to private equity fund investors when the private equity |
-7-
fund sponsor believes that there is an attractive investment for the fund but the total size of the potential holding exceeds the targeted size or allocation for the fund. Co-investors will generally participate in these investments at the same entry valuation as the private equity fund sponsor but with respect to any follow-on investment, such investment may be made at a different valuation. Co-investments, unlike investments in primary funds, often do not bear an additional layer of fees or bear significantly reduced fees. Co-investments typically have a three to seven year holding period.
Geographic Regions
It is anticipated that, under normal market conditions, the Fund will primarily invest in North America-domiciled investments, predominantly within the U.S. The Fund also may make European-domiciled investments.
Capitalization
The Fund will primarily invest in funds and Co-Investments in the middle and lower middle market. As of the date of this Prospectus, Barings considers investments in the middle and lower middle market to be in companies and funds that invest in companies with less than $2 billion of enterprise value. Barings believes that investment opportunities in the middle and lower middle market are more likely to generate relative outperformance given the greater number of investment opportunities available to buyers, the higher probability of acquiring portfolio companies at lower valuations (and using less leverage), the prospect of buying businesses through less competitive sourcing channels and the likelihood of being the first institutional owner of these small and medium-sized businesses.
Subsidiaries
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets directly or indirectly in one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries that elect to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each, a “Corporate Subsidiary”). The Fund’s investment in a Corporate Subsidiary permits the Fund to pursue its investment objective and strategies in a manner that is intended to allow the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”). The Fund may invest all or any portion of the rest of the Fund’s assets in one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries organized as Delaware limited liability companies that are intended to be treated as disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the “Other Disregarded Entities” and together with any Corporate Subsidiary, each a “Subsidiary” and collectively the “Subsidiaries”).
Each Subsidiary will have the same investment objective and strategies as the Fund and, like the Fund, will be managed by Barings and sub-advised by Baring International Investment Limited (“BIIL”). Except as otherwise provided, references to the Fund’s investments also will refer to the Subsidiaries’ investments for the convenience of the reader. |
-8-
Liquidity
Barings manages the Fund’s portfolio with a view towards maintaining sufficient liquidity in light of anticipated cash flows, such as those relating to new subscriptions, the tender of Shares by investors and any distributions made to investors. Accordingly, Barings may make investments and commitments based, in part, on anticipated future distributions from investments. See “Investment Process Overview” below.
By tracking certain features, such as commitments, capital calls, distributions, and valuations, Barings will use a range of techniques to balance total returns with reoccurring distributions and liquidity targets, including (i) diversifying commitments across private equity assets at different parts of fund lifecycles through the use of primary investments, secondary investments and Co-Investments, (ii) actively managing cash and liquid assets, and (iii) modeling and actively monitoring cash flows to mitigate cash drag and maintain appropriate levels of commitment. In addition, the Fund may seek to establish credit lines to provide liquidity to satisfy tender requests.
To enhance the Fund’s liquidity, particularly in times of possible net outflows through the tender of shares by Shareholders, Barings may from time to time determine to sell certain of the Fund’s assets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in investments intended to provide an investment return while offering better liquidity than private equity investments. These investments include publicly listed companies that pursue the business of private equity investing; publicly listed companies that invest in private equity transactions or funds; alternative asset managers, holding companies, investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, financial institutions and other vehicles whose primary purpose is to invest in, lend capital to or provide services to privately held companies; and certain derivatives, such as options and futures. These investments may minimize cash drag and provide liquidity to support the Fund's private equity investments and periodic repurchases of its shares. The liquid assets may include both fixed income and equity securities as well as public and private vehicles that derive their investment returns from fixed income and equity securities (together with Private Equity Investments, “Fund Investments”).
There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved or that the Fund’s portfolio design and risk monitoring strategies will be successful. See “Investment Policies.” |
Risk factors |
The following are certain risk factors that relate to the operations and terms of the Fund. These considerations, which do not purport to be a complete description of any of the particular risks referred to or a complete list of all risks involved in an investment in the Fund, should be carefully evaluated before determining whether to invest in the Fund. Each of these risks is set out in more detail below and under “General Risks.”
An investment in the Fund involves a considerable amount of risk. An Investor may lose money. Before making an investment decision, a prospective Shareholder should (i) consider the suitability of this investment with respect to the Shareholder’s investment objectives and |
-9-
personal situation and (ii) consider factors such as the Investor’s personal net worth, income, age, risk tolerance and liquidity needs. The Fund is an illiquid investment. Shareholders have no right to require the Fund to redeem their Shares of the Fund.
The Shares are speculative and illiquid securities involving substantial risk of loss. An investment in the Fund is appropriate only for those investors who do not require a liquid investment, for whom an investment in the Fund does not constitute a complete investment program, and who fully understand and are capable of assuming the risks of an investment in the Fund.
Limited Operating History. The Fund has limited operating history. The Fund is subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that the Fund will not achieve its investment objectives and that the value of Shares could decline.
Unlisted Closed-End Structure; Liquidity Limited to Repurchases of Shares. The Fund has been organized as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company and designed primarily for long-term investors. Unlike most closed-end funds, which typically list their shares on a securities exchange, the Fund does not intend to list the Shares for trading on any securities exchange, and the Fund does not expect any secondary market to develop for the Shares. Although the Fund intends to offer a limited degree of liquidity by conducting quarterly repurchase offers, a Shareholder may not be able to tender its Shares in the Fund promptly after it has made a decision to do so. There is no assurance that you will be able to tender your Shares when or in the amount that you desire or that the Fund will repurchase Shares quarterly. In addition, with very limited exceptions, Shares are not transferable, and liquidity will be provided only through quarterly repurchase offers made by the Fund. The Fund expects any quarterly repurchase offer to apply to no more than 5% of the net assets of the Fund.
There will be a substantial period of time between the date as of which Shareholders must submit a request to have their Shares repurchased and the date they can expect to receive payment for their Shares from the Fund. The Fund currently intends, under normal market conditions, to provide payment with respect to 95% of the tender offer proceeds within 65 days of the expiration of the tender offer, and may hold back 5% of the tender offer proceeds until after the Fund’s year-end audit. Shareholders whose Shares are accepted for repurchase bear the risk that the Fund’s NAV may fluctuate significantly between the time that they submit their repurchase requests and the date as of which such Shares are valued for purposes of such repurchase.
Repurchases of Shares, if any, may be suspended, postponed or terminated by the Board under certain circumstances. See “Repurchase of Shares by the Fund.”
Dependence on Barings. Barings is the Fund’s investment adviser and is responsible for selecting Fund Investments as opportunities arise. The Fund and, accordingly, Shareholders, must rely upon the ability of Barings to identify and implement Fund Investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. Barings has the authority and responsibility for asset allocation, the selection of Fund Investments and all other |
-10-
investment decisions for the Fund. The success of the Fund depends upon the ability of Barings to develop and implement investment strategies that achieve the investment objective of the Fund. There can be no assurance that Barings will be able to select or implement successful strategies or achieve the Fund’s investment objectives.
Barings contracts with BIIL to help manage the Fund. Subject to the oversight of the Board, Barings has the ultimate responsibility to oversee any subadviser of the Fund and to recommend the hiring, termination, and replacement of any subadviser of the Fund. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, analysis and review of subadviser performance, as well as assistance in the identification and vetting of new or replacement subadvisers.
Reliance on Key Personnel. The Fund will depend on the investment expertise, skill and network of business contacts of Barings. Barings will evaluate, negotiate, structure, execute and monitor Private Equity Investments. The Fund’s future success will depend to a significant extent on the continued service and coordination of Barings and its investment management team.
The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends on Barings’ ability to identify, analyze, invest in, finance and monitor Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments that meet the Fund’s investment criteria.
Barings will depend on its relationships with private equity sponsors, investment banks and commercial banks, and the Fund will rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide the Fund with potential investment opportunities. If Barings fails to maintain its existing relationships or develop new relationships with other sponsors or sources of investment opportunities, the Fund may not be able to grow its investment portfolio.
Additionally, the Fund will be exposed to these risks with respect to the managers of Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests. The Portfolio Fund managers’ investment strategies or choice of specific securities may be unsuccessful and may cause the Portfolio Fund, and in turn the Fund, to incur losses.
Concentration of Investments. Except to the extent required by applicable law and the Fund’s fundamental policies, there are no limitations imposed on Barings as to the amount of Fund assets that may be invested in (i) any one geography, (ii) any one Fund Investment, (iii) in a Private Equity Investment managed by a particular general partner or its affiliates, (iv) indirectly in any single industry or (v) in any issuer. In addition, a Portfolio Fund’s investment portfolio may consist of a limited number of companies and may be concentrated in a particular industry area or group, and Co-Investments are typically single company positions. Accordingly, the Fund’s investment portfolio may at times be significantly concentrated, both as to managers, geographies, industries and individual companies. Such concentration could offer a greater potential for capital appreciation as well as increased risk of loss. Such concentration may also be expected to increase the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Fund’s investment portfolio is, however, subject to the asset diversification requirements applicable to RICs, and |
-11-
may thus be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify and be eligible to be treated as such. See “Certain Tax Considerations.” The Fund will consider the then-existing concentration of Portfolio Funds, to the extent they are known to the Fund, when making additional investments.
Limited Operating History of Private Equity Investments. Private Equity Investments may have limited operating histories and the information the Fund will obtain about such investments may be limited. As such, the ability of Barings to evaluate past performance or to validate the investment strategies of such Private Equity Investment will be limited. Moreover, even to the extent a Private Equity Investment has a longer operating history, the past investment performance of any of the Private Equity Investments should not be construed as an indication of the future results of such investments or the Fund, particularly as the investment professionals responsible for the performance of such investments may change over time. This risk is related to, and enhanced by, the risks created by the fact that Barings relies upon information provided to it by the issuer of the securities or the Portfolio Fund managers (as applicable) that is not, and cannot be, independently verified.
Nature of Portfolio Companies. The Private Equity Investments will include direct and indirect investments in portfolio companies. This may include portfolio companies in the early phases of development, which can be highly risky due to the lack of a significant operating history. The Private Equity Investments may also include portfolio companies that are in a state of distress or which have a poor record, and which are undergoing restructuring or changes in management, and there can be no assurances that such restructuring or changes will be successful. The management of such portfolio companies may depend on one or two key individuals, and the loss of the services of any of such individuals may adversely affect the performance of such portfolio companies.
Investments in the Portfolio Funds Generally; Dependence on the Portfolio Fund Managers. Because the Fund invests in Portfolio Funds, a Shareholder’s investment in the Fund will be affected by the investment policies and decisions of the manager of each Portfolio Fund in direct proportion to the amount of Fund assets that are invested in each Portfolio Fund. The Fund’s NAV may fluctuate in response to, among other things, various market and economic factors related to the markets in which the Portfolio Funds invest and the financial condition and prospects of issuers in which the Portfolio Funds invest. Certain risks related to the investment strategies and techniques utilized by the Portfolio Fund managers are described under “Investment-Related Risks” above. The success of the Fund depends upon the ability of the Portfolio Fund managers to develop and implement strategies that achieve their investment objectives. There can be no assurance that the Portfolio Fund managers will be able to select or implement successful strategies or achieve their respective investment objectives.
Delays in Implementation of Investment Strategy; Liquidity to Satisfy Share Repurchases; and Temporary Investments. The allocation among Fund Investments may vary from time to time. At any given time, the Fund may hold a substantial portion of the proceeds of the offering of Shares in short-term investments (including money market |
-12-
funds, short-term treasuries and other liquid investment vehicles) while the Fund seeks desirable Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments. Delays in investing the Fund’s assets for a period as long as six months may occur (i) because of the time typically required to complete private equity transactions (which may be considerable), (ii) because certain Portfolio Funds selected by Barings may provide infrequent opportunities to purchase their securities, and/or (iii) because of the time required for Portfolio Fund managers to invest the amounts committed by the Fund. Delays in investing the net proceeds from the sale of Shares may impair the Fund’s performance.
In addition, subject to applicable law, the Fund may maintain a portion of its assets in cash or short-term investments (including money market funds, short-term treasuries and other liquid investment vehicles) to meet operational needs, to satisfy Share repurchase obligations, for temporary defensive purposes, or to maintain liquidity.
Short-term investments may produce returns that are significantly lower than the returns that the Fund expects to achieve when the Fund’s portfolio is fully invested in accordance with Barings’ long-term target allocations. The Fund may be prevented from achieving its objective during any period in which the Fund’s assets are not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies.
Portfolio Funds Not Registered. The Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act is designed to afford various protections to investors in pooled investment vehicles. However, the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund is expected to invest are not subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. Some Portfolio Fund managers may not be registered as investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). As an indirect investor in the Portfolio Funds managed by managers that are not registered as investment advisers, the Fund will not have the benefit of certain of the protections of the Advisers Act.
In addition, many Portfolio Funds do not maintain their securities and other assets in the custody of a bank or a member of a securities exchange, as generally required of registered investment companies, in accordance with certain SEC rules. The Portfolio Funds in which the Fund will invest may maintain custody of their assets with brokerage firms which do not separately segregate such customer assets as would be required in the case of registered investment companies, or may not use a custodian to hold their assets. Under the provisions of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, as amended, the bankruptcy of any brokerage firm used to hold Portfolio Fund assets could have a greater adverse effect on the Fund than would be the case if custody of assets were maintained in accordance with the requirements applicable to registered investment companies. There is also a risk that a Portfolio Fund manager could convert assets committed to it by the Fund to its own use or that a custodian could convert assets committed to it by a Portfolio Fund manager to its own use. There can be no assurance that the Portfolio Fund managers or the entities they manage will comply with all applicable laws and that assets entrusted to the Portfolio Fund managers will be protected. |
-13-
Portfolio Funds Are Generally Non-Diversified. While there are no regulatory requirements that the investments of the Portfolio Funds be diversified, some Portfolio Funds may undertake to comply with certain investment concentration limits. Portfolio Funds may at certain times hold large positions in a relatively limited number of investments. Portfolio Funds may target or concentrate their investments in particular markets, sectors or industries. Those Portfolio Funds that concentrate in a specific industry or target a specific sector will also be subject to the risks of that industry or sector, which may include, but are not limited to, rapid obsolescence of technology, sensitivity to regulatory changes, minimal barriers to entry and sensitivity to overall market swings. As a result, the NAVs of such Portfolio Funds may be subject to greater volatility than those of investment companies that are subject to diversification requirements and this may negatively impact the NAV of the Fund.
Portfolio Funds’ Securities Are Generally Illiquid. The securities of the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests or plans to invest will often be illiquid. Subscriptions to purchase the securities of Portfolio Funds are typically subject to restrictions or delays. There is no regular market for interests in many Portfolio Funds or portfolio companies, which typically must be sold in privately negotiated transactions. Any such sales would likely require the consent of the manager of the applicable Portfolio Fund or the board of the portfolio company, and could occur at a discount to the stated NAV. If Barings determines to cause the Fund to sell its interest in a Portfolio Fund, the Fund may be unable to sell such interest quickly, if at all, and could therefore be obligated to continue to hold such interest for an extended period of time, or to accept a lower price for a quick sale.
Valuations of Private Equity Investments; Valuations Subject to Adjustment. A large percentage of the securities in which the Fund invests will not have a readily determinable market value and will be reported an estimate of fair value.
In addition, a large percentage of the securities in which the Portfolio Funds invest and the Co-Investments will not have a readily determinable market value and will be valued periodically by the Portfolio Fund managers or the Co-Investment or Co-Investment sponsor. In this regard, a Portfolio Fund manager or a Co-Investment sponsor may face a conflict of interest in valuing the securities, as their value may affect the Portfolio Fund manager’s or the Co-Investment sponsor’s compensation or the manager’s or sponsor’s ability to raise additional funds in the future.
Prior to investing in any Private Equity Investment, Barings will generally conduct a due diligence review of the valuation methodology used by the Portfolio Fund manager. No assurances can be given regarding the valuation methodology or the sufficiency of systems utilized by any Portfolio Fund manager or Co-Investment or Co-Investment sponsor, the accuracy of the valuations provided by the Portfolio Fund managers, the Co-Investment or the Co-Investment sponsor, that the Portfolio Fund managers, Co-Investments or Co-Investment sponsors will comply with their own internal policies or procedures for keeping records or making valuations, or that the Portfolio Fund managers’, the Co-Investments, or the Co-Investment sponsors’ policies and procedures and systems will not change without notice to the Fund. As a result, valuations of the |
-14-
securities may be subjective and could subsequently prove to have been inaccurate, potentially by significant amounts.
Under the 1940 Act, the Board is responsible for determining the fair valuation of any investments directly held by the Fund for which market quotations are not readily available or reliable; to the extent permitted under applicable rules and guidance, the Board may assign the determination to a “valuation designee,” subject to certain conditions and oversight requirements. Barings has been designated by the Board as the valuation designee for the Fund pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. In its capacity as valuation designee, Barings, among other things, is responsible for establishing fair valuation methodologies and determining, in good faith, the fair value of all of the assets of the Fund for which there are no readily available market quotations in accordance with the Fund Valuation Procedures.
The valuation methodology set forth in the Fund Valuation Procedures incorporates general private equity pricing principles. Based on the methodology, Barings may recommend that the Board adjust a Portfolio Fund manager’s periodic valuation of a Portfolio Fund, or a Co-Investment’s valuation, as appropriate. The Fund runs the risk that its valuation techniques will fail to produce the desired results. Any imperfections, errors, or limitations in any methodology that is used could affect the ability of the Fund to accurately value Portfolio Fund or Co-Investment assets. While any methodology that may be used would be designed to assist in confirming or adjusting valuation recommendations, the Fund generally will not have sufficient information in order to be able to confirm with certainty the accuracy of valuations provided by a Portfolio Fund manager, a Co-Investment or a Co-Investment sponsor until the Fund receives the Portfolio Funds’ or the Co-Investment’s audited annual financial statements. Moreover, Portfolio Fund managers, Co-Investments and Co-Investment sponsors typically provide estimated valuations on a quarterly basis whereas Barings will consider valuations on an ongoing basis and will recommend valuations on a monthly basis. In addition, the Advisers face conflicts of interest in assisting with the valuation of the Fund’s investments, as the value of the Fund’s investments will affect the Advisers’ compensation. The Fund Valuation Procedures are designed to help eliminate or at least minimize the risk of such a conflicts of interest.
A Portfolio Fund’s or a Co-Investment’s information could be inaccurate due to fraudulent activity, misevaluation, or inadvertent error. In any case, the Fund may not uncover errors for a significant period of time, if ever. Even if Barings elects to cause the Fund to sell its interests in such a Portfolio Fund or Co-Investment, the Fund may be unable to sell such interests quickly, if at all, and could therefore be obligated to continue to hold such interests for an extended period of time. In such a case, the Portfolio Fund’s valuations of such interests or the Co-Investment’s valuation could remain subject to such fraud or error, and the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine to discount the value of the interests or value them at zero.
Investors should be aware that situations involving uncertainties as to the valuations by Portfolio Funds or Co-Investments could have a material adverse effect on the Fund if judgments regarding valuations |
-15-
should prove incorrect. Persons who are unwilling to assume such risks should not make an investment in the Fund.
The valuations reported by the Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments based upon which the Fund determines its month-end NAV may be subject to later adjustment or revision. For example, NAV calculations may be revised as a result of fiscal year-end audits. Other adjustments may occur from time to time. Because such adjustments or revisions, whether increasing or decreasing the NAV of the Fund, at the time they occur, relate to information available only at the time of the adjustment or revision, the adjustment or revision may not affect the amount of the repurchase proceeds of the Fund received by Investors who had their Shares repurchased prior to such adjustments and received their repurchase proceeds, subject to the ability of the Fund to adjust or recoup the repurchase proceeds received by Shareholders under certain circumstances as described in “Calculation of Net Asset Value; Valuation.” As a result, to the extent that such subsequently adjusted valuations from the Portfolio Funds, Co-Investments, direct private equity investments or the Fund adversely affect the Fund’s NAV, the outstanding Shares may be adversely affected by prior repurchases to the benefit of Shareholders who had their Shares repurchased at a NAV higher than the adjusted amount. Conversely, any increases in the NAV resulting from such subsequently adjusted valuations may be entirely for the benefit of the outstanding Shares and to the detriment of Shareholders who previously had their Shares repurchased at a NAV lower than the adjusted amount. The same principles apply to the purchase of Shares. New Shareholders may be affected in a similar way.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time Barings would like or at the price it believes the security is currently worth. Liquidity risk may be increased for certain Fund investments, including those investments in funds with gating provisions or other limitations on investor withdrawals and restricted or illiquid securities. Some funds in which the Fund invests may impose restrictions on when an investor may withdraw its investment or limit the amounts an investor may withdraw. To the extent that Barings seeks to reduce or sell out of its investment at a time or in an amount that is prohibited, the Fund may not have the liquidity necessary to participate in other investment opportunities or may need to sell other investments that it may not have otherwise sold.
The Fund may also invest in securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid, as determined by using the SEC’s standard applicable to registered investment companies (i.e., securities that cannot be disposed of by the Fund within seven calendar days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities). Illiquid and restricted securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when the Fund believes it is desirable to do so. The market price of illiquid and restricted securities generally is more volatile than that of more liquid securities, which may adversely affect the price that the Fund pays for or recovers upon the sale of such securities. Investment of the Fund’s assets in illiquid and restricted securities may also restrict the Fund’s ability to take advantage of market opportunities.
Valuation risk is the risk that one or more of the securities in which the Fund invests are valued differently than the value realized upon such |
-16-
security’s sale. In times of market instability, valuation may be more difficult, in which case Barings’ judgment may play a greater role in the valuation process.
Multiple Levels of Fees and Expenses. Although in many cases investor access to the Portfolio Funds may be limited or unavailable, an investor who meets the conditions imposed by a Portfolio Fund may be able to invest directly with the Portfolio Fund. By investing in Portfolio Funds indirectly through the Fund, the investor bears asset-based fees charged by the Fund, in addition to any asset-based fees and performance-based fees and allocations at the Portfolio Fund level. Moreover, an investor in the Fund bears a proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the Fund (including, among other things and as applicable, operating costs, sales charges, brokerage transaction expenses, management fees, distribution fees, administrative and custody fees, and tender offer expenses) and, indirectly, similar expenses of the Portfolio Funds. Thus, an investor in the Fund may be subject to higher operating expenses than if he or she invested in a Portfolio Fund directly or in a closed-end fund that did not invest through Portfolio Funds.
Each Portfolio Fund generally will be subject to a performance-based fee or allocation irrespective of the performance of other Portfolio Funds and the Fund generally. Accordingly, a Portfolio Fund manager to a Portfolio Fund with positive performance may receive performance-based compensation from the Portfolio Fund, and thus indirectly from the Fund and its Shareholders, even if the overall performance of the Fund is negative. The performance-based compensation received by a Portfolio Fund manager also may create an incentive for that Portfolio Fund manager to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than those that it might have made in the absence of such performance-based compensation.
Shareholders that invest in the Fund through financial advisers or intermediaries may also be subject to account fees or charges levied by such parties. Prospective investors should consult with their respective financial advisers or intermediaries for information regarding any fees or charges that may be associated with the services provided by such parties.
Failure to Qualify As a RIC or Satisfy Distribution Requirement. The Fund intends to elect to be treated, and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In order to qualify as and maintain its status as a RIC under the Code each year, the Fund must, among other things, meet an annual distribution requirement, an annual source-of-income requirement and a quarterly asset diversification requirement described in “Certain Tax Considerations” below.
If the Fund were to fail to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, such failure could affect the amount, timing and character of the Fund’s distributions and would cause all of the Fund’s taxable income to be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to Shareholders. In addition, all distributions (including distributions of net capital gain) would be taxed to their recipients as dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s current and |
-17-
accumulated earnings and profits. Accordingly, disqualification as a RIC would have a significant adverse effect on the value of the Fund’s Shares.
For additional information see “Certain Tax Considerations.”
Difficulty Meeting RIC Distribution Requirement. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which the Fund does not receive a corresponding payment in cash. As a result, the Fund may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to qualify for and maintain its qualification as a RIC under the Code. The Fund may have to sell some of its investments at times and/or at prices the Fund would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If the Fund is not able to obtain cash from other sources, the Fund may fail to qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax. For additional discussion regarding the tax implications of a RIC, see “Certain Tax Considerations.”
Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. War, terrorism, and related geopolitical events (and their aftermath) have led, and in the future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. Likewise, natural and environmental disasters, such as, for example, earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and weather-related phenomena generally, as well as the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including widespread epidemics or pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and systemic market dislocations can be highly disruptive to economies and markets. In addition, military action by Russia in Ukraine could adversely affect global energy and financial markets and therefore could affect the value of Fund Investments, including beyond a Portfolio Fund’s direct exposure to Russian issuers or nearby geographic regions. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict and could be substantial. Those events as well as other changes in non-U.S. and domestic economic and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of Fund Investments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in travel restrictions and disruptions, closed borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations or reductions, disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, lower consumer demand for goods and services, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. The impact of this pandemic and any other epidemic or pandemic that may arise in the future could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of capital markets and other markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. |
-18-
This crisis or other public health crises may also exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally. At this time, it is still not possible to estimate the severity or duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the severity, duration and frequency of any additional “waves” or emerging variants of COVID-19. It is also still not possible to estimate the duration or frequency of the utilization of any therapeutic treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 or variants thereof. The foregoing could lead to a significant economic downturn or recession, increased market volatility, a greater number of market closures, higher default rates and adverse effects on the values and liquidity of securities or other assets. Such impacts, which may vary across asset classes, may adversely affect the performance of the Private Equity Investments, the Fund and a Shareholder’s investment in the Fund.
Market Uncertainties. Even if the portfolio companies’ product and service development efforts are successful, their ultimate success will depend upon market acceptance of the concepts, the products and the services. There can be no assurance that performance errors and deficiencies will not be found, or if found, that they will be able to successfully correct such performance errors and deficiencies in a timely manner or at all.
Even if the concepts gain initial market acceptance, competitors are likely to introduce concepts with comparable price and performance characteristics. This competition may result in reduced future market acceptance for their products and decreasing sales and lower gross margins which could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Fund and the portfolio companies.
Competition for Investment Opportunities. The Fund will compete for investments with other investment funds (including registered investment companies, private equity funds, funds of funds, secondary funds, mezzanine funds and collateralized loan obligation funds), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks, finance companies, business development companies, small business investment companies and other sources of funding.
Moreover, alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, have begun to invest in areas in which they have not traditionally invested, including making investments in private U.S. companies. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities in private U.S. companies may strengthen. In addition, some of the Fund’s competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than the Fund.
These characteristics could allow competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than the Fund is able to do. As a result, the Fund may lose investment opportunities if it does not match its competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. No assurance can be given that the Fund will be able to identify and complete attractive investments in the future or that it will be able to fully invest its subscriptions. Even if Barings or a Portfolio Fund manager identifies an attractive investment opportunity, |
-19-
the Fund or the Portfolio Fund may not be permitted to take advantage of the opportunity to the fullest extent desired.
If the Fund is forced to match its competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, it may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on its investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss.
Access to Investments. The Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act and is subject to certain restrictions under the 1940 Act, and certain tax requirements, among other restrictions, that limit the Fund’s ability to make investments, as compared to a fund that is not so registered. Such restrictions may prevent the Fund from participating in (or increasing its share of) certain favorable investment opportunities, or may lead to a lack of exposure to a certain type of investment for certain periods of time. The Fund’s intention to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a regulated investment company under the Code can limit its ability to acquire or continue to hold positions in investments that would otherwise be consistent with its investment strategy. The Fund incurs additional expenses (compared to a fund that is not registered under the 1940 Act) in determining whether an investment is permissible under the 1940 Act and in structuring investments to comply with the 1940 Act, which reduces returns to Shareholders of the Fund.
Publicly Traded Private Equity Risk. Publicly traded private equity companies are typically regulated vehicles listed on a public stock exchange that invest in private equity transactions or funds. Such vehicles may take the form of corporations, business development companies, unit trusts, publicly traded partnerships, or other structures, and may focus on mezzanine, infrastructure, buyout or venture capital investments. Publicly traded private equity may also include investments in publicly listed companies in connection with a privately negotiated financing or an attempt to exercise significant influence on the subject of the investment.
Relatively little market research is performed on publicly traded private equity companies, only limited public data may be available regarding these companies and their underlying investments, and market pricing may significantly deviate from published net asset value. This can result in market inefficiencies and may offer opportunities to specialists that can value the underlying private equity investments.
Exchange-Traded Product Risk. The Fund may invest in long (or short) positions in ETFs. Through its positions in ETFs, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such vehicles’ investments and will bear its proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses. In addition, certain of the ETFs may hold common portfolio positions, thereby reducing any diversification benefits.
Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk. As with other investments, investments in other investment companies are subject to market and manager risk. In addition, if the Fund acquires shares of investment companies, investors bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies. |
-20-
Non-Diversified Status. The Fund is a “non-diversified” management investment company. Thus, there are no percentage limitations imposed by the 1940 Act on the Fund’s assets that may be invested, directly or indirectly, in the securities of any one issuer. Consequently, if one or more Fund Investments are allocated a relatively large percentage of the Fund’s assets, losses suffered by such Fund Investments could result in a higher reduction in the Fund’s capital than if such capital had been more proportionately allocated among a larger number of investments. The Fund may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company. However, the Fund will be subject to diversification requirements applicable to RICs under the Code. See “Certain Tax Considerations.”
Regulatory Risks of Portfolio Funds. The regulatory environment for Portfolio Funds (and for registered investment companies investing in Portfolio Funds) is complex and evolving. Changes in the regulation or taxation of private funds are impossible to predict and may adversely affect the value of the Private Equity Investments, and the ability of the Fund to execute its investment strategy. There is no guarantee that the SEC will not require the Fund’s Shareholders to meet additional eligibility criteria in the future.
Repurchase Offers Risk. To provide liquidity to Shareholders, the Fund may, from time to time, offer to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders by Shareholders. Repurchases will be made at such times, in such amounts and on such terms as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. With respect to any repurchase offer, Shareholders tendering Shares for repurchase must do so by a date specified in the notice describing the terms of the repurchase offer, which will generally be approximately 75 days prior to the date that the Shares to be repurchased are valued by the Fund (the “Valuation Date”). Shareholders that elect to tender any Shares for repurchase will not know the price at which such Shares will be repurchased until the Fund’s NAV as of the Valuation Date is able to be determined.
A 2.00% early repurchase fee will be charged by the Fund with respect to any repurchase of Shares from a Shareholder at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the Shareholder’s purchase of Shares. Such repurchase fee will be retained by the Fund and will benefit the Fund’s remaining Shareholders. Shares tendered for repurchase will be treated as having been repurchased on a “first in-first out” basis. An early repurchase fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived by the Fund in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund. For example, an Early Repurchase Fee may not be charged where Shares are tendered for repurchase due to Shareholder death or disability.
The Fund may be limited in its ability to liquidate its holdings in Portfolio Funds to meet repurchase requests. Repurchase offers principally will be funded by cash and cash equivalents, as well as by the sale of certain liquid securities. Accordingly, the Fund may tender fewer Shares than Shareholders may wish to sell, resulting in the proration of Shareholder repurchases, or the Fund may need to suspend or postpone repurchase offers if it is required to dispose of interests in Portfolio Funds and is not |
-21-
able to do so in a timely manner. See “Repurchases of Shares and Transfers.”
Substantial requests for the Fund to repurchase Shares could require the Fund to liquidate certain of its investments more rapidly than otherwise desirable for the purpose of raising cash to fund the repurchases and could cause Barings to sell investments at different times than similar investments are sold by other investment vehicles advised by Barings. This could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the performance of the Fund. In addition, substantial repurchases of Shares may decrease the Fund’s total assets and accordingly may increase its expenses as a percentage of average net assets. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed by Shareholders who tender Shares, the Fund may extend the repurchase offer, repurchase a pro rata portion of the Shares tendered, or take any other action permitted by applicable law. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed, or if the Fund does not conduct a repurchase offer in any particular quarter, investors will have to wait until the next repurchase offer to make another repurchase request. As a result, investors may be unable to liquidate all or a given percentage of their investment in the Fund during a particular quarter.
General Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risks. Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur during the term of the Fund which may materially adversely affect the Fund. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) vests U.S. federal bank, securities and commodities regulators with significant and extensive rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority. The implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the adoption of various regulations and the preparation of reports by various agencies over a period of time. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not significantly reduce the profitability of the Fund. The implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act could adversely affect the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs.
Foreign Investments Risk. Investment in foreign issuers, securities of companies with significant foreign exposure or securities principally traded outside the United States may involve special risks due to foreign economic, political, and legal developments, including favorable or unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage), expropriation, nationalization or confiscatory taxation of assets, and possible difficulty in obtaining and enforcing judgments against foreign entities. The Fund and/or a Portfolio Fund may be subject to foreign taxation on realized capital gains, dividends or interest payable on foreign securities, on transactions in those securities and on the repatriation of proceeds generated from those securities. Any taxes or other charges paid or incurred by the Fund or a Portfolio Fund in respect of its foreign securities will reduce the Fund’s yield. See “Certain Tax Considerations” below for more information about these and other special tax considerations applicable to investments in securities of foreign issuers and securities principally traded outside the United States. |
-22-
In addition, the tax laws of some foreign jurisdictions in which a Portfolio Fund or its portfolio companies may invest are unclear and interpretations of such laws can change over time. As a result, in order to comply with guidance related to the accounting and disclosure of uncertain tax positions under GAAP, a Portfolio Fund may be required to accrue for book purposes certain foreign taxes in respect of its foreign securities or other foreign investments that it may or may not ultimately pay. Such tax accruals will reduce a Portfolio Fund’s NAV at the time accrued, even though, in some cases, the Portfolio Fund ultimately will not pay the related tax liabilities. Conversely, a Portfolio Fund’s NAV will be increased by any tax accruals that are ultimately reversed.
Issuers of foreign securities are subject to different, often less comprehensive, accounting, custody, reporting, and disclosure requirements than U.S. issuers. The securities of some foreign governments, companies, and securities markets are less liquid, and at times more volatile, than comparable U.S. securities and securities markets. Foreign brokerage commissions and related fees also are generally higher than in the United States. Portfolio Funds that invest in foreign securities also may be affected by different custody and/or settlement practices or delayed settlements in some foreign markets. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the Fund’s or a Portfolio Fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers located in those countries. Foreign countries may have reporting requirements with respect to the ownership of securities, and those reporting requirements may be subject to interpretation or change without prior notice to investors. No assurance can be given that the Fund or a Portfolio Fund or portfolio company will satisfy applicable foreign reporting requirements at all times.
Dilution from Subsequent Offerings of Shares. The Fund expects to engage in a continuous offering of its Shares. Additional purchases will dilute the indirect interests of existing Shareholders in the Private Equity Investments prior to such purchases, which could have an adverse impact on the existing Shareholders’ interests in the Fund if subsequent Private Equity Investments underperform the prior investments. Further, in certain cases Portfolio Fund managers may structure performance-based compensation, with such compensation being paid only if gains exceed prior losses. The value attributable to the fact that no performance-based compensation is being paid to a Portfolio Fund manager until its gains exceed prior losses is not taken into account when determining the NAV of the Fund. New purchases of Shares will dilute the benefit of such compensation structures to existing Shareholders.
Reporting Requirements. Shareholders who beneficially own Shares that constitute more than 5% or 10% of the Fund’s Shares are subject to certain requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder. The Fund has no obligation to file such reports on behalf of such Shareholders or to notify Shareholders that such reports are required to be made. Shareholders who may be subject to such requirements should consult with their legal advisers.
Uncertain Source and Quantity of Funding. Proceeds from the sale of Shares will be used for the Fund’s investment opportunities, operating |
-23-
expenses and for payment of various fees and expenses such as the Management Fee and other fees. Any working capital reserves the Fund maintains may not be sufficient for investment purposes, and it may require debt or equity financing to operate. Accordingly, in the event that the Fund develops a need for additional capital in the future for investments or for any other reason, these sources of funding may not be available to the Fund. Consequently, if the Fund cannot obtain debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, the ability to acquire investments and expand operations will be adversely affected. As a result, the Fund would be less able to achieve portfolio diversification and the investment objective, which may negatively impact the Fund’s results of operations and reduce the Fund’s ability to make distributions to Shareholders.
Fluctuations in Performance. The Fund could experience fluctuations in its performance due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Fund’s ability or inability to make investments in Portfolio Funds or companies that meet the Fund’s investment criteria, the interest rate payable on the debt securities the Fund acquires, the level of the Fund’s expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which the Fund encounters competition in its markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any previous period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.
Payment In-Kind for Repurchased Shares. The Fund does not expect to distribute securities as payment for repurchased Shares except in unusual circumstances. The Fund has the right to distribute securities as payment for repurchased Shares in unusual circumstances, including if making a cash payment would result in a material adverse effect on the Fund or on Shareholders not requesting that their Shares be repurchased. In the event that the Fund makes such a distribution of securities, Shareholders will bear any risks of the distributed securities and may be required to pay a brokerage commission or other costs in order to dispose of such securities.
Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers are susceptible to cyber-attacks and to technological malfunctions that have effects similar to those of a cyber-attack. Cyber-attacks include, among others, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, preventing legitimate users from accessing information or services on a website, releasing confidential information without authorization, and disrupting operations. Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, the Fund, the Advisers, or a custodian, transfer agent, or other service provider may adversely affect the Fund or its Shareholders.
Risks Relating to Borrowing. The Fund may borrow for investment and other purposes, including to fulfill payment obligations to Shareholders tendering their Shares. If the value of the Fund’s assets declines, the Fund may be unable to satisfy any prospective asset coverage test, which would prohibit the Fund from paying distributions and could prevent the Fund from qualifying as a RIC. If the Fund cannot satisfy any prospective asset coverage test, the Fund may be required to sell a portion of its investments and, depending on the nature of the Fund’s debt financing, repay a portion of the Fund’s indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous. In addition, any amounts that the |
-24-
Fund uses to service its indebtedness would not be available for distribution by the Fund to Shareholders.
Control Positions. The Portfolio Funds may take control positions in portfolio companies. The exercise of control over a company imposes additional risks of liability for environmental damage, product defects, failure to supervise management, violation of governmental regulations and other types of liability in which the limited liability characteristic of a corporation may be ignored, which would increase the Fund’s possibility of incurring losses.
Leverage. The Portfolio Fund managers and (subject to applicable law) the Fund may employ leverage through borrowings, and are likely to directly or indirectly acquire interests in companies with highly leveraged capital structures. If income and appreciation on investments made with borrowed funds are less than the cost of the leverage, the value of the relevant portfolio or investment will decrease. Accordingly, any event that adversely affects the value of a Private Equity Investment will be magnified to the extent leverage is employed. The cumulative effect of the use of leverage by the Fund or the Portfolio Funds in a market that moves adversely to the relevant investments could result in substantial losses, exceeding those that would have been incurred if leverage had not been employed.
Currency Risk. Although the Fund intends to invest significantly in the United States, the Fund’s portfolio is anticipated to include investments in a select number of different currencies. Any returns on, and the value of such investments may, therefore, be materially affected by exchange rate fluctuations, local exchange control, limited liquidity of the relevant foreign exchange markets, the convertibility of the currencies in question and/or other factors. A decline in the value of the currencies in which Fund Investments are denominated against the U.S. Dollar may result in a decrease the Fund’s NAV. Barings generally does not expect to hedge the value of investments made by the Fund against currency fluctuations, and even if Barings deems hedging appropriate, it may not be possible or practicable to hedge currency risk exposure. Accordingly, the performance of the Fund could be adversely affected by such currency fluctuations.
Risks Relating to Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting, Etc. The legal, regulatory, disclosure, accounting, auditing and reporting standards in certain of the countries in which Fund Investments (both direct and indirect) may be made may be less stringent and may not provide the same degree of protection or information to investors as would generally apply in the United States. Although the Fund uses U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the assets, liabilities, profits and losses appearing in published financial statements of the Fund Investments may not reflect their financial position or operating results as they would be reflected under GAAP. Accordingly, the NAV of the Fund published from time to time may not accurately reflect a realistic value for any or all of the investments.
Certain investments of a Portfolio Fund may be in portfolio companies that do not maintain internal management accounts or adopt financial budgeting, internal audit or internal control procedures to standards normally expected of companies in the United States. Accordingly, |
-25-
information supplied to the Fund and the Portfolio Funds may be incomplete, inaccurate and/or significantly delayed. The Portfolio Funds may therefore be unable to take or influence timely actions necessary to rectify management deficiencies in such portfolio companies, which may ultimately have an adverse impact on the NAV of the Fund.
Amount or Frequency of Distributions Not Guaranteed. The Fund expects to pay distributions out of assets legally available for distribution from time to time, at the sole discretion of the Board. Nevertheless, the Fund cannot assure Shareholders that the Fund will achieve investment results that will allow the Fund to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. All distributions will depend on the Fund’s earnings, its net investment income, its financial condition, and such other factors as the Board may deem relevant from time to time.
Portfolio Fund Operations Not Transparent. Barings does not control the investments or operations of the Portfolio Funds. A Portfolio Fund manager may employ investment strategies that differ from its past practices and are not fully disclosed to Barings and that involve risks that are not anticipated by Barings. Some Portfolio Fund managers may have a limited operating history and some may have limited experience in executing one or more investment strategies to be employed for a Portfolio Fund. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the information given to the Administrator and reports given to Barings with respect to the Private Equity Investments will not be fraudulent, inaccurate or incomplete.
Inability to Vote. To the extent that the Fund owns less than 5% of the voting securities of each Portfolio Fund, it may be able to avoid any such Portfolio Fund being deemed an “affiliated person” of the Fund for purposes of the 1940 Act (which designation could, among other things, potentially impose limits on transactions with the Portfolio Funds by the Fund). To limit its voting interest in certain Portfolio Funds, the Fund may enter into contractual arrangements under which the Fund irrevocably waives its rights (if any) to vote its interests in a Portfolio Fund. These voting waiver arrangements may increase the ability of the Fund to invest in certain Portfolio Funds. However, to the extent the Fund contractually forgoes the right to vote the securities of a Portfolio Fund, the Fund will not be able to vote on matters that require the approval of such Portfolio Fund’s investors, including matters which may be adverse to the Fund’s interests. If the Fund is considered to be affiliated with a Portfolio Fund, transactions between the Fund and such Portfolio Fund may, among other things, potentially be subject to the prohibitions of Section 17 of the 1940 Act notwithstanding that the Fund has entered into a voting waiver arrangement.
Limitations on Ability to Invest in Portfolio Funds. Certain Portfolio Fund managers’ investment approaches can accommodate only a certain amount of capital. Accordingly, each Portfolio Fund manager has the right to refuse to manage some or all of the Fund’s assets that Barings may wish to allocate to such Portfolio Fund manager. Further, continued sales of Shares would dilute the indirect participation of existing Shareholders with such Portfolio Fund manager. |
-26-
In addition, it is expected that the Fund will be able to make investments in particular Portfolio Funds only at certain times, and commitments to Portfolio Funds may not be accepted (in part or in their entirety). As a result, the Fund may hold cash or invest any portion of its assets that is not invested in Portfolio Funds in cash equivalents, short-term securities or money market securities pending investment in Portfolio Funds. To the extent that the Fund’s assets are not invested in Portfolio Funds, the Fund may be unable to meet its investment objective.
Indemnification of Portfolio Funds and Portfolio Fund Managers. The Fund may agree to indemnify certain of the Portfolio Funds and the Portfolio Fund managers and their respective officers, directors, and affiliates from any liability, damage, cost, or expense arising out of, among other things, acts or omissions undertaken in connection with the management of Portfolio Funds or direct investments. If the Fund were required to make payments (or return distributions received from such Portfolio Funds or direct investments) in respect of any such indemnity, the Fund could be materially adversely affected.
Contingent Liabilities on Disposition of Investments. In connection with the disposition of a Fund Investment, it may be required to make representations about the investment. The Fund may be required to indemnify the purchasers of such investment to the extent that any such representations are inaccurate. These arrangements may result in the incurrence of contingent liabilities for which the Fund may establish reserves and escrows. In that regard, distributions may be delayed or withheld until such reserve is no longer needed or the escrow period expires.
Capital Call Risk. The Fund may maintain a sizeable cash position in anticipation of funding capital calls or near-term investment opportunities. Even though the Fund may maintain a sizeable position in cash and short-term securities, it may not contribute the full amount of its commitment to a Portfolio Fund at the time of investment. Instead, the Fund will be required to make incremental contributions pursuant to capital calls issued from time to time by a Portfolio Fund. If the Fund defaults on its commitment to a Portfolio Fund or fails to satisfy capital calls to a Portfolio Fund in a timely manner then, generally, it will be subject to significant penalties, including the complete forfeiture of the Fund’s investment in the Portfolio Fund. Any failure by the Fund to make timely capital contributions in respect of its commitments may (i) impair the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy, (ii) force the Fund to borrow, (iii) cause the Fund, and, indirectly, the Shareholders to be subject to certain penalties from the Private Equity Investments (including the complete forfeiture of the Fund’s investment in a Portfolio Fund), or (iv) otherwise impair the value of the Fund’s investments (including the devaluation of the Fund).
Lack of Control. The Fund may indirectly make binding commitments to Co-Investment vehicles without an ability to participate in their management and control and with no or limited ability to transfer its interests in such Co-Investment vehicles. The Fund also generally will not have control over any of the underlying portfolio companies and will not be able to direct the policies or management decisions of such portfolio companies. |
-27-
Availability of Financing and Market Conditions. Market fluctuations in business loans may affect the availability and cost of loans needed for the Fund Investments. Credit availability has been restricted in the past and may become so in the future. Restrictions upon the availability of financing or high interest rates on such loans will adversely affect the value of existing Fund Investments and may limit the Fund’s availability to source and invest in new Fund Investments. Interest paid by any Fund Investment on its debt obligations will reduce cash available for distributions. Interest rates are currently low compared to prior periods. If any Fund Investment incurs variable rate debt, increases in interest rates would increase its interest costs, which could reduce the Fund’s return on its investments.
Termination of the Fund’s Interest in a Portfolio Fund. A Portfolio Fund may, among other things, terminate the Fund’s interest in that Portfolio Fund (causing a forfeiture of all or a portion of such interest) if the Fund fails to satisfy any capital call by that Portfolio Fund or if the continued participation of the Fund in the Portfolio Fund would have a material adverse effect on the Portfolio Fund or its assets.
Convertible Securities Risk. A convertible security’s market value tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price approaches or is greater than the convertible security’s “conversion price.” The conversion price is defined as the predetermined price at which the convertible security could be exchanged for the associated stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the yield of the convertible security. Thus, it may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities may be paid before the company’s common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The market values of convertible securities may decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, may increase as interest rates decline. Convertible securities are often rated below investment grade or not rated.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities have both debt and equity characteristics and may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt securities. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks. Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer and may suffer a loss of value if distributions are not paid. |
-28-
Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders no longer have voting rights.
Warrants Risk. If the price of the underlying stock does not rise above the exercise price before the warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and the holder loses any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve substantially more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.
Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives involves risks that are in addition to, and potentially greater than, the risks of investing directly in securities and other more traditional assets. Derivatives involve the risk that changes in their value may not move as expected relative to changes in the value of the underlying investment they are designed to track. Derivatives risk may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a cash investment option, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position held by the Fund. There have been periods during which certain banks or dealers have refused to quote prices for OTC derivatives contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which they are prepared to buy and the price at which they are prepared to sell. There is no limitation on the daily price movements of OTC derivatives. Principals in the OTC derivatives markets have no obligation to continue to make markets in the OTC derivatives traded. The Fund may be required to provide more margin for its derivatives investments during periods of market disruptions or stress.
Derivatives also present other risks described herein, including securities markets risk, liquidity and valuation risk and currency risk. OTC derivatives are generally highly illiquid. Many derivatives, in particular OTC derivatives, are complex and their valuation often requires modeling and judgment, which increases the risk of mispricing or improper valuation. The Fund’s use of derivatives may not be effective or have the desired results. Moreover, suitable derivatives will not be available in all circumstances. Barings may decide not to use derivatives to hedge or otherwise reduce the Fund’s risk exposures, potentially resulting in losses for the Fund.
Derivatives in which the Fund may invest may have embedded leverage (i.e., a notional value in excess of the assets needed to establish and/or maintain the derivative position), depending on their specific terms. As a result, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying investment may result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.
The Fund’s use of OTC derivatives exposes it to the risk that the counterparties will be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor their obligations. If the counterparty |
-29-
defaults, the Fund will still have contractual remedies but may not be able to enforce them.
In October 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 18f-4”) providing for the regulation of a registered investment company’s use of derivatives and certain related instruments. If the Fund were to use derivatives and certain related instruments, the Fund would be subject to Rule 18f-4. Rule 18f-4 could restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in certain derivatives transactions and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions, which could adversely affect the value or performance of the Fund.
Limited Operating History of Portfolio Companies. Portfolio companies may have limited operating histories by which to assess their ability to achieve, sustain and increase revenues or profitability. A portfolio company’s financial results will be affected by many factors, including (i) the ability to successfully identify a market or markets in which there is a need for its products; (ii) the ability to successfully negotiate strategic alliances, licensing and other relationships for product development, marketing, distribution and sales; (iii) the progress of research and development programs with respect to the development of additional products and enhancements to existing products; (iv) the ability to protect proprietary rights; and (v) competing technological and market developments, particularly companies that have substantially greater resources.
There can be no assurance that the portfolio companies will ever achieve significant commercial revenues or profitability.
Risks Associated with Management of Growth. To achieve their projected revenues and other targeted operating results, the portfolio companies may be required to rapidly implement and improve operational, financial and management control systems on a timely basis, together with maintaining effective cost controls, and any failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition and results of operations. The success of their growth plans will depend in part upon their ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate key personnel. Failure to make the required expansions and upgrades could have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition, results of operations and relationships with their corporate partners. The results of operations for the companies will also be adversely affected if revenues do not increase sufficiently to compensate for the increase in operating expenses resulting from any expansion and there can be no assurance that any expansion will be profitable or will not adversely affect their results of operations.
Reliance on Portfolio Company Management. The day-to-day operations of each portfolio company will be the responsibility of its own management team. Although Barings will monitor the performance of Portfolio Funds, and Portfolio Fund managers are expected to screen portfolio company management for capable management skills, there can be no assurance that such management will be able to operate any such portfolio company in accordance with the Fund’s expectations. In addition, the loss to a portfolio company of a member of its management team could be detrimental to the development of the portfolio company. |
-30-
No Assurance of Additional Capital for Investments. Even if a portfolio company is successful generating revenues and expanding its service offerings, it may require additional financing to continue product and service development, testing and, ultimately, marketing and other operational activities. Moreover, its cash requirements may vary materially due to service development results, service testing results, changing relationships with strategic partners, changes in the focus and direction of its research and development programs, competitive and technological advances of competitors, and other factors. Additional financing may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms. If additional financing is not available, the portfolio company may need to delay, scale back or eliminate certain of its product development, marketing or other activities, or even be forced to cease operations and liquidate.
General Risks of Secondary Investments. The overall performance of the Fund’s secondary investments will depend in large part on the acquisition price paid, which may be negotiated based on incomplete or imperfect information. Certain secondary investments may be purchased as a portfolio, and in such cases the Fund may not be able to exclude from such purchases those investments that Barings considers (for commercial, tax, legal or other reasons) less attractive. Where a Portfolio Fund acquires a portfolio company interest as a secondary investment, the Portfolio Fund will generally not have the ability to modify or amend such portfolio company’s constituent documents or otherwise negotiate the economic terms of the interests being acquired. In addition, the costs and resources required to investigate the commercial, tax and legal issues relating to secondary investments may be greater than those relating to primary investments.
Contingent Liabilities Associated with Secondary Investments. Where a Portfolio Fund acquires a portfolio company interest as a secondary investment, the Portfolio Fund may acquire contingent liabilities associated with such interest. Specifically, where the seller has received distributions from the relevant portfolio company and, subsequently, that portfolio company recalls any portion of such distributions, the Fund (as the purchaser of the interest to which such distributions are attributable) may be obligated to pay an amount equivalent to such distributions to such Portfolio Company. While the Fund may be able, in turn, to make a claim against the seller of the interest for any monies so paid to the Portfolio Company, there can be no assurance that the Fund would have such right or prevail in any such claim.
Risks Relating to Secondary Investments Involving Syndicates. The Fund may acquire secondary investments as a member of a purchasing syndicate, in which case the Fund may be exposed to additional risks including (among other things): (i) counterparty risk, (ii) reputation risk, (iii) breach of confidentiality by a syndicate member and (iv) execution risk.
Securities Markets Risk. Overall securities market risks may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money. |
-31-
LIBOR Risk. In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced a desire to phase out the use of the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) by the end of 2021. ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis after June 30, 2023. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effects of any establishment of replacement or alternative reference rates or other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted in the United States, United Kingdom or elsewhere.
Eurozone Risk. The Fund may invest directly or indirectly from time to time in European companies and assets and companies and assets that may be affected by the Eurozone economy. Ongoing concerns regarding the sovereign debt of various Eurozone countries, including the potential for investors to incur substantial write-downs, reductions in the face value of sovereign debt and/or sovereign defaults, as well as the possibility that one or more countries might leave the European Union (“EU”) or the Eurozone create risks that could materially and adversely affect the Fund Investments. Sovereign debt defaults and EU and/or Eurozone exits could have material adverse effects on the Fund’s investments in European companies and assets, including, but not limited to, the availability of credit to support such companies’ financing needs, uncertainty and disruption in relation to financing, increased currency risk in relation to contracts denominated in Euros and wider economic disruption in markets served by those companies, while austerity and/or other measures introduced to limit or contain these issues may themselves lead to economic contraction and resulting adverse effects for the Fund. Legal uncertainty about the funding of Euro- denominated obligations following any breakup or exits from the Eurozone, particularly in the case of investments in companies and assets in affected countries, could also have material adverse effects on the Fund.
Brexit Risk. The UK withdrew from the EU on January 31, 2020. A transition period, which lasted through December 31, 2020, was used for the UK and EU to negotiate their future relationship. An agreement between the UK and the EU governing their future trade relationship became effective January 1, 2021. As a result of the UK’s exit from the EU, the Fund may be exposed to volatile trading markets and significant and unpredictable currency fluctuations, and potentially lower economic growth in the UK, Europe and globally. Securities issued by companies domiciled in the UK could be subject to changing regulatory and tax regimes. Banking and financial services companies that operate in the UK or EU could be disproportionately affected by Brexit. Further insecurity in EU membership or the abandonment of the euro could exacerbate market and currency volatility and negatively affect the Fund’s investments in securities of issuers located in the EU. The effects of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, are not clear but could be significant and far-reaching.
Limits of Risk Disclosure
The above discussions and the discussions in the SAI relating to various risks associated with the Fund, Fund Investments, and Shares are not, and are not intended to be, a complete enumeration or explanation of the risks involved in an investment in the Fund. Prospective investors should |
-32-
read this entire Prospectus, the SAI, and the Declaration of Trust and should consult with their own advisers before deciding whether to invest in the Fund. In addition, as the Fund’s investment program or market conditions change or develop over time, an investment in the Fund may be subject to risk factors not currently contemplated or described in this Prospectus.
In view of the risks noted above, the Fund should be considered a speculative investment and prospective investors should invest in the Fund only if they can sustain a complete loss of their investment.
No guarantee or representation is made that the investment program of the Fund or any Portfolio Fund will be successful, that the various Fund Investments selected will produce positive returns or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. |
Management | The Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board,” and each member of the Board, a “Trustee”) has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business operations of the Fund. See “Management of the Fund—The Board of Trustees.” To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any of its rights, powers and authority to, among others, the officers of the Fund, any committee of the Board, Barings or BIIL. |
Barings | Pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”), Barings, an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act, serves as the Fund’s and the Subsidiaries’ investment adviser. Barings was organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company's (“MassMutual”). Barings and its predecessor organizations have been providing investment advice since 1940. |
MassMutual Commitment | MassMutual has committed to invest at least $100 million in the Fund. MassMutual will hold this investment at least until the earlier of three years following the Fund's commencement of its public offering and the time at which MassMutual's investment represents less than 10% of the Fund's net asset value. |
The Subadviser | BIIL, an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act, serves as the Fund's and the Subsidiaries' subadviser. BIIL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barings. |
Fund services |
The Fund has retained Barings (the “Administrator”) to provide certain fund services, including fund administration, fund accounting and compliance services to the Fund. The Administrator also supplies certain officers to the Fund and additional compliance support personnel. Fees and expenses of the Administrator are paid by the Fund at an annualized rate of 0.00% of the Fund's NAV. See “Fund Expenses” below.
State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custodian”) serves as the primary custodian of the assets of the Fund and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. sub-custodians (which may be banks and trust companies), securities depositories and clearing agencies in accordance with the requirements of Section 17(f) of the |
-33-
1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Advisers or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of the Custodian or U.S. or non-U.S. sub-custodians in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian. The Custodian’s principal business address is 1 Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. |
Fees and expenses |
On an ongoing basis, the Fund bears its own operating expenses. A more detailed discussion of the Fund’s expenses can be found under “Fund Expenses.”
Management Fee. As compensation under the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund pays Barings a Management Fee, paid quarterly in arrears, at the annual rate of 1.25% of the net assets of the Fund as of the end of each quarter, determined before giving effect to the payment of the management fee being calculated or to any purchases or repurchases of Shares or any distributions by the Fund. The Management Fee is paid to Barings out of the assets of the Fund and therefore decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. See “Management Fee.”
Subadvisory Fee. As compensation under the Subadvisory Agreement, Barings pays BIIL a quarterly Subadvisory Fee equal to 10% of the Management Fee received by Barings. To the extent BIIL receives subadvisory fees with respect to a Subsidiary, BIIL will not receive compensation from Barings in respect of the assets of the Fund that are invested in such Subsidiary. See “Subadvisory Fee.”
Administrative and Shareholder Services Fee. The Administrator provides the Fund certain administration, accounting, and compliance services. In consideration for these services, the Administrator is paid a monthly fee at an annualized rate of 0.00% of the Fund's NAV (the “Administration Fee”). See “Services.”
Shareholder Servicing Fee. The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan with respect to Class 2 Shares, under which the Fund is permitted to pay as compensation to qualified recipients up to a rate of 0.25% on an annualized basis of the NAV as of the end of each month of the Fund attributable to Class 2 Shares (the “Shareholder Servicing Fee”). The Shareholder Servicing Fee will be paid out of the Fund’s assets and decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. See “Shareholder Servicing Plan.”
Distribution and Service Fee. The Fund has obtained exemptive relief from the SEC that allows the Fund, subject to certain conditions, to operate under a distribution and services plan with respect to Class 3 and Class 4 Shares in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Distribution and Services Plan, the Fund will be permitted to pay as compensation to the Distributor or other qualified recipient up to a rate of 0.75% on an annualized basis of the NAV as of the end of each month of the Fund attributable to Class 3 and Class 4 Shares (the “Distribution and Service Fee”). The Distribution and Service Fee will be paid out of the Fund’s assets and decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. |
-34-
See “Distribution and Services Plan” for more information on the Distribution and Services Plan. | ||
The Fund has obtained an exemptive order that permits the Fund to offer more than one class of Shares. | ||
Distributions |
Because the Fund intends to qualify annually as a RIC under the Code, the Fund intends to distribute at least 90% of its annual net taxable income to its Shareholders. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that the Fund will pay distributions to Shareholders at any particular rate or at all. Each year, a statement on Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form 1099-DIV identifying the amount and character of the Fund’s distributions will be mailed to Shareholders. See “Taxes” below.
The Fund may have to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash the Fund actually received from portfolio investments. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund, by raising additional debt or equity capital, or by dispositions of Fund investments, if necessary. | |
Eligible Investors | Each prospective investor in the Fund will be required to certify that it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The criteria for qualifying as an “accredited investor” are set forth in the subscription documents that must be completed by each prospective investor. | |
Purchasing Shares |
The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $1,000,000 for Class 1 Shares, $25,000 for Class 2 Shares, $25,000 for Class 3 Shares and $25,000 for Class 4 Shares, and the minimum additional investment in the Fund is $10,000 for each class of Shares. The stated investment minimums may be reduced for certain investors. See “Purchasing Shares” below.
The Fund has obtained exemptive relief from the SEC that permits the Fund to offer more than one class of Shares.
Shares will generally be offered as of the first business day of each month based on the Fund’s NAV per Share as of the close of business on the business day immediately preceding such date. | |
Repurchase of Shares by the Fund | Shareholders do not have the right to require the Fund to redeem their Shares. To provide a limited degree of liquidity to Shareholders, the Fund may, from time to time, offer to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders by Shareholders. Repurchases will be made at such times, in such amounts and on such terms as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. In determining whether the Fund should offer to repurchase Shares, the Board may consider the recommendation of Barings as to the timing of such an offer, as well as a variety of operational, business and economic factors. Barings anticipates that it will recommend to the Board that the Fund offer to repurchase Shares from Shareholders on a quarterly basis, with such repurchases to occur as of the last day of March, June, September, and December (or, if any such date is not a business day, on the immediately preceding business day). Barings also expects that, generally, it will recommend to the Board that each repurchase offer should apply to up to 5% of the net assets of the Fund although any particular recommendation may exceed such |
-35-
percentage.
If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed by Shareholders who tender Shares, the Fund may extend the repurchase offer, repurchase a pro rata portion of the Shares tendered, or take any other action permitted by applicable law. In addition, the Fund may cause the repurchase or redemption of a Shareholder’s Shares if, among other reasons, the Board determines that such repurchase would be in the best interest of the Fund.
The Fund does not impose any charges in connection with repurchases of Shares unless the Share is held for less than one year. A 2.00% early repurchase fee (the “Early Repurchase Fee”) will be charged by the Fund with respect to any repurchase of Shares from a Shareholder at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the Investor’s purchase of the Shares. The Early Repurchase Fee will be retained by the Fund and will be for the benefit of the Fund’s remaining Shareholders. Shares tendered for repurchase will be treated as having been repurchased on a “first in-first out” basis. Shares will be repurchased by the Fund after the management fee has been deducted from the Fund’s assets as of the end of the quarter in which the repurchase occurs (i.e., the accrued management fee for the quarter in which Shares are to be repurchased is deducted before effecting the repurchase). An early repurchase fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived by the Fund in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund. For example, an Early Repurchase Fee may not be charged where Shares are tendered for repurchase due to Shareholder death or disability. | ||
Unlisted Closed-End Structure; Limited Liquidity | The Fund does not currently intend to list Shares on any exchange. As a result, Shareholders should look to the Fund’s repurchase offers as their sole means of liquidating their investment, which may be limited as described above. Additional information regarding Share repurchases is set forth under “Repurchase of Shares by the Fund.” Accordingly, you should consider that you may not have access to the funds you invest in the Fund for an indefinite period of time. | |
Taxes | The Fund intends to elect to be treated as, and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as, a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A RIC is not subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent its income is timely distributed to its investors in a manner qualifying for the dividends-paid deduction. In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things, satisfy a diversification test, a 90% gross income test and a requirement that it distribute to Shareholders at least 90% of its income and net short-term gains in the form of deductible dividends. The Fund generally expects to satisfy the requirements to qualify and be eligible to be treated as a RIC. Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that the Fund will so qualify or be eligible.
Certain of the Portfolio Funds or other entities in which the Fund invests may be classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For the purpose of satisfying certain of the requirements for qualification as a RIC, the Fund will be required to look through to the character of the income of, and will likely be required to look through to the character of the assets and investments held by such Portfolio Funds and other |
-36-
investments that are so classified. However, Portfolio Funds and such other entities are generally not obligated to disclose the contents of their portfolios. This lack of transparency may make it difficult for the Advisers to monitor the sources of the Fund’s income and the diversification of its assets, and its ability to otherwise comply with the requirements for treatment as a RIC.
If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC or to satisfy the distribution requirement applicable to RICs in any taxable year, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, whether or not distributed to its Shareholders, and all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxable to its Shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make distributions (which could be subject to interest charges) before requalifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.
The Fund is permitted to invest up to 25% of its total assets directly or indirectly in one or more Corporate Subsidiaries. A RIC generally does not take into account income earned by a U.S. corporation in which it invests unless and until the corporation distributes such income to the RIC as a dividend. Where a Corporate Subsidiary is organized in the U.S., such Corporate Subsidiary will be liable for an entity-level U.S. federal income tax on its income from U.S. and non-U.S. sources, as well as any applicable state taxes, which will reduce the Fund’s return on its investment in such Corporate Subsidiary. If a net loss is realized by such Corporate Subsidiary, such loss is not generally available to offset the income of the Fund.
Distributions paid to Shareholders generally will be taxable to Shareholders as ordinary income or net capital gains, whether or not such distributions are reinvested in the Fund.
For a discussion of certain tax risks and considerations relating to an investment in the Fund see “Tax Reports” below and “Certain Tax Considerations.”
Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the specific U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences, including applicable tax reporting requirements, of an investment in the Fund. | ||
Tax reports | The Fund will distribute to its Shareholders, after the end of each calendar year, IRS Forms 1099-DIV detailing the amounts includible in such investor’s taxable income for such year as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and long-term capital gains. Dividends and other taxable distributions are taxable to the Fund’s Shareholders even if they are reinvested in additional Shares. | |
ERISA Plans and Other Tax-Exempt Entities | Investors subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and Section 4975 of the Code, including employee benefit plans, individual retirement accounts (each, an “IRA”), and Keogh plans may purchase Shares. Because the Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, the underlying assets of the Fund will not be considered to be “plan assets” subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction rules of ERISA and Section |
-37-
4975 of the Code. Thus, it is not intended that any Adviser will be a “fiduciary” within the meaning of ERISA with respect to the assets of any “benefit plan investor” within the meaning of ERISA that becomes a Shareholder, solely as a result of the Shareholder’s investment in the Fund. For additional information, see “ERISA Considerations” below. | ||
Reports to Shareholders | Shareholders will receive an audited annual and unaudited semiannual report for the Fund. See “Reports to Shareholders.” | |
Fiscal and tax year | The Fund’s fiscal year is the 12-month period ending on March 31. The Fund’s taxable year is the 12-month period ending on September 30. | |
Term | The Fund’s term is perpetual unless the Fund is otherwise terminated under the terms of the Declaration of Trust. |
The following table illustrates the expenses and fees that the Fund expects to incur and that Shareholders can expect to bear directly or indirectly.
Share Classes | Class 1 Shares |
Class 2 Shares |
Class 3 Shares |
Class 4 Shares |
Maximum Sales Load(1) | None | 1.50% | 3.50% | 5.50% |
Maximum Early Repurchase Fee (as a percentage of repurchased amount)(2) | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% |
ANNUAL EXPENSES (as a percentage of net assets attributable to Shares) | ||||
Management Fee(3) | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee(4) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.75% | 0.75% |
Shareholder Servicing Fee(5) | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Other Expenses(6) | 1.58% | 1.58% | 1.58% | 1.58% |
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(7) | 0.95% | 0.95% | 0.95% | 0.95% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 3.78% | 4.03% | 4.53% | 4.53% |
Expense Reimbursement (8) | -0.33% | -0.33% | -0.33% | -0.33% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Expense Reimbursement | 3.45% | 3.70% | 4.20% | 4.20% |
-38-
(1) | Investors purchasing Class 2, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares may be charged a sales load of up to 1.50%, 3.50% or 5.50%, respectively, of the investment amount. A broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (a “Selling Agent”) may, in its discretion, waive all or a portion of the sales load for certain investors. See “Distributor.” Sales charges are paid by fund investors to the brokers or agents who sell the fund to them. Front-end loads are incurred at time of purchase. |
(2) | A 2.00% early repurchase fee payable to the Fund will be charged with respect to the repurchase of a Shareholder’s Shares at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of a Shareholder’s purchase of the Shares (on a “first in-first out” basis). The Fund may waive the early repurchase fee for certain categories of Shareholders or transactions, such as repurchases of Shares in the event of the Shareholder’s death or disability, or in connection with certain distributions from employer sponsored benefit plans. See “Repurchase of Shares by the Fund.” |
(3) | The Management Fee is equal to an annual rate of 1.25% on the net assets of the Fund as of the end of each quarter. |
(4) | The Fund has obtained exemptive relief from the SEC permitting it to offer multiple classes of Shares, which will allow the Fund to operate under a distribution and services plan (pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act) for Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares. Under the Distribution and Services Plan, the Fund may charge a distribution and service (12b-1) fee up to a rate of 0.75% of the NAV as of the end of each month of the Fund attributable to Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares, respectively. The Fund may use these fees to compensate financial intermediaries or financial institutions for distribution-related expenses, if applicable, in respect of clients to whom they have distributed Class 3 Shares or Class 4 Shares, as applicable. See “Shareholder Servicing Plan and Distribution and Services Plan.” “Distribution fees” include fees to compensate brokers and others who sell fund shares and to pay for advertising, the printing and mailing of prospectuses to new investors, and the printing and mailing of sales literature |
(5) | The Fund will charge a shareholder servicing fee up to a rate of 0.25% on an annualized basis of the NAV as of the end of each month of the Fund attributable to Class 2 Shares. The Fund may use these fees to compensate financial intermediaries or financial institutions for providing ongoing shareholder servicing in respect of clients holding Class 2 Shares. See “Shareholder Servicing Plan and Distribution and Services Plan.” Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges. Shareholder Servicing Fees are fees paid to persons to respond to investor inquiries and provide investors with information about their investments. Shareholder service fees can also be paid outside of 12b-1 fees. |
(6) | Other Expenses are estimated for the Fund’s current fiscal year. “Other Expenses” include, among other things, professional fees and other expenses that the Fund will bear, including ongoing offering costs and fees and expenses of the Administrator, transfer agent and the Fund’s Custodian. |
(7) | Shareholders also indirectly bear a portion of the asset-based fees, performance or incentive fees or allocations and other expenses incurred by the Fund as an investor in the Portfolio Funds. Generally, asset-based fees payable in connection with Portfolio Fund investments will range from 1.00% to 2.00% (annualized) of the commitment amount of the Fund’s investment, and performance or incentive fees or allocations are typically 20% of a Portfolio Fund’s net profits annually, although it is possible that such amounts may be exceeded for certain Portfolio Fund managers. The “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” disclosed above, however, do not reflect any performance-based fees or allocations paid by the Portfolio Funds that are calculated solely on the realization and/or distribution of gains, or on the sum of such gains and unrealized appreciation of assets distributed in kind, as such fees and allocations for a particular period may be unrelated to the cost of investing in the Portfolio Funds. The “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” disclosed above are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s current fiscal year. |
(8) | Barings has entered into an expense limitation and reimbursement agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby Barings has agreed to reduce the Management Fee payable to it (but not below zero), and to pay any operating expenses of the Fund (including organizational and offering expenses), to the extent necessary to limit the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding extraordinary legal and other expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, interest expense, expenses related to borrowings, securities lending, leverage, taxes, and |
-39-
brokerage, short sale dividend and loan expense, or other non-recurring or unusual expenses such as shareholder meeting expenses) to the annual rate (as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the applicable class of Shares of the Fund) of 2.50%, 2.75%, 3.25% and 3.25% with respect to Class 1 Shares, Class 2 Shares, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares, respectively (the “Expense Cap”). For a period ending three years after the end of the month in which Barings waives its Management Fee or pays any operating expenses of the Fund pursuant to the Expense Cap, Barings may recoup amounts waived or incurred to the extent such recoupment does not cause the Fund’s operating expense ratio (after recoupment and excluding extraordinary legal and other expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, interest expense, expenses related to borrowings, securities lending, leverage, taxes, and brokerage, short sale dividend and loan expense, or other non-recurring or unusual expenses such as shareholder meeting expenses) to exceed the lesser of (a) the expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver, and (b) the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment. The Expense Limitation Agreement will continue in effect through January 7, 2024 and can only be terminated by mutual consent of the Board on behalf of the Fund and Barings. |
The purpose of the table above is to assist prospective investors in understanding the various fees and expenses Shareholders will bear directly or indirectly. For a more complete description of the various fees and expenses of the Fund, see “Management Fee,” “Shareholder Servicing and Distribution and Services Plan,” “Fund Expenses,” “Repurchase of Shares by the Fund” and “Purchasing Shares.”
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example assumes that all distributions are reinvested at NAV and that the percentage amounts listed under Annual Expenses remain the same in the years shown. The assumption in the hypothetical example of a 5% annual return is required by regulation of the SEC applicable to all registered investment companies. The assumed 5% annual return is not a prediction of, and does not represent, the projected or actual performance of Shares.
EXAMPLE
You
Would Pay the Following Expenses Based on a $1,000 Investment in the Fund, Assuming a 5% Annual Return: |
1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||
Class 1 Shares | $ | 35 | $ | 112 | $ | 191 | $ | 397 |
Class 2 Shares | $ | 52 | $ | 133 | $ | 215 | $ | 428 |
Class 3 Shares | $ | 77 | $ | 165 | $ | 255 | $ | 481 |
Class 4 Shares | $ | 97 | $ | 184 | $ | 271 | $ | 493 |
The example is based on the annual fees and expenses set out on the table above and should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. Moreover, the rate of return of the Fund may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return used in the example. A greater rate of return than that used in the example would increase the dollar amount of the asset-based fees paid by the Fund.
-40-
The financial highlights are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance. The information for the Fund’s period ended March 31, 2022 has been derived from the Fund’s consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights, appears in the Fund’s annual report as of and for the period ended March 31, 2022, which can be found on the SEC's EDGAR database on its Internet site at http://www.sec.gov or can be obtained free of charge, upon request, by calling (704) 805-7200.
Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) |
Consolidated Financial Highlights (For a share outstanding throughout the period)
Income (loss) from
investment operations |
Ratios / Supplemental Data | |||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of the period |
Net investment income (loss)(c) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments |
Total income (loss) from investment operations |
Net asset value, end of the period |
Total return |
Net assets, end of the period (000)’s |
Ratio of expenses to average daily net assets before expense waivers |
Ratio of expenses to average daily net assets after expense waivers |
Net investment income (loss) to average daily net assets | |
Class 1 | ||||||||||
3/31/22i | $ 10.00 | $ (0.05) | $ 0.82 | $ 0.77 | $ 10.77 | 7.72%b | $ 111,496 | 2.86%a | 2.54%a | (2.02%)a |
Period ended March 31, 2022 |
||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 0% |
a | Annualized. |
b | Percentage represents the results for the period and is not annualized. |
c | Per share amount calculated on the average shares method. |
i | Fund commenced operations on January 7, 2022. |
-41-
The Fund will invest the proceeds from the continuous offering of Shares on an ongoing basis in accordance with its investment objective and strategies as stated below. It is currently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest or make capital commitments with respect to all or substantially all of the net proceeds from the sale of Shares at any particular time in accordance with its investment objective and strategies within three months of such sale. Notwithstanding the foregoing, delays in investing, and/or the making of capital commitments with respect to, the Fund’s assets for a period as long as six months may occur (i) because of the time typically required to complete private equity transactions (which may be considerable), (ii) because certain Portfolio Funds selected by Barings may provide infrequent opportunities to purchase their securities, and/or (iii) because of the time required for Portfolio Fund managers to invest the amounts committed by the Fund.
A portion of the amount of proceeds of the offering of Shares or any other available funds may be invested in short-term debt securities, public equities, or money market funds pending investment pursuant to the Fund’s investment objective and strategies. In addition, subject to applicable law, the Fund may maintain a portion of its assets in cash or short-term debt securities or money market funds to meet operational needs, for temporary defensive purposes, or to provide liquidity when the Fund makes periodic repurchases of its Shares. The Fund may be prevented from achieving its objective during any period in which the Fund’s assets are not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies.
Investment Objective and Strategies
Investment objective
The Fund’s investment objective is to generate long-term capital appreciation. In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund intends to invest in a broad cross section of private equity assets in order to seek, over time:
· | Long-term capital appreciation; |
· | Regular, current income through quarterly distributions; |
· | A diversified portfolio of private equity assets; and |
· | An investment alternative for investors seeking to allocate a portion of their long-term portfolios primarily to middle and lower middle market buyout and growth equity assets through a single investment. |
The investment objective of the Fund is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Board without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund’s fundamental policies, which are listed in the SAI, may only be changed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined by the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
Investment strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest and/or make capital commitments of at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowing for investment purposes) in Private Equity Investments, including primary and secondary investments in Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments. This test is applied at the time of investment; later percentage changes caused by a change in the value of the Fund's assets, including as a result in the change in the value of the Fund's investments or due to the issuance or redemption of shares, will not require the Fund to dispose of an investment. The Fund will, under normal market conditions, primarily make investments intended to provide an investment return while offering better liquidity than private equity investments and may hold cash, cash equivalents and other short-term investments. For purposes of this policy, any portfolio company of a Portfolio Fund or any portfolio company underlying a Co-Investment held or simultaneously invested in by a private equity fund when the Fund makes the investment in the Co-Investment is a private portfolio company.
-42-
In addition, Barings has obtained an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Fund to invest alongside affiliates of the Advisers, including certain private funds managed by either Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions.
Private Equity Investment Strategy
Private equity is a common term for investments that are typically made in non-public companies through privately negotiated transactions. Private equity investments may be structured using a range of financial instruments, including common and preferred equity as well as convertible securities or warrants, depending on the strategy of the investor and the financing requirements of the company.
Private equity funds, typically sponsored by an investment firm, or general partner, and organized as limited partnerships, are the most common vehicles for making private equity investments. In such funds, investors usually commit to contribute up to a certain amount of capital as and when requested by the fund’s manager or general partner. The general partner then makes private equity investments on behalf of the fund, typically according to a pre-defined investment strategy and time horizon. The fund’s investments are usually realized, or “exited” after a three to seven year holding period through a private sale, an initial public offering (IPO) or a recapitalization (the restructuring of an investment's debt or equity within the investment's capital structure), and the proceeds are distributed to the fund’s investors. The funds themselves typically have a term of ten to thirteen years.
The private equity market is diverse and can be divided into several different segments, each of which may exhibit distinct characteristics based on combinations of various factors. These characteristics include the structure of the investment and its financing stage, the geographic region in which the investment is made and the target enterprise value.
Private Equity Financing Stages
In private equity investment strategies, the term “financing stage” is used to describe investments (or funds that invest) in companies at a certain stage of development. The different financing stages have distinct risk and return characteristics, and play different roles within a diversified private equity portfolio. These categories may be further subdivided based on the investment strategies that are employed. Under normal market conditions, the Fund is expected to be invested across the following private equity financing stages:
· | Buyouts: Control investments in established, cash flow positive companies are usually classified as buyouts. Buyout investments may focus on small-, mid-, large-, or mega-capitalization companies, and such investments collectively represent a majority of the capital deployed in the overall private equity market. The use of debt financing, or leverage, is prevalent in buyout transactions – particularly in the large and mega-cap segment. Overall, debt financing typically makes up 50-70% of the price paid for a company. After the initial investment period (which will be determined by Barings and may last a significant period of time), Barings anticipates that a majority of the Fund’s assets will fall within the Buyout category. | |
· | Growth Equity: Typically involves minority investments in established companies with strong growth characteristics. Companies that receive growth capital investments typically are enterprises earlier in their development with some level of revenue and visibility to break-even or positive cash flow. These businesses are not mature enough for traditional debt capital and will seek private equity capital for organic and acquisition growth strategies and shareholder liquidity. |
Private Equity Investment Structures
The Fund’s portfolio will be constructed with investments across the following private equity investment categories:
· | Primary Investments: Primary investments (primaries) are limited partnership interests in newly established private equity funds that are typically acquired by way of subscription during their initial |
-43-
fundraising period. Most private equity fund sponsors raise new funds every two to four years, and many top-performing funds are closed to new investors. Because of the limited windows of opportunity for making primary investments in particular funds, strong relationships with leading fund sponsors are highly important for primary investors. | ||
Investors in primaries subscribe for interests during an initial fundraising period, and their capital commitments are then used to fund investments in a number of individual operating companies during a defined investment period and to pay associated management fees and organizational expenses throughout the fund’s term. The investments of the fund are usually unknown at the time of commitment, and investors typically have little or no ability to influence the investments that are made during the fund’s life. Because primary investors must rely on the expertise of the fund manager, an accurate assessment of the manager’s capabilities is essential. | ||
Primary investments typically exhibit a value development pattern, commonly known as the “J-curve,” in which the fund’s NAV typically declines moderately during the early years of the fund’s life as investment-related fees and expenses are incurred before investment gains have been realized. As the fund matures and portfolio companies are sold, the pattern is expected to reverse with increasing NAV and distributions to fund investors. Primary investments have a full term of ten to thirteen years with an average portfolio company investment hold period of three to seven years. Capital is deployed for new investments over the first three to five years, and the portfolio companies are then held for three to seven years before being sold with cash proceeds distributed back to fund investors. The private equity fund sponsor will receive performance-based compensation, also called a carried interest allocation, typically entitling it to approximately 20% of net profits on the fund’s investments after meeting a minimum return. After all of the fund’s assets have been disposed, the fund is dissolved. | ||
· | Secondary Investments: Secondary investments (secondaries) are the assumption or purchase of existing limited partner interests, typically in seasoned private equity funds or co-investments that are acquired in privately negotiated transactions. The original subscriber of the primary investment is often the seller of the asset. The stage of maturity for the asset can vary from early in the investment period of the fund to near full term of the fund. | |
Pricing for a secondary investment is negotiated based on the reported NAV and expected timing of cash flows (capital calls for contributions to the underlying fund, clawbacks of amounts distributed to the underlying fund’s general partner and distributions of returns) of the underlying fund(s) or co-investment(s). A majority of available secondaries have existing investments in portfolio companies. As a result, the secondary buyer has greater visibility to the assets of the fund, investment returns are less impacted by the J-curve pattern (the tendency for a fund's NAV to decline moderately during the early years of the fund's life as investment-related fees and expenses are incurred before investment gains have been realized) expected from a primary investment and distribution patterns may be accelerated as the buyer’s participation is at a later stage in the primary’s life. The secondary buyer does not participate in prior distributions from the acquired limited partnership interest or the previous growth in value of the assets. The secondary investment liquidates and dissolves in the same manner as a primary investment. |
· | Co-Investments: Co-investments are direct investments in specific companies or assets or indirect investments in specific companies or assets through a vehicle managed and controlled by a general partner or sponsor. Co-investments are typically offered to private equity fund investors when the private equity fund sponsor believes that there is an attractive investment for the fund but the total size of the potential holding exceeds the targeted size or allocation for the fund. Co-investors will generally participate in these investments at the same entry valuation as the private equity fund sponsor but with respect to any follow-on investment, such investment may be made at a different valuation. Co-investments, unlike investments in primary funds, often do not bear an additional layer of fees or bear significantly reduced fees. Co-investments typically have a three to seven year holding period. |
-44-
Geographic Regions
It is anticipated that, under normal market conditions, the Fund will primarily invest in North America-domiciled investments, predominantly within the U.S. The Fund also may make European-domiciled investments.
Capitalization
The Fund will primarily invest in funds and Co-Investments in the middle and lower middle market. As of the date of this Prospectus, Barings considers investments in the middle and lower middle market to be in companies and funds that invest in companies with less than $2 billion of enterprise value. Barings believes that investment opportunities in the middle and lower middle market are more likely to generate relative outperformance given the greater number of investment opportunities available to buyers, the higher probability of acquiring portfolio companies at lower valuations (and using less leverage), the prospect of buying businesses through less competitive sourcing channels and the likelihood of being the first institutional owner of these small and medium-sized businesses.
No guarantee or representation is made that the investment program of the Fund or any investment made by the Fund will be successful, that the various selected investments will produce positive returns or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Due Diligence
Barings follows a disciplined, three-step approval process for the purpose of identifying investment opportunities within a consistent framework. Barings’ philosophy is that a repeatable process and consistent team engagement leads to better investment outcomes, and the due diligence process is designed to evaluate opportunities against these criteria. Throughout due diligence, Barings maintains a collaborative decision-making process designed to encourage frequent input from its investment committee and other investment professionals.
Throughout the course of due diligence on a Fund Investment, Barings focuses on assessing several important attributes of the sponsor, including (i) track record benchmarking and analysis (including a fundamental analysis around key indicators of the sponsor’s historical value creation and a revaluation of the unrealized portfolio), (ii) team quality, experience and depth, (iii) consistency in strategy, investment parameters and an ability to deploy capital in the size of assets in which the sponsor has a demonstrable track record of success, and (iv) economic alignment (allocation of carry and the size of the general partner commitment). Barings’ independent internal risk group also conducts operational due diligence on the sponsor.
Throughout the course of due diligence on a Co-Investment, Barings focuses on evaluating various key aspects of each opportunity, which involves (i) performing an analysis of the sponsor that is leading the transaction, (ii) assessing the underlying sectors and industries where the investment operates and competes, (iii) understanding the target investment’s operating model, historical financial information and business plans, (iv) producing base case and downside cases as well as developing sensitivities around key drivers, and (v) conducting a detailed review of the proposed transaction terms, including valuation, capital structure, legal, tax and governance.
Portfolio Construction & Liquidity Management
In addition to asset selection, Barings believes that portfolio construction is critical to the successful execution of the Fund’s investment strategy. After the initial period of investment operations (which will be determined by Barings), and under normal market conditions, the Fund will be diversified across a range of private equity financing stages, sponsors, sectors and vintage years. Additionally, Barings has
-45-
established portfolio parameters to manage exposure across primary funds, Co-Investments and secondaries. These parameters are set with an understanding of the return, risk and cash flow attributes of each investment type, while also considering the portfolio effect provided by diverse investment opportunities, in an effort to (i) mitigate the J-curve (the tendency for a fund's NAV to decline moderately during the early years of the fund's life as investment-related fees and expenses are incurred before investment gains have been realized), (ii) reduce blind-pool risk (the risk associated with the wide flexibility and broad investment mandate afforded to certain pooled investment vehicles at the time the investment is made by the Fund), (iii) deploy investor capital in an efficient manner based on investment opportunity, (iv) grow and return investor capital sooner than typical illiquid, private equity structures, (v) manage portfolio volatility, and (vi) deliver superior risk-adjusted returns to its investors.
By tracking certain features, such as commitments, capital calls, distributions and valuations, Barings will use a range of techniques to balance total returns with reoccurring distributions and liquidity targets, including (i) diversifying commitments across private equity assets at different parts of fund lifecycles through the use of primary investments, secondary investments and Co-Investments, (ii) actively managing cash and liquid assets, and (iii) modeling and actively monitoring cash flows to mitigate cash drag and maintain appropriate levels of committed capital. In addition, the Fund may seek to establish credit lines to provide liquidity to satisfy tender requests.
To enhance the Fund’s liquidity, particularly in times of possible net outflows through the tender of shares by shareholders, Barings may from time to time determine to sell certain of the Fund’s assets. In implementing the Fund’s liquidity management program, so as to minimize cash drag while providing the necessary liquidity to support the Fund’s private equity investment strategies and potential tender of its shares, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities and vehicles that are intended to provide an investment return while offering better liquidity than private equity investments. The liquid assets may include both fixed income and equities as well as public and private vehicles that derive their investment returns from fixed income and equity securities, including publicly listed companies that pursue the business of private equity investing; publicly listed companies that invest in private equity transactions or funds; alternative asset managers, holding companies, investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, financial institutions and other vehicles whose primary purpose is to invest in, lend capital to or provide services to privately held companies; and certain derivatives, such as options and futures.
There can be no assurance that the objectives of the Fund with respect to liquidity management will be achieved or that the Fund’s portfolio design strategies will be successful. Prospective investors should refer to the discussion of the risks associated with the investment strategy and structure of the Fund found under “General risks,” “Investment-Related risks,” and “Limits of Risk Disclosure.”
Portfolio Monitoring
Barings monitors each investment, including performance measurement relative to initial investment expectations, frequent interactions and periodic in-person visits with the sponsors and attendance of annual general meetings and advisory board meetings. The ongoing monitoring process measures key performance indicators, transactional milestones, investment pacing, volatility metrics, investment consistency relative to the stated strategy, qualitative factors on the sponsor and its professionals, reporting quality and various macro factors.
Borrowing by the Fund
The Fund may borrow money to fund repurchase of Shares or for other portfolio management purposes. Such borrowing may be accomplished through credit facilities or by other means. The use of borrowings for investment purposes involves a high degree of risk. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to borrow for any purposes if, immediately after such borrowing, the Fund would have asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) of less than 300% with respect to indebtedness. This means that at the time the borrowing is made, the value of the Fund's borrowings may not exceed one-third the value of the Fund's total assets (including such borrowings), or 50% of the Fund's net assets. None of the foregoing 1940 Act requirements apply to Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests unless such Portfolio Funds are registered
-46-
under the 1940 Act. The Board may modify the borrowing policies of the Fund, including the purposes for which borrowings may be made, and the length of time that the Fund may hold portfolio securities purchased with borrowed money. The rights of any lenders to the Fund to receive payments of interest or repayments of principal will be senior to those of the Shareholders and the terms of any borrowings may contain provisions that limit certain activities of the Fund. The Fund also may borrow money from banks or other lenders for temporary purposes in an amount not to exceed 5% of the Fund's assets. Such temporary borrowings are not subject to the asset coverage requirements discussed above.
Temporary and defensive strategies
The Fund may, from time to time in its sole discretion, take temporary or defensive positions in cash, cash equivalents, other short-term securities or money market funds to attempt to reduce volatility caused by adverse market, economic, or other conditions. Any such temporary or defensive positions could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. In addition, subject to applicable law, the Fund may, in Barings’ sole discretion, hold cash, cash equivalents, other short-term securities or investments in money market funds pending investment in order to fund anticipated repurchases, expenses of the Fund or other operational needs, or otherwise in the sole discretion of Barings. See “Use of Proceeds.”
The following are certain risk factors that relate to the operations and terms of the Fund. These considerations, which do not purport to be a complete description of any of the particular risks referred to or a complete list of all risks involved in an investment in the Fund, should be carefully evaluated before determining whether to invest in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund involves a considerable amount of risk. An Investor may lose money. Before making an investment decision, a prospective Shareholder should (i) consider the suitability of this investment with respect to the Shareholder’s investment objectives and personal situation and (ii) consider factors such as the Investor’s personal net worth, income, age, risk tolerance and liquidity needs. The Fund is an illiquid investment. Shareholders have no right to require the Fund to redeem their Shares of the Fund.
The Shares are speculative and illiquid securities involving substantial risk of loss. An investment in the Fund is appropriate only for those investors who do not require a liquid investment, for whom an investment in the Fund does not constitute a complete investment program, and who fully understand and are capable of assuming the risks of an investment in the Fund.
Limited Operating History. The Fund has limited operating history. The Fund is subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that the Fund will not achieve its investment objectives and that the value of Shares could decline.
Unlisted Closed-End Structure; Liquidity Limited to Repurchases of Shares. The Fund has been organized as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company and designed primarily for long-term investors. An investor should not invest in the Fund if the investor needs a liquid investment. Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (commonly known as mutual funds) in that investors in a closed-end fund do not have the right to redeem their shares on a daily basis. Unlike most closed-end funds, which typically list their shares on a securities exchange, the Fund does not intend to list the Shares for trading on any securities exchange, and the Fund does not expect any secondary market to develop for the Shares. Although the Fund intends to offer a limited degree of liquidity by conducting quarterly repurchase offers, a Shareholder may not be able to tender its Shares in the Fund promptly after it has made a decision to do so. There is no assurance that you will be able to tender your Shares when or in the amount that you desire or that the Fund will repurchase shares quarterly. In addition, with very limited exceptions, Shares are not transferable, and liquidity will be provided only through quarterly repurchase offers made by the Fund. The Fund expects any quarterly repurchase offer to apply to no more than 5% of the net assets of the Fund. Shares are considerably less liquid than shares of funds that trade on a stock exchange or shares of open-end registered investment companies, and are therefore suitable
-47-
only for investors who can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity of Shares, and should be viewed as a long-term investment.
There will be a substantial period of time between the date as of which Shareholders must submit a request to have their Shares repurchased and the date they can expect to receive payment for their Shares from the Fund. The Fund currently intends, under normal market conditions, to provide payment with respect to 95% of the tender offer proceeds within 65 days of the expiration of the tender offer, and may hold back 5% of the tender offer proceeds until after the Fund's year-end audit. Shareholders whose Shares are accepted for repurchase bear the risk that the Fund's NAV may fluctuate significantly between the time that they submit their repurchase requests and the date as of which such Shares are valued for purposes of such repurchase. Shareholders will have to decide whether to request that the Fund repurchase their Shares without the benefit of having current information regarding the value of Shares on a date proximate to the date on which Shares are valued by the Fund for purposes of effecting such repurchases.
Repurchases of Shares, if any, may be suspended, postponed or terminated by the Board under certain circumstances. See “Repurchase of Shares by the Fund.” An investment in the Fund is suitable only for investors who can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity of Shares and the underlying investments of the Fund. Also, because Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, the Fund is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of its Shareholders unless required under the provisions of the 1940 Act.
Dependence on Barings. Barings is the Fund’s investment adviser and is responsible for selecting Fund Investments as opportunities arise. The Fund and, accordingly, Shareholders, must rely upon the ability of Barings to identify and implement Fund Investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. Shareholders will not receive or otherwise be privy to due diligence or risk information prepared by or for Barings in respect of Fund Investments and Co-Investments. Barings has the authority and responsibility for asset allocation, the selection of Fund Investments and all other investment decisions for the Fund. The success of the Fund depends upon the ability of Barings to develop and implement investment strategies that achieve the investment objective of the Fund. Shareholders will have no right or power to participate in the management or control of the Fund or Fund Investments, or the terms of any such investments. There can be no assurance that Barings will be able to select or implement successful strategies or achieve the Fund’s investment objectives. No person should invest in the Fund unless such person is willing to entrust all aspects of the investment decisions of the Fund to Barings.
Barings contracts with BIIL to help manage the Fund. Subject to the oversight of the Board, Barings has the ultimate responsibility to oversee any subadviser of the Fund and to recommend the hiring, termination, and replacement of any subadviser of the Fund. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, analysis and review of subadviser performance, as well as assistance in the identification and vetting of new or replacement subadvisers. In addition, Barings maintains responsibility for a number of other important obligations, including, among other things, board reporting, assistance in the annual advisory contract renewal process, and, in general, the performance of all obligations not delegated to a subadviser. Barings also provides advice and recommendations to the Board, and performs such review and oversight functions as the Board may reasonably request, as to the continuing appropriateness of the investment objective, strategies, and policies of the Fund, valuations of portfolio securities, and other matters relating generally to the investment program of the Fund.
Reliance on Key Personnel. The Fund will depend on the investment expertise, skill and network of business contacts of Barings. Barings will evaluate, negotiate, structure, execute and monitor Private Equity Investments. The Fund’s future success will depend to a significant extent on the continued service and coordination of Barings and its investment management team.
The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends on Barings’ ability to identify, analyze, invest in, finance and monitor Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments that meet the Fund’s investment criteria. Barings’ capabilities in structuring the investment process, providing competent, attentive and efficient services to the Fund, and facilitating access to financing on acceptable terms depend on the employment of investment professionals in an adequate number and of adequate sophistication to match the
-48-
corresponding flow of transactions. To achieve the Fund’s investment objective, Barings may hire, train, supervise and manage new investment professionals to participate in the Fund’s investment selection and monitoring process. Barings may not be able to find investment professionals in a timely manner or at all.
Failure to support the Fund’s investment process could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
It is anticipated that Barings will depend on its relationships with private equity sponsors, investment banks and commercial banks, and the Fund will rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide the Fund with potential investment opportunities. If Barings fails to maintain its existing relationships or develop new relationships with other sponsors or sources of investment opportunities, the Fund may not be able to grow its investment portfolio. In addition, individuals with whom Barings has relationships are not obligated to provide the Fund or Barings with investment opportunities, and, therefore, there is no assurance that such relationships will generate investment opportunities for the Fund.
Additionally, the Fund will be exposed to these risks with respect to the managers of Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s performance depends on the adherence by such managers to their selected strategies, the instruments used by such managers, Barings’ ability to select Portfolio Fund managers and strategies and effectively allocate the Fund’s assets among them. The Portfolio Fund managers’ investment strategies or choice of specific securities may be unsuccessful and may cause the Portfolio Fund, and in turn the Fund, to incur losses.
Concentration of Investments. Except to the extent required by applicable law and the Fund’s fundamental policies, there are no limitations imposed on Barings as to the amount of Fund assets that may be invested in (i) any one geography, (ii) any one Fund Investment, (iii) in a Private Equity Investment managed by a particular general partner or its affiliates, (iv) indirectly in any single industry or (v) in any issuer. In addition, a Portfolio Fund’s investment portfolio may consist of a limited number of companies and may be concentrated in a particular industry area or group, and Co-Investments are typically single company positions. Accordingly, the Fund’s investment portfolio may at times be significantly concentrated, both as to managers, geographies, industries and individual companies. Such concentration could offer a greater potential for capital appreciation as well as increased risk of loss. Such concentration may also be expected to increase the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Fund’s investment portfolio is, however, subject to the asset diversification requirements applicable to RICs, and may thus be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify and be eligible to be treated as such. See “Certain Tax Considerations.”
Limited Operating History of Private Equity Investments. Private Equity Investments may have limited operating histories and the information the Fund will obtain about such investments may be limited. As such, the ability of Barings to evaluate past performance or to validate the investment strategies of such Private Equity Investment will be limited. Moreover, even to the extent a Private Equity Investment has a longer operating history, the past investment performance of any of the Private Equity Investments should not be construed as an indication of the future results of such investments or the Fund, particularly as the investment professionals responsible for the performance of such investments may change over time. This risk is related to, and enhanced by, the risks created by the fact that Barings relies upon information provided to it by the issuer of the securities or the Portfolio Fund managers (as applicable) that is not, and cannot be, independently verified.
Nature of Portfolio Companies. The Private Equity Investments will include direct and indirect investments in portfolio companies. This may include portfolio companies in the early phases of development, which can be highly risky due to the lack of a significant operating history. The Private Equity Investments may also include portfolio companies that are in a state of distress or which have a poor record, and which are undergoing restructuring or changes in management, and there can be no assurances that such restructuring or changes will be successful. The management of such portfolio companies may depend on one or two key individuals, and the loss of the services of any of such individuals may adversely affect the performance of such portfolio companies.
-49-
Investments in the Portfolio Funds Generally; Dependence on the Portfolio Fund Managers. Because the Fund invests in Portfolio Funds, a Shareholder’s investment in the Fund will be affected by the investment policies and decisions of the manager of each Portfolio Fund in direct proportion to the amount of Fund assets that are invested in each Portfolio Fund. The Fund’s NAV may fluctuate in response to, among other things, various market and economic factors related to the markets in which the Portfolio Funds invest and the financial condition and prospects of issuers in which the Portfolio Funds invest. Certain risks related to the investment strategies and techniques utilized by the Portfolio Fund managers are described under “Investment-Related Risks” above. The success of the Fund depends upon the ability of the Portfolio Fund managers to develop and implement strategies that achieve their investment objectives. Shareholders will not have an opportunity to evaluate the specific investments made by the Portfolio Funds or the Portfolio Fund managers, or the terms of any such investments. In addition, the Portfolio Fund managers could materially alter their investment strategies from time to time without notice to the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Portfolio Fund managers will be able to select or implement successful strategies or achieve their respective investment objectives.
Delays in Implementation of Investment Strategy; Liquidity to Satisfy Share Repurchases; and Temporary Investments. The allocation among Fund Investments may vary from time to time. At any given time, the Fund may hold a substantial portion of the proceeds of the offering of Shares in short-term investments (including money market funds, short-term treasuries and other liquid investment vehicles) while the Fund seeks desirable Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments. Delays in investing the Fund’s assets for a period as long as six months may occur (i) because of the time typically required to complete private equity transactions (which may be considerable), (ii) because certain Portfolio Funds selected by Barings may provide infrequent opportunities to purchase their securities, and/or (iii) because of the time required for Portfolio Fund managers to invest the amounts committed by the Fund. Delays in investing the net proceeds from the sale of Shares may impair the Fund’s performance. The Fund cannot assure you it will be able to identify any investments that meet its investment objective or that any investment that the Fund makes will produce a positive return. The Fund may be unable to invest the net proceeds from the sale of Shares on acceptable terms within the time period that the Fund anticipates or at all, which could harm the Fund’s financial condition and operating results.
In addition, subject to applicable law, the Fund may maintain a portion of its assets in cash or short-term investments (including money market funds, short-term treasuries and other liquid investment vehicles) to meet operational needs, to satisfy Share repurchase obligations, for temporary defensive purposes, or to maintain liquidity.
Short-term investments may produce returns that are significantly lower than the returns that the Fund expects to achieve when the Fund’s portfolio is fully invested in accordance with Barings’ long-term target allocations. As a result, any distributions that the Fund pays while the Fund’s portfolio is not fully invested in accordance with Barings’ long-term target allocations may be lower than the distributions that the Fund may be able to pay when the Fund portfolio is fully invested in accordance with Barings’ long-term target allocations. The Fund may be prevented from achieving its objective during any period in which the Fund’s assets are not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies.
Portfolio Funds Not Registered. The Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act is designed to afford various protections to investors in pooled investment vehicles. For example, the 1940 Act imposes limits on the amount of leverage that a registered investment company can assume, restricts layering of costs and fees, restricts transactions with affiliated persons and requires that the investment company’s operations be supervised by a board of directors, a majority of whose members are independent of management. However, the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund is expected to invest are not subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. Some Portfolio Fund managers may not be registered as investment advisers under the Advisers Act. As an indirect investor in the Portfolio Funds managed by managers that are not registered as investment advisers, the Fund will not have the benefit of certain of the protections of the Advisers Act.
Many Portfolio Funds are exempted from regulation under the 1940 Act because they permit investment only by investors who meet very high thresholds of investment experience and sophistication, as measured
-50-
by net worth. The Fund’s investment qualification thresholds are generally lower. As a result, the Fund provides an avenue for investing in certain Portfolio Funds that would not otherwise be available to certain investors. This means that investors who would not otherwise qualify to invest in largely unregulated vehicles will have the opportunity to make such an investment through the Fund.
In addition, many Portfolio Funds do not maintain their securities and other assets in the custody of a bank or a member of a securities exchange, as generally required of registered investment companies, in accordance with certain SEC rules. A registered investment company which places its securities in the custody of a member of a securities exchange is required to have a written custodian agreement, which provides that securities held in custody will be at all times individually segregated from the securities of any other person and marked to clearly identify such securities as the property of such investment company and which contains other provisions designed to protect the assets of such investment company. The Portfolio Funds in which the Fund will invest may maintain custody of their assets with brokerage firms which do not separately segregate such customer assets as would be required in the case of registered investment companies, or may not use a custodian to hold their assets. Under the provisions of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, as amended, the bankruptcy of any brokerage firm used to hold Portfolio Fund assets could have a greater adverse effect on the Fund than would be the case if custody of assets were maintained in accordance with the requirements applicable to registered investment companies. There is also a risk that a Portfolio Fund manager could convert assets committed to it by the Fund to its own use or that a custodian could convert assets committed to it by a Portfolio Fund manager to its own use. There can be no assurance that the Portfolio Fund managers or the entities they manage will comply with all applicable laws and that assets entrusted to the Portfolio Fund managers will be protected.
Prospective investors should understand that the Fund is an appropriate investment only for investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk, including lesser regulatory protections in connection with the Fund’s investments in Portfolio Funds than might normally be available through investments in registered investment company vehicles.
Portfolio Funds Are Generally Non-Diversified. While there are no regulatory requirements that the investments of the Portfolio Funds be diversified, some Portfolio Funds may undertake to comply with certain investment concentration limits. Portfolio Funds may at certain times hold large positions in a relatively limited number of investments. Portfolio Funds may target or concentrate their investments in particular markets, sectors or industries. Those Portfolio Funds that concentrate in a specific industry or target a specific sector will also be subject to the risks of that industry or sector, which may include, but are not limited to, rapid obsolescence of technology, sensitivity to regulatory changes, minimal barriers to entry and sensitivity to overall market swings. As a result, the NAVs of such Portfolio Funds may be subject to greater volatility than those of investment companies that are subject to diversification requirements and this may negatively impact the NAV of the Fund.
Portfolio Funds’ Securities Are Generally Illiquid. The securities of the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests or plans to invest will often be illiquid. Subscriptions to purchase the securities of Portfolio Funds are typically subject to restrictions or delays. There is no regular market for interests in many Portfolio Funds or portfolio companies, which typically must be sold in privately negotiated transactions. Any such sales would likely require the consent of the manager of the applicable Portfolio Fund or the board of the portfolio company, and could occur at a discount to the stated NAV. If Barings determines to cause the Fund to sell its interest in a Portfolio Fund, the Fund may be unable to sell such interest quickly, if at all, and could therefore be obligated to continue to hold such interest for an extended period of time, or to accept a lower price for a quick sale.
Valuations of Private Equity Investments; Valuations Subject to Adjustment. A large percentage of the securities in which the Fund invests will not have a readily determinable market value and will be reported an estimate of fair value.
In addition, a large percentage of the securities in which the Portfolio Funds invest and the Co-Investments will not have a readily determinable market value and will be valued periodically by the Portfolio Fund
-51-
managers or the Co-Investment or Co-Investment sponsor. In this regard, a Portfolio Fund manager or a Co-Investment sponsor may face a conflict of interest in valuing the securities, as their value may affect the Portfolio Fund manager’s or the Co-Investment sponsor’s compensation or the manager’s or sponsor’s ability to raise additional funds in the future.
Prior to investing in any Private Equity Investment, Barings will generally conduct a due diligence review of the valuation methodology used by the Portfolio Fund manager. No assurances can be given regarding the valuation methodology or the sufficiency of systems utilized by any Portfolio Fund manager or Co- Investment or Co-Investment sponsor, the accuracy of the valuations provided by the Portfolio Fund managers, the Co-Investment or the Co-Investment sponsor, that the Portfolio Fund managers, Co-Investments or Co-Investment sponsors will comply with their own internal policies or procedures for keeping records or making valuations, or that the Portfolio Fund managers’, the Co-Investments or the Co-Investment sponsors’ policies and procedures and systems will not change without notice to the Fund. As a result, valuations of the securities may be subjective and could subsequently prove to have been inaccurate, potentially by significant amounts.
Under the 1940 Act, the Board is responsible for determining the fair valuation of any investments directly held by the Fund for which market quotations are not readily available or reliable; to the extent permitted under applicable rules and guidance, the Board may assign the determination to a “valuation designee,” subject to certain conditions and oversight requirements. Barings has been designated by the Board as the valuation designee for the Fund pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. In its capacity as valuation designee, Barings, among other things, is responsible for establishing fair valuation methodologies and determining, in good faith, the fair value of all of the assets of the Fund for which there are no readily available market quotations in accordance with the Fund Valuation Procedures.
The valuation methodology set forth in the Fund Valuation Procedures incorporates general private equity pricing principles. Based on the methodology, Barings may recommend that the Board adjust a Portfolio Fund manager’s periodic valuation of a Portfolio Fund, or a Co-Investment’s valuation, as appropriate. The Fund runs the risk that its valuation techniques will fail to produce the desired results. Any imperfections, errors, or limitations in any methodology that is used could affect the ability of the Fund to accurately value Portfolio Fund or Co-Investment assets. While any methodology that may be used would be designed to assist in confirming or adjusting valuation recommendations, the Fund generally will not have sufficient information in order to be able to confirm with certainty the accuracy of valuations provided by a Portfolio Fund manager, a Co-Investment or a Co-Investment sponsor until the Fund receives the Portfolio Funds’ or the Co-Investment’s audited annual financial statements. Moreover, Portfolio Fund managers, Co-Investments and Co-Investment sponsors typically provide estimated valuations on a quarterly basis whereas Barings will consider valuations on an ongoing basis and will recommend valuations on a monthly basis. In addition, the Advisers face conflicts of interest in assisting with the valuation of the Fund’s investments, as the value of the Fund’s investments will affect the Advisers’ compensation. The Fund Valuation Procedures are designed to help eliminate or at least minimize the risk of such a conflicts of interest.
A Portfolio Fund’s or a Co-Investment’s information could be inaccurate due to fraudulent activity, misevaluation, or inadvertent error. In any case, the Fund may not uncover errors for a significant period of time, if ever. Even if Barings elects to cause the Fund to sell its interests in such a Portfolio Fund or Co-Investment, the Fund may be unable to sell such interests quickly, if at all, and could therefore be obligated to continue to hold such interests for an extended period of time. In such a case, the Portfolio Fund’s valuations of such interests or the Co-Investment’s valuation could remain subject to such fraud or error, and the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine to discount the value of the interests or value them at zero.
Investors should be aware that situations involving uncertainties as to the valuations by Portfolio Funds or Co-Investments could have a material adverse effect on the Fund if judgments regarding valuations should prove incorrect. Persons who are unwilling to assume such risks should not make an investment in the Fund.
-52-
The valuations reported by the Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments based upon which the Fund determines its month-end NAV may be subject to later adjustment or revision. For example, NAV calculations may be revised as a result of fiscal year-end audits. Other adjustments may occur from time to time. Because such adjustments or revisions, whether increasing or decreasing the NAV of the Fund, at the time they occur, relate to information available only at the time of the adjustment or revision, the adjustment or revision may not affect the amount of the repurchase proceeds of the Fund received by Investors who had their Shares repurchased prior to such adjustments and received their repurchase proceeds, subject to the ability of the Fund to adjust or recoup the repurchase proceeds received by Shareholders under certain circumstances as described in "Calculation of Net Asset Value; Valuation." The Fund believes such adjustment or recoupment may be appropriate in certain circumstances in light of liquidity constraints associated with many of the Fund Investments and the fact that the Fund may have to liquidate interests in such investments in order to fund the repurchase of Shares. As a result, to the extent that such subsequently adjusted valuations from the Portfolio Funds, Co-Investments, direct private equity investments or the Fund adversely affect the Fund's NAV, the outstanding Shares may be adversely affected by prior repurchases to the benefit of Shareholders who had their Shares repurchased at a NAV higher than the adjusted amount. Conversely, any increases in the NAV resulting from such subsequently adjusted valuations may be entirely for the benefit of the outstanding Shares and to the detriment of Shareholders who previously had their Shares repurchased at a NAV lower than the adjusted amount. The same principles apply to the purchase of Shares. New Shareholders may be affected in a similar way.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time Barings would like or at the price it believes the security is currently worth. Liquidity risk may be increased for certain Fund investments, including those investments in funds with gating provisions or other limitations on investor withdrawals and restricted or illiquid securities. Some funds in which the Fund invests may impose restrictions on when an investor may withdraw its investment or limit the amounts an investor may withdraw. To the extent that Barings seeks to reduce or sell out of its investment at a time or in an amount that is prohibited, the Fund may not have the liquidity necessary to participate in other investment opportunities or may need to sell other investments that it may not have otherwise sold.
The Fund may also invest in securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid, as determined by using the SEC’s standard applicable to registered investment companies (i.e., securities that cannot be disposed of by the Fund within seven calendar days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities). Illiquid and restricted securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when the Fund believes it is desirable to do so. The market price of illiquid and restricted securities generally is more volatile than that of more liquid securities, which may adversely affect the price that the Fund pays for or recovers upon the sale of such securities. Investment of the Fund’s assets in illiquid and restricted securities may also restrict the Fund’s ability to take advantage of market opportunities.
Valuation risk is the risk that one or more of the securities in which the Fund invests are valued differently than the value realized upon such security’s sale. In times of market instability, valuation may be more difficult, in which case Barings’ judgment may play a greater role in the valuation process.
Multiple Levels of Fees and Expenses. Although in many cases investor access to the Portfolio Funds may be limited or unavailable, an investor who meets the conditions imposed by a Portfolio Fund may be able to invest directly with the Portfolio Fund. By investing in Portfolio Funds indirectly through the Fund, the investor bears asset-based fees charged by the Fund, in addition to any asset-based fees and performance-based fees and allocations at the Portfolio Fund level. Moreover, an investor in the Fund bears a proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the Fund (including, among other things and as applicable, operating costs, sales charges, brokerage transaction expenses, management fees, distribution fees, administrative and custody fees, and tender offer expenses) and, indirectly, similar expenses of the Portfolio Funds. Thus, an investor in the Fund may be subject to higher operating expenses than if he or she invested in a Portfolio Fund directly or in a closed-end fund that did not invest through Portfolio Funds.
Each Portfolio Fund generally will be subject to a performance-based fee or allocation irrespective of the performance of other Portfolio Funds and the Fund generally. Accordingly, a Portfolio Fund manager to a
-53-
Portfolio Fund with positive performance may receive performance-based compensation from the Portfolio Fund, and thus indirectly from the Fund and its Shareholders, even if the overall performance of the Fund is negative. Generally, asset-based fees payable to managers of the Portfolio Funds will range from 1% to 2% (annualized) of the commitment amount of the Fund's investment, and performance-based fees or allocations are typically 20%, although it is possible that such amounts may be exceeded for certain Portfolio Fund managers. The performance-based compensation received by a Portfolio Fund manager also may create an incentive for that Portfolio Fund manager to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than those that it might have made in the absence of such performance-based compensation. Shareholders that invest in the Fund through financial advisers or intermediaries may also be subject to account fees or charges levied by such parties. Prospective investors should consult with their respective financial advisers or intermediaries for information regarding any fees or charges that may be associated with the services provided by such parties.
Failure to Qualify As a RIC or Satisfy Distribution Requirement. The Fund intends to elect to be treated, and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as a RIC under the Code. In order to qualify as and maintain its status as a RIC under the Code each year, the Fund must, among other things, meet an annual distribution requirement, an annual source-of-income requirement and a quarterly asset diversification requirement described in “Certain Tax Considerations” below.
Portfolio Funds and investments in other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes may generate income allocable to the Fund that is not qualifying income for purposes of the source-of-income requirement. In order to meet the source of income requirement, the Fund may structure its investments in a manner that potentially increases the taxes imposed thereon or in respect thereof, including by holding such investments through a Corporate Subsidiary. Because the Fund may not have timely or complete information concerning the amount or sources of such an investment’s income until such income has been earned by the investment or until a substantial amount of time thereafter, it may be difficult for the Fund to satisfy the source-of-income requirement.
In the event that the Fund believes that it is possible that it will fail the quarterly asset diversification requirement at the end of any quarter of its taxable year, it may seek to take certain actions to avert such failure, including by acquiring additional investments to come into compliance with the diversification requirement or by disposing of non-diversified assets. Although the Code affords the Fund the opportunity, in certain circumstances, to cure a failure to meet the quarterly asset diversification requirement, including by disposing of non-diversified assets within six months, there may be constraints on the Fund’s ability to dispose of its interest in an investment that may limit utilization of this cure period.
If the Fund were to fail to satisfy either such requirement or an annual distribution requirement, absent a cure, the Fund would fail to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code. Such loss of RIC status could affect the amount, timing and character of the Fund’s distributions and would cause all of the Fund’s taxable income to be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to Shareholders. In addition, all distributions (including distributions of net capital gain) would be taxed to their recipients as dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Accordingly, disqualification as a RIC would have a significant adverse effect on the value of the Fund’s Shares.
For additional information see “Certain Tax Considerations.”
Difficulty Meeting RIC Distribution Requirement. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which the Fund does not receive a corresponding payment in cash. As a result, the Fund may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to qualify for and maintain its qualification as a RIC under the Code. The Fund may have to sell some of its investments at times and/or at prices the Fund would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If the Fund is not able to obtain cash from other sources, the Fund may fail to qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax. For additional discussion regarding the tax implications of a RIC, see “Certain Tax Considerations.”
-54-
Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. War, terrorism, and related geopolitical events (and their aftermath) have led, and in the future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. Likewise, natural and environmental disasters, such as, for example, earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and weather-related phenomena generally, as well as the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including widespread epidemics or pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and systemic market dislocations can be highly disruptive to economies and markets. In addition, military action by Russia in Ukraine could adversely affect global energy and financial markets and therefore could affect the value of Fund Investments, including beyond a Portfolio Fund's direct exposure to Russian issuers or nearby geographic regions. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict and could be substantial. Those events as well as other changes in non-U.S. and domestic economic and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of Fund Investments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in travel restrictions and disruptions, closed borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations or reductions, disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, lower consumer demand for goods and services, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. The impact of this pandemic and any other epidemic or pandemic that may arise in the future could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of capital markets and other markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. This crisis or other public health crises may also exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally. At this time, it is still not possible to estimate the severity or duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the severity, duration and frequency of any additional “waves” or emerging variants of COVID-19. It is also still not possible to estimate the duration or frequency of the utilization of any therapeutic treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 or variants thereof. The foregoing could lead to a significant economic downturn or recession, increased market volatility, a greater number of market closures, higher default rates and adverse effects on the values and liquidity of securities or other assets. Such impacts, which may vary across asset classes, may adversely affect the performance of the Private Equity Investments, the Fund and a Shareholder’s investment in the Fund.
Market Uncertainties. Even if the portfolio companies’ product and service development efforts are successful, their ultimate success will depend upon market acceptance of the concepts, the products and the services. The portfolio companies may not have engaged in any formal market research studies with respect to the establishment of a market for their products. There can be no assurance that performance errors and deficiencies will not be found, or if found, that they will be able to successfully correct such performance errors and deficiencies in a timely manner or at all.
Even if the concepts gain initial market acceptance, competitors are likely to introduce concepts with comparable price and performance characteristics. This competition may result in reduced future market acceptance for their products and decreasing sales and lower gross margins which could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Fund and the portfolio companies.
Competition for Investment Opportunities. The Fund will compete for investments with other investment funds (including registered investment companies, private equity funds, funds of funds, secondary funds, mezzanine funds and collateralized loan obligation funds), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks, finance companies, business development companies, small business investment companies and other sources of funding.
Moreover, alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, have begun to invest in areas in which they have not traditionally invested, including making investments in private U.S. companies. As a result of
-55-
these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities in private U.S. companies may strengthen. In addition, some of the Fund’s competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than the Fund.
These characteristics could allow competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than the Fund is able to do. As a result, the Fund may lose investment opportunities if it does not match its competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. No assurance can be given that the Fund will be able to identify and complete attractive investments in the future or that it will be able to fully invest its subscriptions. Even if Barings or a Portfolio Fund manager identifies an attractive investment opportunity, the Fund or the Portfolio Fund may not be permitted to take advantage of the opportunity to the fullest extent desired.
If the Fund is forced to match its competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, it may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on its investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss. Furthermore, many of the Fund’s competitors are not subject to the source-of-income, asset diversification and distribution requirements the Fund must satisfy to maintain its qualification as a RIC.
Access to Investments. The Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act and is subject to certain restrictions under the 1940 Act, and certain tax requirements, among other restrictions, that limit the Fund’s ability to make investments, as compared to a fund that is not so registered. Such restrictions may prevent the Fund from participating in (or increasing its share of) certain favorable investment opportunities, or may lead to a lack of exposure to a certain type of investment for certain periods of time. The Fund’s intention to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a regulated investment company under the Code can limit its ability to acquire or continue to hold positions in investments that would otherwise be consistent with its investment strategy. The Fund incurs additional expenses (compared to a fund that is not registered under the 1940 Act) in determining whether an investment is permissible under the 1940 Act and in structuring investments to comply with the 1940 Act, which reduces returns to Shareholders of the Fund.
Publicly Traded Private Equity Risk. Publicly traded private equity companies are typically regulated vehicles listed on a public stock exchange that invest in private equity transactions or funds. Such vehicles may take the form of corporations, business development companies, unit trusts, publicly traded partnerships, or other structures, and may focus on mezzanine, infrastructure, buyout or venture capital investments. Publicly traded private equity may also include investments in publicly listed companies in connection with a privately negotiated financing or an attempt to exercise significant influence on the subject of the investment. Publicly traded private equity investments usually have an indefinite duration.
Publicly traded private equity occupies a small portion of the public equity universe, including only a few professional investors who focus on and actively trade such investments. As a result, relatively little market research is performed on publicly traded private equity companies, only limited public data may be available regarding these companies and their underlying investments, and market pricing may significantly deviate from published net asset value. This can result in market inefficiencies and may offer opportunities to specialists that can value the underlying private equity investments. Publicly traded private equity vehicles are typically liquid and capable of being traded daily, in contrast to direct investments and private equity funds, in which capital is subject to lengthy holding periods. Accordingly, publicly traded private equity transactions are significantly easier to execute than other types of private equity investments, giving investors an opportunity to adjust the investment level of their portfolios more efficiently.
Exchange-Traded Product Risk. The Fund may invest in long (or short) positions in ETFs. Through its positions in ETFs, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such vehicles' investments, including the possibility that the value of the securities or instruments held by an ETF could decrease (or increase), and will bear its proportionate share of the ETF's fees and expenses. In addition, certain of the ETFs may hold common portfolio positions, thereby reducing any diversification benefits.
Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk. As with other investments, investments in other investment companies, including ETFs, are subject to market and manager risk. In addition, if the Fund
-56-
acquires shares of investment companies, investors bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies.
Non-Diversified Status. The Fund is a “non-diversified” management investment company. Thus, there are no percentage limitations imposed by the 1940 Act on the Fund’s assets that may be invested, directly or indirectly, in the securities of any one issuer. Consequently, if one or more Fund Investments are allocated a relatively large percentage of the Fund’s assets, losses suffered by such Fund Investments could result in a higher reduction in the Fund’s capital than if such capital had been more proportionately allocated among a larger number of investments. The Fund may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company. However, the Fund will be subject to diversification requirements applicable to RICs under the Code. See “Certain Tax Considerations.”
Regulatory Risks of Portfolio Funds. The regulatory environment for Portfolio Funds (and for registered investment companies investing in Portfolio Funds) is complex and evolving. Changes in the regulation or taxation of private funds are impossible to predict and may adversely affect the value of the Private Equity Investments, and the ability of the Fund to execute its investment strategy. There is no guarantee that the SEC will not require the Fund’s Shareholders to meet additional eligibility criteria in the future.
General Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risks. Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur during the term of the Fund which may materially adversely affect the Fund. For example, the regulatory and tax environment for leveraged investors and for private equity funds generally is evolving, and changes in the direct or indirect regulation or taxation of leveraged investors or private equity funds may materially adversely affect the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategies or achieve its investment objective or qualify as a RIC. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) vests U.S. federal bank, securities and commodities regulators with significant and extensive rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority. The implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the adoption of various regulations and the preparation of reports by various agencies over a period of time. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not significantly reduce the profitability of the Fund. The implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act could adversely affect the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs.
Repurchase Offers Risk. To provide liquidity to Shareholders, the Fund may, from time to time, offer to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders by Shareholders. Repurchases will be made at such times, in such amounts and on such terms as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. With respect to any future repurchase offer, Shareholders tendering Shares for repurchase must do so by a date specified in the notice describing the terms of the repurchase offer, which will generally be approximately 75 days prior to the date that the Shares to be repurchased are valued by the Fund (the “Valuation Date”). Shareholders that elect to tender any Shares for repurchase will not know the price at which such Shares will be repurchased until the Fund's NAV as of the Valuation Date is able to be determined. A 2.00% early repurchase fee will be charged by the Fund with respect to any repurchase of Shares from a Shareholder at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the Shareholder's purchase of Shares. Such repurchase fee will be retained by the Fund and will benefit the Fund's remaining Shareholders. Shares tendered for repurchase will be treated as having been repurchased on a “first in-first out” basis. An early repurchase fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived by the Fund in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund. For example, an Early Repurchase Fee may not be charged where Shares are tendered for repurchase due to Shareholder death or disability.
The Fund may be limited in its ability to liquidate its holdings in Portfolio Funds to meet repurchase requests. Repurchase offers principally will be funded by cash and cash equivalents, as well as by the sale of certain liquid securities. Accordingly, the Fund may tender fewer Shares than Shareholders may wish to sell, resulting in the proration of Shareholder repurchases, or the Fund may need to suspend or postpone
-57-
repurchase offers if it is required to dispose of interests in Portfolio Funds and is not able to do so in a timely manner. See “Repurchases of Shares and Transfers.”
Substantial requests for the Fund to repurchase Shares could require the Fund to liquidate certain of its investments more rapidly than otherwise desirable for the purpose of raising cash to fund the repurchases and could cause Barings to sell investments at different times than similar investments are sold by other investment vehicles advised by Barings. This could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the performance of the Fund. In addition, substantial repurchases of Shares may decrease the Fund's total assets and accordingly may increase its expenses as a percentage of average net assets. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed by Shareholders who tender Shares, the Fund may extend the repurchase offer, repurchase a pro rata portion of the Shares tendered, or take any other action permitted by applicable law. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed, or if the Fund does not conduct a repurchase offer in any particular quarter, investors will have to wait until the next repurchase offer to make another repurchase request. As a result, investors may be unable to liquidate all or a given percentage of their investment in the Fund during a particular quarter.
Foreign Investments Risk. Investment in foreign issuers, securities of companies with significant foreign exposure or securities principally traded outside the United States may involve special risks due to foreign economic, political, and legal developments, including favorable or unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage), expropriation, nationalization or confiscatory taxation of assets, and possible difficulty in obtaining and enforcing judgments against foreign entities. The Fund and/or a Portfolio Fund may be subject to foreign taxation on realized capital gains, dividends or interest payable on foreign securities, on transactions in those securities and on the repatriation of proceeds generated from those securities. Transaction-based charges are generally calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount and are paid upon the sale or transfer of portfolio securities subject to such taxes. Any taxes or other charges paid or incurred by the Fund or a Portfolio Fund in respect of its foreign securities will reduce the Fund’s yield. See “Certain Tax Considerations” below for more information about these and other special tax considerations applicable to investments in securities of foreign issuers and securities principally traded outside the United States.
In addition, the tax laws of some foreign jurisdictions in which a Portfolio Fund or its portfolio companies may invest are unclear and interpretations of such laws can change over time. As a result, in order to comply with guidance related to the accounting and disclosure of uncertain tax positions under GAAP, a Portfolio Fund may be required to accrue for book purposes certain foreign taxes in respect of its foreign securities or other foreign investments that it may or may not ultimately pay. Such tax accruals will reduce a Portfolio Fund’s NAV at the time accrued, even though, in some cases, the Portfolio Fund ultimately will not pay the related tax liabilities. Conversely, a Portfolio Fund’s NAV will be increased by any tax accruals that are ultimately reversed.
Issuers of foreign securities are subject to different, often less comprehensive, accounting, custody, reporting, and disclosure requirements than U.S. issuers. The securities of some foreign governments, companies, and securities markets are less liquid, and at times more volatile, than comparable U.S. securities and securities markets. Foreign brokerage commissions and related fees also are generally higher than in the United States. Portfolio Funds that invest in foreign securities also may be affected by different custody and/or settlement practices or delayed settlements in some foreign markets. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the Fund’s or a Portfolio Fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers located in those countries. Foreign countries may have reporting requirements with respect to the ownership of securities, and those reporting requirements may be subject to interpretation or change without prior notice to investors. No assurance can be given that the Fund or a Portfolio Fund or portfolio company will satisfy applicable foreign reporting requirements at all times.
Dilution from Subsequent Offerings of Shares. The Fund expects to engage in a continuous offering of its Shares. Additional purchases will dilute the indirect interests of existing Shareholders in the Private Equity Investments prior to such purchases, which could have an adverse impact on the existing Shareholders’ interests in the Fund if subsequent Private Equity Investments underperform the prior investments. Further, in certain cases Portfolio Fund managers may structure performance-based
-58-
compensation, with such compensation being paid only if gains exceed prior losses. The value attributable to the fact that no performance-based compensation is being paid to a Portfolio Fund manager until its gains exceed prior losses is not taken into account when determining the NAV of the Fund. New purchases of Shares will dilute the benefit of such compensation structures to existing Shareholders.
Reporting Requirements. Shareholders who beneficially own Shares that constitute more than 5% or 10% of the Fund’s Shares are subject to certain requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder. These include requirements to file certain reports with the SEC. The Fund has no obligation to file such reports on behalf of such Shareholders or to notify Shareholders that such reports are required to be made. Shareholders who may be subject to such requirements should consult with their legal advisers.
Uncertain Source and Quantity of Funding. Proceeds from the sale of Shares will be used for the Fund’s investment opportunities, operating expenses and for payment of various fees and expenses such as the Management Fee and other fees. Any working capital reserves the Fund maintains may not be sufficient for investment purposes, and it may require debt or equity financing to operate. Accordingly, in the event that the Fund develops a need for additional capital in the future for investments or for any other reason, these sources of funding may not be available to the Fund. Consequently, if the Fund cannot obtain debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, the ability to acquire investments and expand operations will be adversely affected. As a result, the Fund would be less able to achieve portfolio diversification and the investment objective, which may negatively impact the Fund’s results of operations and reduce the Fund’s ability to make distributions to Shareholders.
Fluctuations in Performance. The Fund could experience fluctuations in its performance due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Fund’s ability or inability to make investments in Portfolio Funds or companies that meet the Fund’s investment criteria, the interest rate payable on the debt securities the Fund acquires, the level of the Fund’s expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which the Fund encounters competition in its markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any previous period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.
Payment In-Kind for Repurchased Shares. The Fund does not expect to distribute securities as payment for repurchased Shares except in unusual circumstances. The Fund has the right to distribute securities as payment for repurchased Shares in unusual circumstances, including if making a cash payment would result in a material adverse effect on the Fund or on Shareholders not requesting that their Shares be repurchased. In the event that the Fund makes such a distribution of securities, Shareholders will bear any risks of the distributed securities and may be required to pay a brokerage commission or other costs in order to dispose of such securities.
Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers are susceptible to cyber-attacks and to technological malfunctions that have effects similar to those of a cyber-attack. Cyber-attacks include, among others, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, preventing legitimate users from accessing information or services on a website, releasing confidential information without authorization, and disrupting operations.
Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, the Fund, the Advisers, or a custodian, transfer agent, or other service provider may adversely affect the Fund or its Shareholders. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, affect the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release or misappropriation of private shareholder information or confidential Fund information, impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject the Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses and additional compliance costs. While the Advisers have established business continuity plans and systems designed to prevent, detect and respond to cyber-attacks, those plans and systems have inherent limitations. Similar types of cyber security risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could have material adverse consequences for those issuers and result in a decline in the market price of their securities. Furthermore, as a result of cyber-attacks, technological disruptions, malfunctions, or failures, an exchange or market may close or suspend trading
-59-
in specific securities or the entire market, which could prevent the Fund from, among other things, buying or selling securities or accurately pricing their investments. The Fund cannot directly control cyber security plans and systems of its service providers, the Fund’s counterparties, issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, or securities markets and exchanges.
Risks Relating to Borrowing. The Fund may borrow for investment and other purposes, including to fulfill payment obligations to Shareholders tendering their Shares. If the value of the Fund’s assets declines, the Fund may be unable to satisfy the asset coverage test, which would prohibit the Fund from paying distributions and could prevent the Fund from qualifying as a RIC. If the Fund cannot satisfy the asset coverage test, the Fund may be required to sell a portion of its investments and, depending on the nature of the Fund’s debt financing, repay a portion of the Fund’s indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous. In addition, any amounts that the Fund uses to service its indebtedness would not be available for distribution by the Fund to Shareholders.
Control Positions. The Portfolio Funds may take control positions in portfolio companies. The exercise of control over a company imposes additional risks of liability for environmental damage, product defects, failure to supervise management, violation of governmental regulations and other types of liability in which the limited liability characteristic of a corporation may be ignored, which would increase the Fund’s possibility of incurring losses.
Leverage. The Portfolio Fund managers and (subject to applicable law) the Fund may employ leverage through borrowings, and are likely to directly or indirectly acquire interests in companies with highly leveraged capital structures. If income and appreciation on investments made with borrowed funds are less than the cost of the leverage, the value of the relevant portfolio or investment will decrease. Accordingly, any event that adversely affects the value of a Private Equity Investment will be magnified to the extent leverage is employed. The cumulative effect of the use of leverage by the Fund or the Portfolio Funds in a market that moves adversely to the relevant investments could result in substantial losses, exceeding those that would have been incurred if leverage had not been employed.
Currency Risk. Although the Fund intends to invest significantly in the United States, the Fund’s portfolio is anticipated to include investments in a select number of different currencies. Any returns on, and the value of such investments may, therefore, be materially affected by exchange rate fluctuations, local exchange control, limited liquidity of the relevant foreign exchange markets, the convertibility of the currencies in question and/or other factors. A decline in the value of the currencies in which Fund Investments are denominated against the U.S. Dollar may result in a decrease the Fund’s NAV. Barings generally does not expect to hedge the value of investments made by the Fund against currency fluctuations, and even if Barings deems hedging appropriate, it may not be possible or practicable to hedge currency risk exposure. Accordingly, the performance of the Fund could be adversely affected by such currency fluctuations.
Risks Relating to Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting, Etc. The legal, regulatory, disclosure, accounting, auditing and reporting standards in certain of the countries in which Fund Investments (both direct and indirect) may be made may be less stringent and may not provide the same degree of protection or information to investors as would generally apply in the United States. Although the Fund uses GAAP, the assets, liabilities, profits and losses appearing in published financial statements of the Fund Investments may not reflect their financial position or operating results as they would be reflected under GAAP. Accordingly, the NAV of the Fund published from time to time may not accurately reflect a realistic value for any or all of the investments.
Certain investments of a Portfolio Fund may be in portfolio companies that do not maintain internal management accounts or adopt financial budgeting, internal audit or internal control procedures to standards normally expected of companies in the United States. Accordingly, information supplied to the Fund and the Portfolio Funds may be incomplete, inaccurate and/or significantly delayed. The Portfolio Funds may therefore be unable to take or influence timely actions necessary to rectify management deficiencies in such portfolio companies, which may ultimately have an adverse impact on the NAV of the Fund.
-60-
Amount or Frequency of Distributions Not Guaranteed. The Fund expects to pay distributions out of assets legally available for distribution from time to time, at the sole discretion of the Board. Nevertheless, the Fund cannot assure Shareholders that the Fund will achieve investment results that will allow the Fund to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. The Fund’s ability to pay distributions may be adversely affected by the impact of the risks described in this Prospectus. All distributions will depend on the Fund’s earnings, its net investment income, its financial condition, and such other factors as the Board may deem relevant from time to time.
Portfolio Fund Operations Not Transparent. Barings does not control the investments or operations of the Portfolio Funds. A Portfolio Fund manager may employ investment strategies that differ from its past practices and are not fully disclosed to Barings and that involve risks that are not anticipated by Barings. Some Portfolio Fund managers may have a limited operating history and some may have limited experience in executing one or more investment strategies to be employed for a Portfolio Fund. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the information given to the Administrator and reports given to Barings with respect to the Private Equity Investments will not be fraudulent, inaccurate or incomplete.
Inability to Vote. To the extent that the Fund owns less than 5% of the voting securities of each Portfolio Fund, it may be able to avoid any such Portfolio Fund being deemed an “affiliated person” of the Fund for purposes of the 1940 Act (which designation could, among other things, potentially impose limits on transactions with the Portfolio Funds by the Fund). To limit its voting interest in certain Portfolio Funds, the Fund may enter into contractual arrangements under which the Fund irrevocably waives its rights (if any) to vote its interests in a Portfolio Fund. These voting waiver arrangements may increase the ability of the Fund to invest in certain Portfolio Funds. However, to the extent the Fund contractually forgoes the right to vote the securities of a Portfolio Fund, the Fund will not be able to vote on matters that require the approval of such Portfolio Fund’s investors, including matters which may be adverse to the Fund’s interests.
There are, however, other statutory tests of affiliation (such as on the basis of control), and, therefore, the prohibitions of the 1940 Act with respect to affiliated transactions could apply in certain situations where the Fund owns less than 5% of the voting securities of a Portfolio Fund. If the Fund is considered to be affiliated with a Portfolio Fund, transactions between the Fund and such Portfolio Fund may, among other things, potentially be subject to the prohibitions of Section 17 of the 1940 Act notwithstanding that the Fund has entered into a voting waiver arrangement.
Limitations on Ability to Invest in Portfolio Funds. Certain Portfolio Fund managers’ investment approaches can accommodate only a certain amount of capital. Portfolio Fund managers typically endeavor not to undertake to manage more capital than such Portfolio Fund manager’s approach can accommodate without risking a potential deterioration in returns. Accordingly, each Portfolio Fund manager has the right to refuse to manage some or all of the Fund’s assets that Barings may wish to allocate to such Portfolio Fund manager. Further, continued sales of Shares would dilute the indirect participation of existing Shareholders with such Portfolio Fund manager.
In addition, it is expected that the Fund will be able to make investments in particular Portfolio Funds only at certain times, and commitments to Portfolio Funds may not be accepted (in part or in their entirety). As a result, the Fund may hold cash or invest any portion of its assets that is not invested in Portfolio Funds in cash equivalents, short-term securities or money market securities pending investment in Portfolio Funds. To the extent that the Fund’s assets are not invested in Portfolio Funds, the Fund may be unable to meet its investment objective.
Indemnification of Portfolio Funds and Portfolio Fund Managers. The Fund may agree to indemnify certain of the Portfolio Funds and the Portfolio Fund managers and their respective officers, directors, and affiliates from any liability, damage, cost, or expense arising out of, among other things, acts or omissions undertaken in connection with the management of Portfolio Funds or direct investments. If the Fund were required to make payments (or return distributions received from such Portfolio Funds or direct investments) in respect of any such indemnity, the Fund could be materially adversely affected.
-61-
Contingent Liabilities on Disposition of Investments. In connection with the disposition of a Fund Investment, it may be required to make representations about the investment. The Fund may be required to indemnify the purchasers of such investment to the extent that any such representations are inaccurate. These arrangements may result in the incurrence of contingent liabilities for which the Fund may establish reserves and escrows. In that regard, distributions may be delayed or withheld until such reserve is no longer needed or the escrow period expires.
Capital Call Risk. The Fund may maintain a sizeable cash position in anticipation of funding capital calls or near-term investment opportunities. Even though the Fund may maintain a sizeable position in cash and short-term securities, it may not contribute the full amount of its commitment to a Portfolio Fund at the time of investment. Instead, the Fund will be required to make incremental contributions pursuant to capital calls issued from time to time by a Portfolio Fund. If the Fund defaults on its commitment to a Portfolio Fund or fails to satisfy capital calls to a Portfolio Fund in a timely manner then, generally, it will be subject to significant penalties, including the complete forfeiture of the Fund’s investment in the Portfolio Fund. Any failure by the Fund to make timely capital contributions in respect of its commitments may (i) impair the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy, (ii) force the Fund to borrow, (iii) cause the Fund, and, indirectly, the Shareholders to be subject to certain penalties from the Private Equity Investments (including the complete forfeiture of the Fund’s investment in a Portfolio Fund), or (iv) otherwise impair the value of the Fund’s investments (including the devaluation of the Fund).
Lack of Control. The Fund may indirectly make binding commitments to Co-Investment vehicles without an ability to participate in their management and control and with no or limited ability to transfer its interests in such Co-Investment vehicles. The Fund also generally will not have control over any of the underlying portfolio companies and will not be able to direct the policies or management decisions of such portfolio companies.
Availability of Financing and Market Conditions. Market fluctuations in business loans may affect the availability and cost of loans needed for the Fund Investments. Credit availability has been restricted in the past and may become so in the future. Restrictions upon the availability of financing or high interest rates on such loans will adversely affect the value of existing Fund Investments and may limit the Fund’s availability to source and invest in new Fund Investments. Interest paid by any Fund Investment on its debt obligations will reduce cash available for distributions. Interest rates are currently low compared to prior periods. If any Fund Investment incurs variable rate debt, increases in interest rates would increase its interest costs, which could reduce the Fund’s return on its investments.
Termination of the Fund’s Interest in a Portfolio Fund. A Portfolio Fund may, among other things, terminate the Fund’s interest in that Portfolio Fund (causing a forfeiture of all or a portion of such interest) if the Fund fails to satisfy any capital call by that Portfolio Fund or if the continued participation of the Fund in the Portfolio Fund would have a material adverse effect on the Portfolio Fund or its assets.
Convertible Securities Risk. A convertible security’s market value tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price approaches or is greater than the convertible security’s “conversion price.” The conversion price is defined as the predetermined price at which the convertible security could be exchanged for the associated stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the yield of the convertible security. Thus, it may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities may be paid before the company’s common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The market values of convertible securities may decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, may increase as interest rates decline. Consequently, the issuer’s convertible securities generally entail less risk than its common stock but more risk than its debt obligations. Convertible securities are often rated below investment grade or not rated.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities have both debt and equity characteristics and may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an
-62-
issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt securities. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks. Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer and may suffer a loss of value if distributions are not paid. Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders no longer have voting rights.
Warrants Risk. If the price of the underlying stock does not rise above the exercise price before the warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and the holder loses any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve substantially more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.
Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives involves risks that are in addition to, and potentially greater than, the risks of investing directly in securities and other more traditional assets. Derivatives are financial contracts the value of which depends on, or is derived from, an asset or other underlying reference. Derivatives involve the risk that changes in their value may not move as expected relative to changes in the value of the underlying investment they are designed to track. Derivatives risk may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a cash investment option, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position held by the Fund.
OTC derivatives are not traded on exchanges or standardized; rather, banks and dealers act as principals in these markets negotiating each transaction on an individual basis. There have been periods during which certain banks or dealers have refused to quote prices for OTC derivatives contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which they are prepared to buy and the price at which they are prepared to sell. There is no limitation on the daily price movements of OTC derivatives. Principals in the OTC derivatives markets have no obligation to continue to make markets in the OTC derivatives traded. The Fund may be required to provide more margin for its derivatives investments during periods of market disruptions or stress.
Derivatives also present other risks described herein, including securities markets risk, liquidity and valuation risk and currency risk. OTC derivatives are generally highly illiquid. Many derivatives, in particular OTC derivatives, are complex and their valuation often requires modeling and judgment, which increases the risk of mispricing or improper valuation. The Fund's use of derivatives may not be effective or have the desired results. Moreover, suitable derivatives will not be available in all circumstances. Barings may decide not to use derivatives to hedge or otherwise reduce the Fund's risk exposures, potentially resulting in losses for the Fund.
Many derivatives have embedded leverage (i.e., a notional value in excess of the assets needed to establish and/or maintain the derivative position). Derivatives in which the Fund may invest (e.g., options and futures) may have embedded leverage, depending on their specific terms. As a result, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying investment may result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.
The Fund's use of OTC derivatives exposes it to the risk that the counterparties will be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor their obligations. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will still have contractual remedies but may not be able to enforce them. The Fund may invest in
-63-
derivatives with a limited number of counterparties, and events affecting the creditworthiness of any of those counterparties may have a pronounced effect on the Fund.
In October 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 providing for the regulation of a registered investment company's use of derivatives and certain related instruments. If the Fund were to use derivatives and certain related instruments, the Fund would be subject to Rule 18f-4. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 limits a fund's derivatives exposure through a VaR test and requires the adoption and implementation of a derivatives risk management program for certain derivatives users. Rule 18f-4 could restrict the Fund's ability to engage in certain derivatives transactions and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions, which could adversely affect the value or performance of the Fund.
Limited Operating History of Portfolio Companies. Portfolio companies may have limited operating histories by which to assess their ability to achieve, sustain and increase revenues or profitability. A portfolio company’s financial results will be affected by many factors, including (i) the ability to successfully identify a market or markets in which there is a need for its products; (ii) the ability to successfully negotiate strategic alliances, licensing and other relationships for product development, marketing, distribution and sales; (iii) the progress of research and development programs with respect to the development of additional products and enhancements to existing products; (iv) the ability to protect proprietary rights; and (v) competing technological and market developments, particularly companies that have substantially greater resources.
There can be no assurance that the portfolio companies will ever achieve significant commercial revenues or profitability.
Risks Associated with Management of Growth. To achieve their projected revenues and other targeted operating results, the portfolio companies may be required to rapidly implement and improve operational, financial and management control systems on a timely basis, together with maintaining effective cost controls, and any failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition and results of operations. The success of their growth plans will depend in part upon their ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate key personnel. Failure to make the required expansions and upgrades could have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition, results of operations and relationships with their corporate partners. The results of operations for the companies will also be adversely affected if revenues do not increase sufficiently to compensate for the increase in operating expenses resulting from any expansion and there can be no assurance that any expansion will be profitable or will not adversely affect their results of operations.
Reliance on Portfolio Company Management. The day-to-day operations of each portfolio company will be the responsibility of its own management team. Although Barings will monitor the performance of Portfolio Funds, and Portfolio Fund managers are expected to screen portfolio company management for capable management skills, there can be no assurance that such management will be able to operate any such portfolio company in accordance with the Fund’s expectations. In addition, the loss to a portfolio company of a member of its management team could be detrimental to the development of the portfolio company.
No Assurance of Additional Capital for Investments. Even if a portfolio company is successful generating revenues and expanding its service offerings, it may require additional financing to continue product and service development, testing and, ultimately, marketing and other operational activities. Moreover, its cash requirements may vary materially due to service development results, service testing results, changing relationships with strategic partners, changes in the focus and direction of its research and development programs, competitive and technological advances of competitors, and other factors. Additional financing may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms. If additional financing is not available, the portfolio company may need to delay, scale back or eliminate certain of its product development, marketing or other activities, or even be forced to cease operations and liquidate.
General Risks of Secondary Investments. The overall performance of the Fund’s secondary investments will depend in large part on the acquisition price paid, which may be negotiated based on incomplete or imperfect information. Certain secondary investments may be purchased as a portfolio, and in such cases
-64-
the Fund may not be able to exclude from such purchases those investments that Barings considers (for commercial, tax, legal or other reasons) less attractive. Where a Portfolio Fund acquires a portfolio company interest as a secondary investment, the Portfolio Fund will generally not have the ability to modify or amend such portfolio company’s constituent documents (e.g., limited partnership agreements) or otherwise negotiate the economic terms of the interests being acquired. In addition, the costs and resources required to investigate the commercial, tax and legal issues relating to secondary investments may be greater than those relating to primary investments.
Contingent Liabilities Associated with Secondary Investments. Where a Portfolio Fund acquires a portfolio company interest as a secondary investment, the Portfolio Fund may acquire contingent liabilities associated with such interest. Specifically, where the seller has received distributions from the relevant portfolio company and, subsequently, that portfolio company recalls any portion of such distributions, the Fund (as the purchaser of the interest to which such distributions are attributable) may be obligated to pay an amount equivalent to such distributions to such Portfolio Company. While the Fund may be able, in turn, to make a claim against the seller of the interest for any monies so paid to the Portfolio Company, there can be no assurance that the Fund would have such right or prevail in any such claim.
Risks Relating to Secondary Investments Involving Syndicates. The Fund may acquire secondary investments as a member of a purchasing syndicate, in which case the Fund may be exposed to additional risks including (among other things): (i) counterparty risk, (ii) reputation risk,(iii) breach of confidentiality by a syndicate member and (iv) execution risk.
Securities Markets Risk. Overall securities market risks may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. Equity securities may experience sudden, unpredictable drops in value or long periods of decline in value. This may occur because of factors that affect securities markets generally or factors affecting specific industries, sectors, or companies in which the Fund invests. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.
LIBOR Risk. In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced a desire to phase out the use of the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) by the end of 2021. On March 5, 2021, the FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA), announced that most LIBOR settings will no longer be published after the end of 2021 and a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will no longer be published after June 30, 2023. It is possible that the FCA may compel the IBA to publish a subset of LIBOR settings after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. Various financial industry groups are planning for that transition, but neither the effect of the transition process nor its ultimate success is certain. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effects of any establishment of replacement or alternative reference rates or other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted in the United States, United Kingdom or elsewhere.
Eurozone Risk. The Fund may invest directly or indirectly from time to time in European companies and assets and companies and assets that may be affected by the Eurozone economy. Ongoing concerns regarding the sovereign debt of various Eurozone countries, including the potential for investors to incur substantial write-downs, reductions in the face value of sovereign debt and/or sovereign defaults, as well as the possibility that one or more countries might leave the European Union (“EU”) or the Eurozone create risks that could materially and adversely affect the Fund Investments. Sovereign debt defaults and EU and/or Eurozone exits could have material adverse effects on the Fund’s investments in European companies and assets, including, but not limited to, the availability of credit to support such companies’ financing needs, uncertainty and disruption in relation to financing, increased currency risk in relation to contracts denominated in Euros and wider economic disruption in markets served by those companies, while austerity and/or other measures introduced to limit or contain these issues may themselves lead to economic contraction and resulting adverse effects for the Fund. Legal uncertainty about the funding of Euro- denominated obligations following any breakup or exits from the Eurozone, particularly in the case of
-65-
investments in companies and assets in affected countries, could also have material adverse effects on the Fund.
Brexit Risk. In June of 2016, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) approved a referendum to leave the EU, commonly referred to as “Brexit,” which sparked depreciation in the value of the British pound and heightened risk of continued worldwide economic volatility. Pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, the UK gave notice in March 2017 of its withdrawal from the EU and commenced negotiations on the terms of withdrawal.
Following years of negotiations and multiple withdrawal deadline extensions, the UK withdrew from the EU on January 31, 2020. A transition period, which lasted through December 31, 2020, was used for the UK and EU to negotiate their future relationship. An agreement between the UK and the EU governing their future trade relationship became effective January 1, 2021. As a result of the UK’s exit from the EU, the Fund may be exposed to volatile trading markets and significant and unpredictable currency fluctuations, and potentially lower economic growth in the UK, Europe and globally. Securities issued by companies domiciled in the UK could be subject to changing regulatory and tax regimes. Banking and financial services companies that operate in the UK or EU could be disproportionately affected by Brexit. Further insecurity in EU membership or the abandonment of the euro could exacerbate market and currency volatility and negatively affect the Fund’s investments in securities of issuers located in the EU. The effects of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, are not clear but could be significant and far-reaching.
Limits of Risk Disclosure
The above discussions and the discussions in the SAI relating to various risks associated with the Fund, Fund Investments, and Shares are not, and are not intended to be, a complete enumeration or explanation of the risks involved in an investment in the Fund. Prospective investors should read this entire Prospectus, the SAI, and the Declaration of Trust and should consult with their own advisers before deciding whether to invest in the Fund. In addition, as the Fund’s investment program or market conditions change or develop over time, an investment in the Fund may be subject to risk factors not currently contemplated or described in this Prospectus.
In view of the risks noted above, the Fund should be considered a speculative investment and prospective investors should invest in the Fund only if they can sustain a complete loss of their investment.
No guarantee or representation is made that the investment program of the Fund or any Portfolio Fund will be successful, that the various Fund Investments selected will produce positive returns or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The Board of Trustees
The Board has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business operations of the Fund on behalf of the Shareholders. A majority of Trustees of the Board are and will be persons who are not “interested persons,” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”). To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and other applicable law, the Board may delegate any of its rights, powers and authority to, among others, the officers of the Fund, any committee of the Board, service providers or the Advisers. See “Board of Trustees and Officers” in the Fund’s SAI for the identities of the Trustees and executive officers of the Fund, brief biographical information regarding each of them, and other information regarding the election and membership of the Board.
-66-
Barings
Barings, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of MassMutual, serves as the investment adviser of the Fund and manages the day-to-day investments of the Fund. Its principal office located at 300 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202. Barings is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act.
MassMutual Commitment
MassMutual has committed to invest at least $100 million in the Fund. MassMutual will hold this investment at least until the earlier of three years following the Fund's commencement of its public offering and the time at which MassMutual's investment represents less than 10% of the Fund's net asset value.
BIIL
BIIL serves as subadviser for the Fund and, subject to the supervision of Barings, is authorized to conduct securities transactions on behalf of the Fund. BIIL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barings and its address is 20 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7BF, United Kingdom.
Portfolio Management Team
The personnel who currently are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:
Mina Pacheco Nazemi
Mina Pacheco Nazemi is the Head of the Barings Diversified Alternative Equity team and serves on both the Barings investment committee and the Barings valuation committee. She is also responsible for originating, underwriting and monitoring primary fund, direct/co-investments, and secondary fund opportunities for private equity and real assets. Mina has worked in the industry since 1998 with experience as a general partner and limited partner in private markets and focused on underwriting direct/co-investment opportunities. Prior to joining Barings in 2017, Mina held several leadership and investment positions including co-founder and partner at Aldea Capital Partners and partner and investment committee member at GCM Grosvenor Customized Fund Investment Group (formerly Credit Suisse CFIG).
Antonio Cruz
Antonio Cruz is part of the Barings Diversified Alternative Equity team and is responsible for portfolio management. Antonio has worked in the industry since 2008 and has experience investing in and managing private equity assets as a direct investor and as a limited partner. Prior to joining Barings in 2021, Antonio was a senior associate and founding member at Diverse Communities Impact Fund (DCIF), where he focused on underwriting impact investments and monitoring back office functions. Prior to DCIF, he was an associate at Energy Power Partners (EPP), executing direct private equity investments and acting as controller for several portfolio companies within the fund. Prior to EPP, Antonio was an investment analyst at the Credit Suisse Customized Fund Investment Group.
J.R. Keeve
J.R. Keeve is a member of the Barings Diversified Alternative Equity team and is responsible for the underwriting and monitoring of private equity funds and co-investments in North America. J.R. has worked in the industry since 2011. Prior to joining Barings in 2016, he was with Fidus Investment Advisors, where he focused on the analysis, structuring and documentation of direct mezzanine and private equity co-investments. Prior to Fidus, he worked in a mergers and acquisitions advisory role at Edgeview Partners (now Piper Jaffray).
-67-
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund.
Investment Management Agreement
Under the general oversight of the Board, Barings has been engaged to continuously furnish an investment program with respect to the Fund and to furnish such other services necessary to sponsor and manage the Fund that are not specifically delegated to other service providers of the Fund, including overseeing the work that is delegated to other service providers of the Fund. Barings compensates all Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of Barings’ organization and who render investment services to the Fund.
Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, Barings agrees to manage the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and determine what investments will be purchased, held, sold or exchanged by the Fund and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Fund will be held uninvested. Subject to applicable law, Barings, at its expense, may select and contract with one or more subadvisers for the Fund with respect to all or a portion of the Fund’s assets. Barings bears its own operating and overhead expenses attributable to its duties under the Investment Management Agreement (such as salaries, bonuses, rent, office and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, and auditing expenses). The Fund bears all other costs of its operations, including, without limitation, the expenses set forth in “Fund Expenses” below.
Barings contracts with BIIL to help manage the Fund. Subject to the oversight of the Board, Barings has the ultimate responsibility to oversee any subadviser of the Fund and to recommend the hiring, termination, and replacement of any subadviser of the Fund. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, analysis and review of subadviser performance, as well as assistance in the identification and vetting of new or replacement subadvisers. In addition, Barings maintains responsibility for a number of other important obligations, including, among other things, board reporting, assistance in the annual advisory contract renewal process, and, in general, the performance of all obligations not delegated to a subadviser. Barings also provides advice and recommendations to the Board, and performs such review and oversight functions as the Board may reasonably request, as to the continuing appropriateness of the investment objective, strategies, and policies of the Fund, valuations of portfolio securities, and other matters relating generally to the investment program of the Fund.
A discussion regarding the considerations of the Fund’s Board for approving the Investment Management Agreement with the Fund’s previous investment adviser is included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. A discussion regarding the considerations of the Fund’s Board for approving the Investment Management Agreement with Barings will be included in the Fund’s next annual or semiannual report to shareholders.
The Fund has agreed to pay Barings as compensation under the Investment Management Agreement a management fee, paid quarterly in arrears, at the annual rate of 1.25% of the net assets of the Fund as of the end of each quarter, determined before giving effect to the payment of the management fee being calculated or to any purchases or repurchases of Shares or any distributions by the Fund. The Management Fee is paid to Barings out of the Fund’s assets and decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. To the extent Barings receives advisory fees from a Subsidiary, Barings will not receive compensation from the Fund in respect of the assets of the Fund that are invested in such Subsidiary.
A portion of the Management Fee may be paid to brokers or dealers that assist in the distribution of Shares.
With respect to the Fund, Barings has agreed to pay BIIL as compensation under the Subadvisory Agreement a fee in an amount equal to 10% of the Management Fee received by Barings. To the extent
-68-
BIIL receives subadvisory fees with respect to a Subsidiary, BIIL will not receive compensation from Barings in respect of the assets of the Fund that are invested in such Subsidiary.
The Fund continuously offers the Shares at their NAV per Share through the Distributor, the principal underwriter and distributor of the Shares. The Fund has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Distributor. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor serves on a best efforts basis, subject to various conditions. It is not expected that the Distributor will purchase any Shares, nor does it intend to make a market in the Shares. Investors purchasing Class 2 Shares, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares may be charged a sales load of up to 1.50%, 3.50% or 5.50%, respectively, of the investment amount. A Selling Agent may, in its discretion, waive all or a portion of the sales load for certain investors.
Under the Fund’s Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is also responsible for entering into agreements with Selling Agents to assist in the distribution of the Shares, reviewing the Fund’s proposed advertising materials and sales literature and making certain filings with regulators.
Under the Fund’s Distribution Agreement with the Distributor, the Fund agrees to indemnify the Distributor and its control persons against certain liabilities including those that may arise under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act arising out of: (i) any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fund's registration statement or arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of material facts or omission of material facts required to be stated or necessary to make the Fund's registration statement not misleading or (ii) any Fund advertisement or sales literature that does not comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations (including those of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).
The Distributor may engage one or more Selling Agents to participate in the distribution of Shares. Selling Agents may charge a separate fee for their service in conjunction with an investment in the Fund and/or maintenance of investor accounts. Such a fee is not a sales load imposed by the Fund or the Distributor and will be in addition to the fees charged or paid by the Fund. The payment of these fees and the effect of these fees on the performance of a shareholder’s investment in Shares will not be reflected in the performance returns of Shares.
Selling Agents may also impose terms and conditions on investor accounts and investments in the Fund that are in addition to the terms and conditions described in this Prospectus and are not imposed by the Fund, the Distributor or any other Fund service providers. These terms and conditions may affect or limit a prospective or current shareholder’s ability to purchase Shares, a current shareholder’s ability to tender Shares to the Fund for repurchase or to otherwise transact business with the Fund. Services provided by Selling Agents may vary. Shareholders investing in Shares through a Selling Agent should consult with the Selling Agent regarding the terms and conditions related to accounts held at the Selling Agent, services provided to such accounts and related service fees as well as operational limitations of the Selling Agent.
Shareholder Servicing Plan and Distribution and Services Plan
Shareholder Servicing Plan
The Fund intends to operate under a Shareholder Servicing Plan with respect to Class 2 Shares. The Shareholder Servicing Plan will allow the Fund to pay shareholder servicing fees in respect of Shareholders holding Class 2 Shares. Under the Shareholder Servicing Plan, the Fund will be permitted to pay as compensation to qualified recipients up to a rate of 0.25% on an annualized basis of the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to Class 2 Shares (the “Shareholder Servicing Fee”). Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges.
-69-
Distribution and Services Plan
The Fund has obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to operate under a distribution and services plan with respect to Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Distribution and Services Plan will allow the Fund to pay distribution and service (12b-1) fees for the sale and servicing of its Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares. Under the Distribution and Services Plan, the Fund will be permitted to pay as compensation to the Fund’s Distributor and/or other qualified recipients up to a rate of 0.75% on an annualized basis of the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares (each, a “Distribution and Service Fee”). Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges.
Administrative and Shareholder Services
The Administrator provides certain administrative, accounting, and compliance services to the Fund pursuant to an Administrative and Shareholder Services Agreement between the Fund and the Administrator. For its services, the Fund pays the Administrator a fee equal to 0.00%.
State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custodian”) serves as the primary custodian of the assets of the Fund and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. sub-custodians (which may be banks and trust companies), securities depositories and clearing agencies in accordance with the requirements of Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Advisers or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of the Custodian or U.S. or non-U.S. sub-custodians in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian. The Custodian’s principal business address is 1 Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. State Street Bank and Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") is also the Fund's transfer agent. As Custodian and Transfer Agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company does not assist in, and is not responsible for, the investment decisions and policies of the fund.
Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund will bear all expenses and costs incurred in the conduct of the Fund’s business, including, without limitation, the following:
· | all of the legal and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the organization of the Fund and the offering of its shares; |
· | ordinary administrative and operating expenses, including the Management Fee and all expenses associated with the pricing of Fund assets; |
· | risk management expenses; |
· | ordinary and recurring investment expenses, including all fees and expenses directly related to portfolio transactions and positions for the Fund’s account (including brokerage, clearing, settlement, and transfer costs), custodial costs, and interest charges; |
· | professional fees (including, without limitation, expenses of consultants, experts, and specialists); |
· | fees and expenses in connection with repurchase offers and any repurchases of Fund shares of beneficial interest; |
· | office space, office supplies, facilities and equipment for the Fund; |
· | executive and other personnel for managing the affairs of the Fund, other than for the provision of portfolio management services provided by the Advisers; |
-70-
· | any of the costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; |
· | compensation of trustees of the Fund who are not directors, officers or employees of the Advisers or of any affiliated person (other than a registered investment company) of the Advisers; |
· | registration, filing and other fees in connection with requirements of regulatory authorities; |
· | the charges and expenses of any entity appointed by the Fund for custodial, paying agent, shareholder servicing and plan agent services; |
· | charges and expenses of independent accountants retained by the Fund; |
· | charges and expenses of any transfer agents and registrars appointed by the Fund; |
· | brokers’ commissions and issue and transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with securities transactions to which the Fund is a party; |
· | taxes and fees payable by the Fund to federal, state or other governmental agencies; |
· | any cost of certificates representing shares of the Fund; |
· | legal fees and expenses in connection with the affairs of the Fund, including registering and qualifying its shares with federal and state regulatory authorities; |
· | expenses of meetings of shareholders and trustees of the Fund; |
· | interest, including interest on borrowings by the Fund; |
· | the costs of services, including services of counsel and any of the costs of printing and mailing, required in connection with the preparation of the Fund’s registration statements and prospectuses, including amendments and revisions thereto, annual, semiannual and other periodic reports of the Fund, and notices and proxy solicitation material furnished to shareholders of the Fund or regulatory authorities; |
· | the Fund’s expenses of bookkeeping, accounting, auditing and financial reporting, including related clerical expenses; |
· | all filing costs, fees, and any other expenses which are directly related to the investment of the Fund’s assets; |
· | fees and expenses incurred in connection with any credit facilities obtained by the Fund; and |
· | any extraordinary expenses, including any litigation expenses. |
The Portfolio Funds will bear various fees and expenses in connection with their operations. These fees and expenses are similar to those incurred by the Fund. In addition, the Portfolio Funds will pay asset-based fees to their managers and generally may pay performance-based fees or allocations to their managers, which effectively reduce the investment returns of the Portfolio Funds. These expenses, fees, and allocations are in addition to those incurred by the Fund directly. As an investor in the Portfolio Funds, the Fund will bear a portion of the expenses and fees of the Portfolio Funds. Such indirect fees and expenses are borne by the Fund.
Each of Barings and BIIL will bear all of its own routine overhead expenses, including rent, utilities, salaries, office equipment and communications expenses. In addition, Barings is responsible for the payment of the compensation and expenses of those members of the Board and officers of the Fund affiliated with Barings, and making available, without expense to the Fund, the services of such individuals, subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations imposed by law.
The Fund’s fees and expenses will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund.
Expense Limitation Agreement
Barings has entered into an expense limitation and reimbursement agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby Barings has agreed to reduce the Management Fee payable to it (but not below zero), and to pay any operating expenses of the Fund (including organizational and offering expenses), to the extent necessary to limit the operating expenses of the Fund, excluding certain “Excluded Expenses” listed below, to the annual rate (as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the applicable class of Shares of the Fund) of 2.50%, 2.75%, 3.25% and 3.25% with respect to Class 1 Shares, Class 2
-71-
Shares, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares, respectively (the “Expense Cap”). Excluded Expenses that are not covered by the Expense Cap include: extraordinary legal and other expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, interest expense, expenses related to borrowings, securities lending, leverage, taxes, and brokerage, short sale dividend and loan expense, or other non-recurring or unusual expenses such as shareholder meeting expenses.
If Barings waives its Management Fee or pays any operating expenses of the Fund pursuant to the Expense Cap, Barings may, for a period ending three years after the end of the month in which such fees or expenses are waived or incurred, recoup amounts waived or incurred to the extent such recoupment does not cause the Fund's operating expense ratio (after recoupment and excluding the Excluded Expenses) to exceed the lesser of (a) the expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver, and (b) the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment.
The Expense Limitation Agreement will continue in effect through January 7, 2024 and can only be terminated by mutual consent of the Board on behalf of the Fund and Barings.
The Fund bears directly certain ongoing offering costs associated with any periodic offers of Shares, which will be expensed as they are incurred. Offering costs cannot be deducted by the Fund or the Shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
MML Investment Advisers, LLC, the Fund’s previous investment adviser, and/or its affiliates have voluntarily borne the Fund's organizational and initial offering expenses. These expenses are not subject to recoupment.
The Fund may be subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, including, but not limited to, those set forth in further detail below.
The Advisers may from time to time engage in financial advisory activities that are independent from, and may conflict with, those of the Fund. In the future, there might arise instances where the interests of the Advisers conflict with the interests of the Fund. The Advisers may from time to time provide services to, invest in, advise, sponsor and/or act as investment manager to investment vehicles and other persons or entities (including prospective investors in the Fund), which may have structures, investment objectives and/or policies that are similar to (or different than) those of the Fund, and which may compete with the Fund for investment opportunities. In addition, the Advisers and their respective clients and affiliates may from time to time invest in securities that would be appropriate for the Fund or the Portfolio Funds and may compete with the Portfolio Funds for investment opportunities. In addition, Barings has obtained an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Fund to invest alongside affiliates of the Advisers, including certain private funds managed by any Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions. By acquiring Shares of the Fund, each Shareholder will be deemed to have acknowledged the existence of any such actual and potential conflicts of interest and to have waived any claim with respect to any liability arising from the existence of any such conflict of interest, except as may otherwise be provided under the provisions of applicable state law or Federal securities law which cannot be waived or modified.
Although the Advisers will seek to allocate investment opportunities among the Fund and its other clients in a fair and reasonable manner, there can be no assurance that an investment opportunity which comes to the attention of the Advisers will be appropriate for the Fund or will be referred to the Fund. The Advisers are not obligated to refer any investment opportunity to the Fund.
The directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees of the Advisers may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, investments may be made by directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees that are the same, different from or made at different times than investments made for the Fund. To reduce the possibility that the Fund will be materially adversely affected by the personal
-72-
trading described above, each of the Fund and the Advisers have adopted codes of ethics (collectively, the “Codes of Ethics”) in compliance with Section 17(j) of the 1940 Act that restricts securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the portfolio transactions of the Fund. The Codes of Ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by email at publicinfo@sec.gov.
Allocation of the Advisers’ Time
The Fund substantially relies on the Advisers to manage the day-to-day activities of the Fund and on Barings to implement the Fund’s investment strategy. The Advisers also are involved with activities that are unrelated to the Fund. For example, the Advisers also provide advice to other investment funds and clients and are not restricted from entering into other investment advisory relationships or from engaging in other business activities, even though such activities may be in competition with the Fund and/or may involve substantial time and resources of the Advisers. These activities could be viewed as creating a conflict of interest in that the time and effort of the Advisers and their officers and employees will not be devoted exclusively to the Fund’s business but will be allocated between the Fund and the management of the assets of other clients of the Advisers. The Advisers and their employees will devote only as much of their time to the Fund’s business as the Advisers and their employees, in their judgment, determine is reasonably required, which may be substantially less than their full time. Therefore, the Advisers and their employees may experience conflicts of interest in allocating management time, services and functions among the Fund and any other business ventures in which they or any of their key personnel, as applicable, are or may become involved. This could result in actions that are more favorable to other entities than to the Fund.
Nevertheless, the Fund believes that the members of the Advisers’ senior management and the other key professionals, as well as the members of Barings’ portfolio management team, have sufficient time to fully discharge their responsibilities to the Fund and to the other businesses in which they are involved. The Fund believes that its officers will devote the time required to manage the business and expect that the amount of time a particular officer devotes to the Fund will vary during the course of the year and depend on the Fund’s business activities at the given time.
Compensation Arrangements
The Advisers will receive fees in return for their services, and these fees could influence the advice provided by the Advisers. Among other matters, the compensation arrangements could affect the Advisers’ judgment with respect to offerings of equity by the Fund, which allow the Advisers to earn increased Management Fees and/or Subadvisory Fees.
Investments in the Fund by the Adviser
The Adviser or its affiliates purchase Shares from time to time, and may hold a material position in the Fund. The Adviser or its affiliates face conflicting interests in determining whether, when and in what amount to tender Shares for repurchase in connection with periodic repurchase offers by the Fund. If the Adviser or its affiliate tenders a significant number of Shares in connection with a periodic repurchase offer, this could cause the repurchase offer to be oversubscribed and shareholders participating in the repurchase offer (including the Adviser or its affiliates) would only be able to have a portion of their Shares repurchased. In such a case, the Adviser or its affiliates would be subject to the resulting proration of tendered amounts on a pari passu basis with all other tendering investors. Other possible risks associated with the Fund's repurchase offers are described under “Risk Factors – Repurchase Offers Risk” and “General Risks – Repurchase Offers Risk” in the Prospectus.
The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income. In addition, the Fund intends to distribute current income through quarterly distributions. From time to time,
-73-
the Fund may also pay special interim distributions in the form of cash or Shares at the discretion of the Board. A Shareholder’s dividends and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested if the Shareholder does not instruct the Administrator otherwise. A Shareholder who elects not to reinvest will receive both dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund may limit the extent to which any distributions that are returns of capital may be reinvested in the Fund.
Any distributions reinvested will nevertheless remain subject to U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) taxation to Shareholders. The Fund may finance its cash distributions to Shareholders from any sources of funds available to the Fund, including offering proceeds, borrowings, net investment income from operations, capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets (including Fund Investments), non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets (including Fund Investments), dividends or other distributions paid to the Fund on account of preferred and common equity investments by the Fund in Portfolio Funds and expense reimbursements from Barings. The Fund has not established limits on the amount of funds the Fund may use from available sources to make distributions.
Each year a statement on IRS Form 1099-DIV (or successor form) identifying the character (e.g., as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or long-term capital gain) of the distributions will be mailed to Shareholders. The Fund’s distributions may exceed the Fund’s earnings, especially during the period before the Fund has substantially invested the proceeds from this offering. As a result, a portion of the distributions the Fund makes may represent a return of capital for U.S. federal tax purposes. A return of capital generally is a return of a Shareholder’s investment rather than a return of earnings or gains derived from the Fund’s investment activities and will be made after deduction of the fees and expenses payable in connection with the offering, including any fees payable to Barings. See “Certain Tax Considerations.” There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to pay distributions at a specific rate or at all.
The Fund intends to elect to be treated, and intends each year to qualify as a RIC under the Code. To qualify for and maintain RIC tax treatment, the Fund must, among other things, distribute at least 90% of its net taxable ordinary income and the excess of its net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any. A RIC may satisfy the 90% distribution requirement by distributing dividends (other than capital gain dividends) during its taxable year (including dividends declared in October, November or December of a taxable year that, if paid in the following January, are treated as paid by the RIC and received by its Shareholders on December 31 of the preceding year). In addition, a RIC may, in certain cases, satisfy the 90% distribution requirement by distributing dividends relating to a taxable year after the close of such taxable year under the “spillback dividend” provisions of the Code. If a RIC makes a spillback dividend the amounts will be included in IRS Form 1099-DIV provided to Shareholders for the year the spillover distribution is paid.
The Fund can offer no assurance that it will achieve results that will permit the Fund to pay any cash distributions. If the Fund issues senior securities, the Fund will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes the Fund to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of the Fund’s borrowings. See “Certain Tax Considerations.”
Unless a Shareholder is ineligible or otherwise elects, all distributions of dividends (including capital gain dividends) with respect to a class of Shares will be automatically reinvested by the Fund in additional Shares of the corresponding class, which will be issued at the NAV per Share determined as of the ex-dividend date. Election not to reinvest dividends and to instead receive all dividends and capital gain distributions in cash may be made by contacting the Administrator at 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202.
As of June 30, 2022, the following number of Shares of the Fund was authorized for registration and outstanding:
-74-
(1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
Title of Class | Amount Authorized | Amount Held by the Fund for its Account | Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Amount Shown Under (3) |
Shares of Beneficial Interest | Unlimited | 0 | $103,407,582 |
Repurchases of Shares and Transfers
No Right of Redemption
No Shareholder or other person holding Shares acquired from a Shareholder has the right to require the Fund to redeem any Shares. No public market for Shares currently exists. As a result, Shareholders may not be able to liquidate their investment other than through repurchases of Shares by the Fund, as described below.
Periodic Repurchases
The Fund intends to provide liquidity to Shareholders by offering to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders by Shareholders. Repurchases will be made at such times, in such amounts and on such terms as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. With respect to any repurchase offer, Shareholders tendering Shares for repurchase must do so by a date specified in the notice describing the terms of the repurchase offer, which will generally be approximately 75 days prior to the date that the Shares to be repurchased are valued by the Fund. Shareholders that elect to tender their Shares in the Fund will not know the price at which such Shares will be repurchased until the Fund’s NAV as of the Valuation Date is able to be determined.
In determining whether the Fund should offer to repurchase Shares, the Board may consider the recommendation of Barings as to the timing of such an offer, as well as a variety of operational, business, and economic factors. Barings expects that, generally, it will recommend to the Board that the Fund offer to repurchase Shares from Shareholders on a quarterly basis and that each repurchase offer made during the calendar quarters (i.e., quarters ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31) should apply to no more than 5% of the net assets of the Fund, although any particular recommendation may exceed such percentage. In providing its recommendation to the Board, Barings anticipates seeking input from Barings regarding the portfolio management-related factors noted below.
In determining whether to accept a recommendation to conduct a repurchase offer at any such time, the Board may consider the following factors, among others:
· | whether any Shareholders have requested to tender Shares to the Fund; |
· | the liquidity of the Fund’s assets (including fees and costs associated with disposing of the Fund’s interests in underlying Portfolio Funds); |
· | the investment plans and working capital and reserve requirements of the Fund; |
· | the relative economies of scale of the tenders with respect to the size of the Fund; |
· | the history of the Fund in repurchasing Shares, including the results of prior repurchase offers; |
· | the availability of information as to the value of the Fund’s investments in underlying Portfolio Funds; |
-75-
· | the existing conditions of the securities markets and the economy generally, as well as political, national or international developments or current affairs; | |
· | any anticipated tax consequences to the Fund of any proposed repurchases of Shares; and | |
· | the recommendation of Barings. |
The Fund will repurchase Shares from Shareholders pursuant to written tenders on terms and conditions that the Board determines to be fair to the Fund and to all Shareholders. When the Board determines that the Fund will repurchase Shares, notice will be provided to Shareholders describing the terms of the offer, containing information Shareholders should consider in deciding whether to participate in the repurchase opportunity, and containing information on how to participate. Shareholders deciding whether to tender their Shares during the period that a repurchase offer is open may obtain the applicable Class’s then most recent NAV per Share by contacting Barings during the period.
If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed by Shareholders who tender Shares, the Fund may extend the repurchase offer, repurchase a pro rata portion of the Shares tendered, or take any other action permitted by applicable law. In addition, the Fund may repurchase Shares of Shareholders if, among other reasons, the Fund determines that such repurchase would be in the interests of the Fund.
Repurchases will be effective after receipt and acceptance by the Fund of eligible written tenders of Shares from Shareholders by the applicable repurchase offer deadline. The Fund currently intends, under normal market conditions, to provide payment with respect to 95% of the tender offer proceeds within 65 days of the expiration of the tender offer, and may hold back 5% of the tender offer proceeds until after the Fund's year-end audit.
As described above under “Summary—Repurchase of Shares by the Fund,” repurchase of Shares may be subject to an Early Repurchase Fee.
In the event that the Advisers or any of their affiliates holds Shares in the Fund in the capacity of a Shareholder, the Shares or Interests may be tendered for repurchase in connection with any repurchase offer made by the Fund.
Procedures for Repurchase of Shares
The Fund expects that payment upon a repurchase of Shares will be made in the form of cash or a debt obligation, which may or may not be certificated, and which would entitle the applicable Shareholder to payment in satisfaction of the repurchase of Shares. If the debt obligation is certificated, unless otherwise instructed by the applicable Shareholder, the Fund will deliver the certificate to the Fund’s Transfer Agent to be held on behalf of the applicable Shareholder until such time as the Fund distributes payment in satisfaction of the repurchase of Shares, at which point the certificate will be cancelled. The Fund does not generally expect to distribute securities (other than the debt obligation) as payment for repurchased Shares except in unusual circumstances, including if making a cash payment would result in a material adverse effect on the Fund or the Shareholders, or if the Fund has received distributions from Portfolio Funds in the form of securities that are transferable to the Fund’s Shareholders. Securities which are distributed in-kind in connection with a repurchase of Shares may be illiquid. Any in-kind distribution of securities will be valued in accordance with the Fund Valuation Procedures and will be distributed to all tendering Shareholders on a proportional basis. See “Calculation Of Net Asset Value.”
In light of liquidity constraints associated with many of the Fund Investments and the fact that the Fund may have to liquidate interests in such investments in order to fund the repurchase of Shares and due to other considerations applicable to the Fund, the Fund intends to follow the procedures described below in connection with a repurchase of Shares:
· | Barings anticipates that, generally, Barings will recommend to the Board that the Fund offer to repurchase Shares from Shareholders on a quarterly basis, with such tender valuation dates to occur as of each March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 (each, a “Tender Valuation |
-76-
Date”). Tenders will be revocable upon written notice to the Fund prior to the expiration date of the offer Tender Valuation Date (the “Expiration Date”). The value of Shares being repurchased will be determined as of the Tender Valuation Date. The Fund currently intends, under normal market conditions, to provide payment with respect to 95% of the tender offer proceeds within 65 days of the closing of the tender offer, and may hold back 5% of the tender offer proceeds until after the Fund's year-end audit. The Fund will give to each Shareholder whose Shares have been accepted for repurchase cash or issue to such Shareholder a debt obligation, in each case, entitling the Shareholder to be paid an amount equal to the value, determined as of the Tender Valuation Date, of the repurchased Shares, subject to any post-audit adjustments if the Board determines that a holdback is necessary. As described above, any certificated debt obligation will be held by the Transfer Agent on behalf a tendering Shareholder.
· | If the Fund issues a debt obligation, which may or may not be certificated, the debt obligation will be non-interest bearing and non-transferable and is expected to contain terms providing payment on or before the 65th day after the closing of the tender offer (the “Payment”), subject to any post-audit adjustments if the Board determines that a holdback is necessary, and the Payment may be postponed until 10 business days after the Fund has received the aggregate amount so requested to be repurchased by the Fund. The repurchase of Shares is subject to regulatory requirements imposed by the SEC. The Fund’s repurchase procedures are intended to comply with such requirements. However, in the event that the Board determines that modification of the repurchase procedures described above is required, appropriate or desired, the Board will adopt revised repurchase procedures as necessary to ensure the Fund’s compliance with applicable regulations or as the Board in its sole discretion deems appropriate or desirable in accordance with federal securities regulations. Following the commencement of an offer to repurchase Shares, the Fund may suspend, postpone or terminate such offer in certain circumstances upon the determination of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, that such suspension, postponement or termination is advisable for the Fund and its Shareholders, including, without limitation, circumstances as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of its investments or to determine its NAV, and other unusual circumstances. |
As described above, in certain circumstances the Board may determine not to conduct a repurchase offer, or to conduct a repurchase offer of less than 5% of the Fund’s net assets. In particular, during periods of financial market stress, the Board may determine that some or all of the Fund’s investments cannot be liquidated at their fair value, making a determination not to conduct repurchase offers more likely. In addition, under certain circumstances, the Board may determine to conduct a repurchase offer of more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed, or if the Fund does not conduct a repurchase offer in any particular quarter, Shareholders will have to wait until the next repurchase offer to make another repurchase request. As a result, Shareholders may be unable to liquidate all or a given percentage of their investment in the Fund during a particular quarter or over a period of multiple quarters.
The Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio holdings earlier than Barings would have desired in order to meet the repurchase requests. Such necessary liquidations may potentially result in losses to the Fund, and may increase the Fund’s investment related expenses as a result of higher portfolio turnover rates. Barings intend to take measures, subject to policies as may be established by the Board, to attempt to avoid or minimize potential losses and expenses resulting from the repurchase of Shares. If the Fund borrows to finance repurchases, interest on that borrowing will negatively affect Shareholders who do not tender their Shares in a repurchase offer by increasing the Fund’s expenses and reducing any net investment income.
A Shareholder tendering for repurchase only a portion of its Shares must maintain an investment balance of at least $10,000 after the repurchase is effected. If a Shareholder tenders an amount that would cause the Shareholder’s investment balance to fall below the required minimum, the Fund reserves the right to repurchase all of the Shareholder’s Shares in the Fund.
-77-
Mandatory Redemption by the Fund
The Fund may repurchase all or any portion of the Shares of a Shareholder without consent or other action by the Shareholder or other person if the Fund determines that:
· | the Shares have been transferred or have vested in any person by operation of law (i.e., the result of the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, adjudicated incompetence, or dissolution of the Shareholder); |
· | any transferee does not meet any investor eligibility requirements established by the Fund from time to time, including the Fund’s minimum account balance requirement; |
· | ownership of Shares by a Shareholder or other person is likely to cause the Fund to be in violation of, or subject the Fund to additional registration or regulation under, the securities, commodities, or other laws of the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction; |
· | continued ownership of Shares by a Shareholder may be harmful or injurious to the business or reputation of the Fund or the Advisers, or may subject the Fund or any Shareholder to an undue risk of adverse tax or other fiscal or regulatory consequences; |
· | any of the representations and warranties made by a Shareholder or other person in connection with the acquisition of Shares was not true when made or has ceased to be true; |
· | with respect to a Shareholder subject to special laws or regulations, the Shareholder is likely to be subject to additional regulatory or compliance requirements under these special laws or regulations by virtue of continuing to hold any Shares; |
· | the investment balance of the Shareholder falls below $10,000; or |
· | it would be in the best interest of the Fund, as determined by the Board, for the Fund to repurchase the Shares. |
Dividend Reinvestment
Unless a Shareholder is ineligible or otherwise elects, all distributions of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends (as defined below)) with respect to a Class of Shares will be automatically reinvested by the Fund in additional full and fractional Shares of that Class, which will be issued at their NAV on the ex-dividend date. Election not to reinvest dividends and to instead receive all dividends and capital gain distributions in cash may be made by indicating that choice in the Subscription Booklet or by contacting the Administrator at 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Transfers of Shares
Shares may be transferred only (i) by operation of law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, adjudicated incompetence or dissolution of a Shareholder or (ii) with the written consent of the Board or Barings, which may be withheld in each of its sole and absolute discretion and is expected to be granted, if at all, only in limited circumstances. Due to the administrative burdens associated with Share transfers, the Fund expects to deny most, if not all transfer requests (other than transfers by operation of law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, adjudicated incompetence or dissolution of a Shareholder, although the Fund may cause any such transferred Shares to be mandatorily repurchased). Notice to the Fund of any proposed transfer must include evidence satisfactory to the Fund that the proposed transferee meets any requirements imposed by the Fund with respect to Shareholder eligibility and suitability and must be accompanied by a properly completed Subscription Booklet.
Each Shareholder and transferee is required to pay all expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Fund in connection with such transfer. If such a transferee does not meet the Shareholder eligibility requirements, the Fund reserves the right to repurchase the Shares transferred.
By purchasing Shares of the Fund, each Shareholder has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Advisers, the Directors, the officers of the Fund, each other Shareholder, and any affiliate of the foregoing against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including legal or other expenses incurred in investigating or defending against any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs
-78-
and expenses and any judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, joint or several, to which such persons may become subject by reason of or arising from any transfer made by such Shareholder in violation of these provisions or any misrepresentation made by such Shareholder in connection with any such transfer.
Calculation of Net Asset Value; Valuation
The NAV of each Class of the Fund will be calculated as of the close of business on the last business day of each calendar month, as of the date of any distribution, and at such other times as the Board shall determine (each, a “Determination Date”). In determining its NAV, each Class of the Fund will value its investments as of the relevant Determination Date. The NAV of each Class of the Fund will equal the assets of the Class, less the liabilities attributable to the Class, including accrued fees and expenses, each determined as of the relevant Determination Date. Because of the differences in distribution and service fees and Class-specific expenses, the per Share NAV of each Class will differ.
The Fund Valuation Procedures provide that, absent a market price, the Fund will estimate the value of its investments in Portfolio Funds, Co-Investments and other private equity investments according to fair value standards. The fair value of such investments as of each Determination Date ordinarily will be based on general private equity valuation principals in light of the nature, facts and circumstances of the relevant investments, such as the value estimated from a hypothetical sale of the applicable Private Equity Investment, including surplus assets or excess liabilities, the price paid for the investment, evaluations of market prices of assets the Advisers consider comparable to the investment (and any adjustments to the market prices that the Advisers consider appropriate), the discounted cash flow of the investment, and customary valuation standards applicable to Private Equity Investments.
The Board has designated Barings to serve as the valuation designee for the Fund pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. In its capacity as valuation designee, Barings, among other things, is responsible for establishing fair valuation methodologies and determining, in good faith, the fair value of all of the assets of the Fund for which there are no readily available market quotations in accordance with the Fund Valuation Procedures.
The valuation of the Fund’s interests in Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments is ordinarily determined monthly based in part on estimated valuations provided by Portfolio Fund managers, Co-Investments or Co-Investment sponsors and also on valuation recommendations provided by Barings. The valuations reported by the Portfolio Funds and the Co-Investments, based upon which the Fund determines its month-end NAV, may be subject to later adjustment or revision. For example, NAV calculations may be revised as a result of fiscal year-end audits. Other adjustments may occur from time to time. Because such adjustments or revisions, whether increasing or decreasing the NAV of the Fund, at the time they occur, relate to information available only at the time of the adjustment or revision, the adjustment or revision may not affect the amount of the repurchase proceeds of the Fund received by Investors who had their Shares repurchased prior to such adjustments and received their repurchase proceeds, subject to the ability of the Fund to adjust or recoup the repurchase proceeds received by Shareholders under certain circumstances as described in “Repurchases of Shares and Transfers.” The Fund believes such adjustment or recoupment may be appropriate in certain circumstances in light of liquidity constraints associated with many of the Fund Investments and the fact that the Fund may have to liquidate interests in such investments in order to fund the repurchase of Shares. As a result, to the extent that such subsequently adjusted valuations from the Portfolio Funds, the Co-Investments, the other direct private equity investments or the Fund adversely affect the Fund’s NAV, the outstanding Shares may be adversely affected by prior repurchases to the benefit of Shareholders who had their Shares repurchased at a NAV higher than the adjusted amount. Conversely, any increases in the NAV resulting from such subsequently adjusted valuations may be entirely for the benefit of the outstanding Shares and to the detriment of Shareholders who previously had their Shares repurchased at a NAV lower than the adjusted amount. The same principles apply to the purchase of Shares. New Shareholders may be affected in a similar way.
-79-
As discussed above, a meaningful input in the Fund’s valuation of Portfolio Funds will be the estimated valuations provided by Portfolio Fund managers to Barings. In reviewing and using as inputs the valuations provided by Portfolio Fund managers, Barings may recommend that the Valuation Committee adjust a Portfolio Fund manager’s periodic valuation of a Portfolio Fund, as appropriate. Any such decision will be made in good faith by the Board and also will be subject to the review and supervision of the Board. The Board will be responsible for ensuring that the Fund Valuation Procedures are fair to the Fund and consistent with applicable regulatory guidelines.
The valuation of the Fund’s interests in Co-Investments is ordinarily determined monthly based in part on information that is provided in quarterly financial statements and also on valuation recommendations provided by Barings to the Valuation Committee. Typical valuation methodologies utilized by Barings in valuing Co-Investments include, but are not limited to, public comparables, precedent transaction multiples, discounted cash flow analysis, liquidation value analysis and original acquisition cost basis, among others, to help determine fair value for portfolio companies.
Portfolio Fund managers, Co-Investments and Co-Investment sponsors may adopt a variety of valuation bases and provide differing levels of information concerning Portfolio Funds, Co-Investments and other direct private equity investments, and there will generally be no liquid markets for such investments. Consequently, there are inherent difficulties in determining the fair value that cannot be eliminated. The Fund generally will not be able to confirm with certainty the accuracy of valuations provided by a Portfolio Fund manager, a Co-Investment or a Co-Investment sponsor until the Fund receives the Portfolio Funds’ or the Co-Investments’ audited annual financial statements.
Equity securities that are actively traded on a national securities exchange or contract market are valued on the basis of information furnished by a pricing service, which provides the last reported sale price for securities listed on the exchange or contract market or the official closing price on the NASDAQ National Market System (“NASDAQ System”), or in the case of over-the-counter (“OTC”) securities for which an official closing price is unavailable or not reported on the NASDAQ System, the last reported bid price. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange are valued at the last price at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities. Debt securities are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service, which generally determines valuations taking into account factors such as institutional-size trading in similar securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. Shares of open-end mutual funds are valued at their closing NAVs as reported on each business day.
Investments for which market quotations are readily available are marked to market daily based on those quotations. Market quotations may be provided by third-party vendors or market makers, and may be determined on the basis of a variety of factors, such as broker quotations, financial modeling, and other market data, such as market indexes and yield curves, counterparty information, and foreign exchange rates. U.S. Government and agency securities may be valued on the basis of market quotations or using a model that may incorporate market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, quoted market prices, and reference data. The fair values of asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are estimated based on models that consider the estimated cash flows of each debt tranche of the issuer, established benchmark yield, and estimated tranche-specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche including, but not limited to, prepayment speed assumptions and attributes of the collateral. Restricted securities are generally valued at a discount to similar publicly traded securities.
Securities for which a pricing service or other approved source either does not supply a quotation, price, or market based valuation, or supplies a quotation, price, or market based valuation that is believed by the primary pricing service or the Advisers to be unreliable, will be valued according to procedures that align with fair value standards specified in the Valuation Procedures. In general, fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and will be used when there is no public market or possibly no market at all for the asset. The fair values of one or more assets may not be the prices at which those assets are ultimately sold and the differences may be significant.
-80-
The Advisers and their affiliates act as investment advisers to other clients that may invest in securities for which no public market price exists. Valuation determinations by the Advisers or their affiliates for other clients may result in different values than those ascribed to the same security owned by the Fund or its affiliates. Consequently, the fees charged to the Fund may be different than those charged to other clients, since the method of calculating the fees takes the value of all assets, including assets carried at different valuations, into consideration.
Expenses of the Fund, including the management fee, are accrued on a monthly basis on the Determination Date and taken into account for the purpose of determining the Fund’s NAV.
Prospective Investors should be aware that situations involving uncertainties as to the value of portfolio positions could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s NAV and the Fund if the judgments of the Advisers, or the Portfolio Fund managers regarding appropriate valuations should prove incorrect.
The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to the Fund and to an investment in Shares by a Shareholder. This summary does not discuss all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a particular investor, including, but not limited to, investors who hold Shares as part of a hedging, straddle, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction, or other investors that are subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws (e.g., investors subject to the alternative minimum tax, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities, pension plans and trusts, financial institutions, certain foreign investors and insurance companies). In addition, this summary does not specifically address the special tax consequences that may be applicable to persons who hold an interest in the Fund indirectly through partnerships, grantor trusts and other pass-through entities. This summary assumes that Shareholder hold Shares as capital assets.
THIS SUMMARY IS A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE FUND. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISER WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSAL OF SHARES, INCLUDING APPLICABLE TAX REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
This summary is based on the Code as in effect on the date of this Prospectus, the Treasury Regulations, rulings of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and court decisions in existence on the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The Fund has not sought a ruling from the IRS or any other federal, state or local agency, or opinion of counsel, with respect to any of the tax issues affecting the Fund. This summary does not discuss any aspects of the U.S. federal estate or gift tax or any state or local or non-U.S. tax.
Taxation of the Fund
The Fund intends to elect to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and intends each year to qualify and to be eligible to be treated as such. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs and their shareholders, the Fund must, among other things:
1. | derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from: |
a. | dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities, loans, gains from the sale of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies; and |
b. | net income from certain “qualified publicly traded partnerships,” (as defined in the Code) (the “Source of Income Test”); and |
2. | diversify its holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: |
a. | at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets consists of cash or cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities if such other securities of |
-81-
any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and
b. | not more than 25% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is invested including, through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities, other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs, of any one issuer, in the securities of two or more issuers that the Fund controls, as determined under the Code and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of certain “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in the Code) (the “Diversification Test”); and |
3. | distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt income, for such year (the “Distribution Test”). |
In general, for purposes of the Source of Income Test, described above, income derived from a partnership or other “pass through” entity will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership or other pass-through entity which would be qualifying income if realized directly by the RIC. In the event the Fund owns equity interests in operating businesses conducted in “pass-through” form (i.e., as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes), income from such equity interests may not be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the Source of Income Test and, as a result, the Fund may be required to hold such interests through a subsidiary corporation. In such a case, the income from such equity interests should not adversely affect the Fund’s ability to meet the Source of Income Test, although the income may be subject to U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates which the Fund would indirectly bear through its ownership of such subsidiary corporation.
If the Fund qualifies as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income distributed in a timely manner to Shareholders in the form of dividends (including capital gain dividends) that qualify for the dividends-paid deduction.
A nondeductible excise tax at the rate of 4% will be imposed on the excess, if any, of the Fund’s “required distribution” over its actual distributions in any calendar year. The “required distribution” is 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98.2% of its capital gain net income recognized during the one-year period ending on October 31 (or November 30 or December 31, if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects) plus undistributed amounts from prior years. For these purposes, ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property that would be properly taken into account after October 31 (or November 30, if the Fund makes the election referred to above) are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. The Fund intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. Distributions declared by the Fund during October, November, or December to Shareholders of record on a date in any such month and paid by the Fund during the following January will be treated for federal tax purposes as paid by the Fund and received by Shareholders on December 31 of the year in which declared.
The Fund is authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy distribution requirements. However, under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to make distributions to its Shareholders while its debt obligations and other senior securities are outstanding unless certain “asset coverage” tests are met. Moreover, the Fund’s ability to dispose of assets to meet the Fund’s distribution requirements may be limited by (i) the illiquid nature of the Fund’s portfolio and/or (ii) other requirements relating to the Fund’s qualification as a RIC, including the Diversification Test. If the Fund disposes of assets in order to meet the distribution requirements applicable to RICs, the Fund may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.
The Fund is permitted to invest up to 25% of its total assets in Corporate Subsidiaries. A RIC generally does not take into account income earned by a U.S. corporation in which it invests unless and until the corporation distributes such income to the RIC as a dividend. Where, as here, a Corporate Subsidiary is organized in the U.S., the Corporate Subsidiary will be liable for an entity-level U.S. federal income tax on its income from U.S. and non-U.S. sources, as well as any applicable state taxes, which will reduce the
-82-
Fund’s return on its investment in the Corporate Subsidiary. If a net loss is realized by the Corporate Subsidiary, such loss is not generally available to offset the income of the Fund.
Fund Investments – Partnership and other Pass-Through Investments
The Fund may invest up to substantially all its assets in Portfolio Funds that are classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
An entity that is properly classified as a partnership, rather than an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, is not itself subject to federal income tax. Instead, each partner of the partnership must take into account its distributive share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and credits (including all such items allocable to that partnership from investments in other partnerships) for each taxable year of the partnership ending with or within the partner’s taxable year, without regard to whether such partner has received or will receive corresponding cash distributions from the partnership. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to recognize items of taxable income and gain prior to the time that the Fund receives corresponding cash distributions from a Portfolio Fund. In such case, the Fund might have to borrow money or dispose of investments, including interests in Portfolio Funds, and the Fund might have to sell shares of the Fund, in each case including when it is disadvantageous to do so, in order to make the distributions required in order to maintain its status as a RIC and to avoid the imposition of a federal income or excise tax.
In addition, the character of a partner’s distributive share of items of partnership income, gain and loss generally will be determined as if the partner had realized such items directly. Portfolio Funds classified as partnerships for federal income tax purposes may generate income allocable to the Fund that is not qualifying income for purposes of the Source of Income Test. In order to meet the Source of Income Test, the Fund may structure its investments in a way potentially increasing the taxes imposed thereon or in respect thereof (including by making such investments through a Corporate Subsidiary). Because the Fund may not have timely or complete information concerning the amount and sources of such a Portfolio Fund’s income until such income has been earned by the Portfolio Fund or until a substantial amount of time thereafter, it may be difficult for the Fund to satisfy the Source of Income Test.
Furthermore, it may not always be entirely clear how the asset diversification rules for RIC qualification will apply to the Fund’s investments in Portfolio Funds that are classified as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. The Fund will engage the services of a third-party service provider to collect, aggregate and analyze data on the Fund’s direct and indirect investments in order to ensure that the Fund meets the Diversification Test. In the event that the Fund believes that it is possible that it will fail the asset diversification requirement at the end of any quarter of a taxable year, it may seek to take certain actions to avert such failure, including by acquiring additional investments to come into compliance with the Diversification Test or by disposing of non-diversified assets. Although the Code affords the Fund the opportunity, in certain circumstances, to cure a failure to meet the Diversification Test, including by disposing of non-diversified assets within six months, there may be constraints on the Fund’s ability to dispose of its interest in a Portfolio Fund that may limit utilization of this cure period.
As a result of the considerations described in the preceding paragraphs, the Fund’s intention to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a RIC can limit its ability to acquire or continue to hold positions in Portfolio Funds that would otherwise be consistent with their investment strategy or can require it to engage in transactions in which it would otherwise not engage, resulting in additional transaction costs and reducing the Fund’s return to Shareholders. In addition, as a result of such considerations (mainly that certain investments may be held through a corporation subject to U.S. federal and state income tax in order to meet the Source of Income Test), U.S. taxable shareholders may indirectly bear a greater amount of taxes as compared to if such Shareholders owned certain Portfolio Funds directly.
Unless otherwise indicated, references in this discussion to the Fund’s investments, activities, income, gain, and loss include the direct investments, activities, income, gain, and loss of the Fund, as well as those indirectly attributable to the Fund as a result of the Fund’s investment in any Portfolio Fund (or other entity)
-83-
that is properly classified as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and not an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation).
Fund Investments – Debt Obligations
Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may: (i) disallow, suspend, or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, including the dividends-received deduction, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the Source of Income Test described above. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may decide to make certain tax elections, may be required to borrow money, or may be required to dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC.
Investments the Fund makes in securities issued at a discount or providing for deferred interest or paid-in-kind interest are subject to special tax rules that may affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to the Fund’s Shareholders. For example, with respect to securities issued at a discount, the Fund will generally be required to accrue daily, as income, a portion of the discount and to distribute such income each year to maintain the Fund’s qualification as a RIC and to avoid U.S. federal income and excise tax. Accordingly, the Fund may have to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund, by raising additional debt or equity capital, or by dispositions of Fund investments, if necessary. The Fund may realize gains or losses from such dispositions, which may in turn increase the amount of taxable distributions received by Shareholders.
Fund Investments – Foreign Investments & Passive Foreign Investment Companies
In the event the Fund invests in foreign securities, the Fund may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes with respect to those securities. The Fund does not expect to satisfy the requirement to pass through to the Fund’s Shareholders their share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund.
The Fund may invest in one or more “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”). A PFIC is generally any foreign corporation: (i) 75 percent or more of the income of which for a taxable year in the Fund’s holding period is passive income, or (ii) the average percentage of the assets of which (generally by value, but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) that produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50 percent. Generally, passive income for this purpose means dividends, interest (including income equivalent to interest), royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains.
Investment by the Fund in PFICs could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax or other charge on distributions received from PFICs or on the proceeds from the sale of its investments in the PFICs. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may be able to make an election that would avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, the Fund may in certain cases elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund will be required to include in its income its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company. The Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in a PFIC “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in the PFIC on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are generally treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income by the Fund (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will
-84-
not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.” Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the Fund may incur the tax and other charges described above in some instances. In addition, in certain cases the Fund will not be the party legally permitted to make the QEF election or mark-to-market election in respect of PFICs held indirectly (including through Portfolio Funds), and in such cases will not have control or whether the QEF or mark-to-market election is made.
Taxation of U.S. Shareholders
A “U.S. Shareholder” generally is a beneficial owner of Shares which is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
· | a citizen or individual resident of the United States; |
· | a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia; |
· | a trust, if a court in the United States has primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all decisions of the trust, or the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person; or |
· | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
Distributions by the Fund generally are taxable to U.S. Shareholders as ordinary income or capital gains. Distributions of the Fund’s “investment company taxable income” (which is, generally, the Fund’s net ordinary income plus realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses) will be taxable as ordinary income to U.S. Shareholders to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Shares.
To the extent such distributions paid by the Fund to non-corporate U.S. Shareholders (including individuals) are attributable to dividends from U.S. corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, such “qualifying dividends” may be eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal income tax, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met. Distributions of the Fund’s net capital gains (which is generally the Fund’s realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses) properly designated by the Fund as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable to a U.S. Shareholder as long-term capital gains that are currently taxable at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% in the case of individuals, trusts or estates, regardless of the U.S. Shareholder’s holding period for its Shares and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Shares. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits first will reduce a U.S. Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in such Shareholder’s shares and, after the adjusted basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such U.S. Shareholder.
In the event that the Fund retains any net capital gains, the Fund may designate the retained amounts as undistributed capital gains in a notice to the Fund’s Shareholders. If a designation is made, Shareholders would include in income, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate share of the undistributed amounts, but would be allowed a credit or refund, as the case may be, for their proportionate share of the corporate U.S. federal income tax paid by the Fund. In addition, the tax basis of Shares owned by a U.S. Shareholder would be increased by an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount included in the U.S. Shareholder’s income as long-term capital gains and (ii) the U.S. Shareholder’s proportionate share of the corporate U.S. federal income tax paid by the Fund.
For purposes of determining (i) whether the Fund has satisfied the distribution requirement applicable to RICs for any year and (ii) the amount of distributions paid for that year, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a distribution that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If the Fund makes such an election, the U.S. Shareholder will still be treated as receiving the distribution in the taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, any distribution declared by the Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to Shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as if it had been paid by the Fund and received by the Fund’s U.S. Shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared.
-85-
Distributions are taxable as described herein whether Shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional Shares.
The Fund may on certain occasions conduct repurchase offers for a portion of its outstanding Shares. Shareholders who sell all Shares held, or considered to be held, by them pursuant to a repurchase offer will be treated as having sold their Shares and generally will realize a capital gain or loss, as discussed in the following paragraph. If a Shareholder sells fewer than all of its Shares pursuant to a repurchase offer, such Shareholder may be treated as having received a so-called “Section 301 distribution,” taxable in whole or in part as a dividend upon the sale of its Shares, unless the repurchase offer is treated as being either (i) “substantially disproportionate” with respect to such Shareholder or (ii) otherwise “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” under the relevant rules of the Code. A Section 301 distribution is not treated as a sale or exchange giving rise to capital gain or loss, but rather is treated as a dividend to the extent supported by the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, with the excess treated as a return of capital reducing the Shareholder’s tax basis in its Shares, and thereafter as capital gain. Where the Shareholder is treated as receiving a dividend, there is a risk that non-tendering Shareholders and Shareholders who sell some but not all of their Shares, in each case whose percentage interests in the Fund increase as a result of such repurchase offer, will be treated as having received a taxable dividend distribution from the Fund. The extent of such risk will vary depending upon the particular circumstances of the repurchase offer, and in particular whether such offer is a single and isolated event or is part of a plan for periodically repurchasing Shares of the Fund.
A U.S. Shareholder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss if the U.S. Shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of its Shares pursuant to a repurchase offer in a transaction that is treated as a sale or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The amount of gain or loss will be measured by the difference between such U.S. Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Shares sold and the amount of the proceeds received in exchange. Any gain arising from such sale or disposition generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Shareholder has held its Shares for more than one year. Otherwise, it will be classified as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any capital loss arising from the sale or disposition of Shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain dividends received, or undistributed capital gain deemed received, with respect to such Shares. In addition, all or a portion of any loss recognized upon a disposition of Shares may be disallowed if other Shares are purchased (whether through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition.
The Code requires the Fund to report U.S. Shareholders’ cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the IRS on IRS Form 1099s when “covered” securities are sold. For purposes of these reporting requirements, all of the Fund’s Shares acquired by non-tax-exempt Shareholders will be considered “covered” securities. You are encouraged to refer to the appropriate Treasury Regulations or consult your tax adviser with regard to your personal circumstances and any decisions you may make with respect to choosing a tax lot identification method with respect to your Shares.
The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax, or backup withholding, currently at a rate of 24%, from all distributions to any non-corporate U.S. Shareholder (i) who fails to furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number or a certificate that such Shareholder is exempt from backup withholding or (ii) with respect to whom the IRS notifies the Fund that such Shareholder has failed to properly report certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect. An individual’s taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. Any amount withheld under backup withholding is allowed as a credit against the U.S. Shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that proper information is provided to the IRS.
A U.S. Shareholder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will generally be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (i) the U.S. Shareholder’s “net investment income” for a taxable year and (ii) the excess of the U.S. Shareholder’s modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year over $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of joint filers and $125,000 in the case of married individuals filing a separate return). For these purposes, “net investment income” will generally include taxable distributions and deemed distributions paid with respect
-86-
to the Shares, and net gain attributable to the disposition Shares (in each case, unless such Shares are held in connection with certain trades or businesses), but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such distributions or net gain.
U.S. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares, including applicable tax reporting obligations.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Investors
Income of a RIC that would be unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity generally will not constitute UBTI when distributed to a tax-exempt Shareholder of the RIC. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt Shareholder of the Fund could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if Shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt Shareholder within the meaning of Section 514(b) of the Code.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders
Distributions by the Fund to Shareholders that are not “U.S. persons” within the meaning of the Code (“Foreign Shareholders”) properly reported by the Fund as (1) capital gain dividends, (2) short-term capital gain dividends, and (3) interest-related dividends, each as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, generally are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax.
In general, the Code defines (1) “short-term capital gain dividends” as distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses and (2) “interest-related dividends” as distributions from U.S. source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual Foreign Shareholder, in each case to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders. The exceptions to withholding for short-term capital gain dividends and capital gain dividends do not apply to (A) distributions to an individual Foreign Shareholder who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (B) distributions attributable to gain that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the Foreign Shareholder of a trade or business within the United States under special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests. The exception to withholding for “interest-related dividends” does not apply to distributions to a Foreign Shareholder (A) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (B) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the Foreign Shareholder is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (C) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (D) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the Foreign Shareholder and the Foreign Shareholder is a controlled foreign corporation. If the Fund invests in a RIC that pays capital gain dividends, short-term capital gain dividends, or interest-related dividends to the Fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Fund to Foreign Shareholders.
The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as interest-related and/or short-term capital gain dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports all or a portion of a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend to Shareholders. Foreign Shareholders should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts. Distributions by the Fund to Foreign Shareholders other than capital gain dividends, short-term capital gain dividends, and interest-related dividends (e.g., dividends attributable to dividend and foreign-source interest income or to short-term capital gains or U.S. source interest income to which the exception from withholding described above does not apply) will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits unless the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of a Non-U.S. Shareholder. If the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of a Non-U.S. Shareholder, and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States, the
-87-
distributions will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. Shareholders, and the Fund will not be required to withhold U.S. federal tax if the Foreign Shareholder complies with applicable certification and disclosure requirements. Special certification requirements apply to a Foreign Shareholder that is a foreign partnership or a foreign trust, and such entities are urged to consult their tax advisers.
In order to qualify for the aforementioned exemptions from withholding, a Foreign Shareholder must comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its Non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN (for individuals), IRS Form W-8BEN-E (for entities) or an acceptable substitute or successor form). In the case of Shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund designates the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. Shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.
Actual or deemed distributions of the Fund’s net capital gains to a Foreign. Shareholder, and gains realized by a Foreign Shareholder upon the sale or repurchase of Shares, will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the distributions or gains, as the case may be, are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Foreign Shareholder (and, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Foreign Shareholder in the United States) or, in the case of an individual, the Foreign Shareholder was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met.
If the Fund distributes its net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions, a Foreign Shareholder will be entitled to a U.S. federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the Foreign Shareholder’s allocable share of the corporate-level tax the Fund pays on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed; however, in order to obtain the refund, the Foreign Shareholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a U.S. federal income tax return even if the Foreign Shareholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a U.S. federal income tax return.
For corporate Foreign Shareholders, distributions (both cash and in Shares), and gains realized upon the sale or repurchase of Shares that are effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate if provided for by an applicable treaty).
A Foreign Shareholder who is a non-resident alien individual may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax on dividends unless the Foreign Shareholder provides the Fund or the Administrator with an IRS Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Foreign Shareholder or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.
Foreign Shareholders should consult their tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax, and state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in Shares, including applicable tax reporting requirements.
Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements
Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”), generally require the Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government. If a Shareholder fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, the Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that Shareholder on ordinary dividends it pays. The IRS and the Department of Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not apply to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or capital gain dividends the Fund pays. If a payment by the Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt
-88-
from withholding under the rules applicable to Foreign Shareholders described above (e.g., short-term capital gain dividends and interest related dividends).
Each prospective Shareholder is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
* * * * *
THE TAX AND OTHER MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS. EACH SHAREHOLDER SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISER AS TO THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF SHARES, INCLUDING APPLICABLE TAX REPORTING OBLIGATIONS.
Persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an employee benefit plan or other arrangement subject to ERISA (an “ERISA Plan”), and persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an IRA, Keogh plan or other plan which is not subject to ERISA but is subject to the prohibited transaction rules of Section 4975 of the Code (together with ERISA Plans, “Plans”) should consider, among other things, the matters described below before determining whether to invest in the Fund.
ERISA imposes certain general and specific responsibilities on persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an ERISA Plan, including prudence, diversification, an obligation not to engage in a prohibited transaction and other standards. In determining whether a particular investment is appropriate for an ERISA Plan, Department of Labor (“DOL”) regulations provide that a fiduciary of an ERISA Plan must give appropriate consideration to, among other things, the role that the investment plays in the ERISA Plan’s portfolio, taking into consideration whether the investment is designed reasonably to further the ERISA Plan’s purposes, an examination of the risk and return factors, the portfolio’s composition with regard to diversification, the liquidity and current return of the total portfolio relative to the anticipated cash flow needs of the ERISA Plan, the income tax consequences of the investment (see “Certain Tax Considerations— Taxation of Tax-Exempt Investors”) and the projected return of the total portfolio relative to the ERISA Plan’s funding objectives. Before investing the assets of an ERISA Plan in the Fund, a fiduciary should determine whether such an investment is consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities and the foregoing regulations. For example, a fiduciary should consider whether an investment in the Fund may be too illiquid or too speculative for a particular ERISA Plan, and whether the assets of the ERISA Plan would be sufficiently diversified. If a fiduciary with respect to any such ERISA Plan breaches its responsibilities with regard to selecting an investment or an investment course of action for such ERISA Plan, the fiduciary itself may be held liable for losses incurred by the ERISA Plan as a result of such breach.
Because the Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, the underlying assets of the Fund will not be considered to be the assets of any Plan investing in the Fund for purposes of ERISA’s (or the Code’s) fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction rules. Thus, the Advisers will not be fiduciaries within the meaning of ERISA by reason of its authority with respect to the assets of the Fund.
Barings will require a Plan which proposes to invest in the Fund to represent that it and any fiduciaries responsible for such Plan’s investments (including in its individual or corporate capacity, as may be applicable) are aware of and understand the Fund’s investment objective, policies and strategies, and that the decision to invest plan assets in the Fund was made with appropriate consideration of relevant investment factors with regard to the Plan and is consistent with the duties and responsibilities imposed upon fiduciaries with regard to their investment decisions under ERISA and/or the Code.
Certain prospective Shareholders that are Plans may currently maintain relationships with the Advisers or other entities which are affiliated with the Advisers. Each of such persons may be deemed to be a “party in
-89-
interest” under ERISA (or “disqualified person” under Section 4975 of the Code) to and/or a fiduciary (under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) of any Plan to which it provides investment management, investment advisory or other services. ERISA prohibits (and the Code penalizes) the use of ERISA and Plan assets for the benefit of a party in interest (or disqualified person) and also prohibits (or penalizes) an ERISA or Plan fiduciary from using its position to cause such Plan to make an investment from which it or certain third parties in which such fiduciary has an interest would receive a fee or other consideration. Shareholders that are Plans should consult with counsel to determine if participation in the Fund is a transaction which is prohibited (or penalized) by ERISA or the Code. Fiduciaries of Shareholders that are Plans will be required to represent (including in their individual or corporate capacity, as applicable) that the decision to invest in the Fund was made by them as fiduciaries that are independent of such affiliated persons, that such fiduciaries are duly authorized to make such investment decision and that they have not relied on any individualized advice or recommendation of such affiliated persons as a primary basis for the decision to invest in the Fund, unless such purchase and holding is pursuant to an applicable exemption, such as Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (“PTCE”) 77-3 or PTCE 77-4.
Employee benefit plans which are not subject to ERISA may be subject to other rules governing such plans. Fiduciaries of these plans, whether or not subject to Section 4975 of the Code, should consult with their own legal advisors regarding such matters.
The provisions of ERISA and the Code are subject to extensive and continuing administrative and judicial interpretation and review. The discussion of ERISA and the Code contained in this Prospectus is general and may be affected by future publication of regulations and rulings. Potential Shareholders that are Plans should consult their legal advisors regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Code of the acquisition and ownership of Shares.
Each prospective investor in the Fund will be required to certify that it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act. The criteria for qualifying as an “accredited investor” are set forth in the subscription document that must be completed by each prospective investor.
The Fund is authorized to offer four separate classes of Shares designated as Class 1 Shares, Class 2 Shares, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares. While the Fund presently plans to offer four classes of Shares, from time to time, the Board may create and offer additional classes of Shares, or may vary the characteristics of the Class 1 Shares, Class 2 Shares, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares described herein, including without limitation, in the following respects: (1) the amount of fees permitted by a distribution and/or service plan or shareholder servicing plan as to such class; (2) voting rights with respect to a distribution and/or service plan as to such class; (3) different class designations; (4) the impact of any class expenses directly attributable to a particular class of Shares; (5) differences in any dividends and NAVs resulting from differences in fees under a distribution and/or service plan or in class expenses; or (6) any conversion features, as permitted under the 1940 Act. All shares of a class have equal rights to the payment of dividends and other distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Shares are, when issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Fund and have no pre-emptive, exchange or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting.
The Fund has obtained an exemptive order that permits the Fund to offer more than one class of Shares.
-90-
Purchase Terms
The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $1,000,000 for Class 1 Shares, $25,000 for Class 2 Shares, $25,000 for Class 3 Shares and $25,000 for Class 4 Shares, and the minimum additional investment in the Fund is $10,000 for each class of Shares.
The stated investment minimums may be waived for investments by current or retired officers and Trustees of the Fund, as well as their family members; current or retired officers, principals, employees and members of the Investment Adviser Board of Barings and affiliated companies of the Advisers; the immediate family members of any such officer, principal, employee or Investment Adviser Board member (including parents, spouses, children, fathers/mothers-in-law, daughters/sons-in-law, and domestic partners); and a trust or plan established primarily for the benefit of any of the foregoing persons. In addition, the stated investment minimums may be reduced by the Fund in the discretion of Barings based on consideration of various factors, including the Shareholder’s overall relationship with the Advisers and such other matters as Barings may consider relevant at the time. As noted above, the Fund may aggregate the accounts of clients of registered investment advisers and other financial intermediaries whose clients invest in the Fund for purposes of determining satisfaction of minimum investment amounts.
The Fund’s Shares will generally be offered as of the first business day of each month based on the Fund’s NAV per Share as of the close of business on the business day immediately preceding such date plus any applicable sales loads.
Except as otherwise permitted by the Board, initial and subsequent subscriptions to purchase Shares must be accompanied by payment in cash. The Fund or an investor’s financial intermediary must receive a subscription to purchase Shares and the accompanying payment no later than the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time) at least three business days in advance, which may be waived in the sole discretion of the Fund or Barings, in order for the subscription to be effected at that day’s NAV. The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to accept or reject any subscription to purchase Shares in the Fund at any time. Although the Fund may, in its sole discretion, elect to accept a subscription prior to receipt of cleared funds, an investor will not become a Shareholder until cleared funds have been received.
Pending any offering, funds received from prospective investors will be placed in an account with the transfer agent. On the date of any closing, the balance in the account with respect to each investor whose investment is accepted will be invested in the Fund on behalf of such investor. Any interest earned with respect to such account will be paid to the Fund and allocated pro rata among Shareholders.
Summary of the Declaration of Trust
The Fund is a statutory trust established under the laws of State of Delaware by an Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust dated as of December 13, 2021. The Fund’s Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of common shares of beneficial interest. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may authorize separate classes of Shares of beneficial interest of the Fund. The Board may from time to time, without a vote of shareholders or any class, divide or combine the shares (without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the shares or a class in the assets held with respect to the Fund or such class), or reclassify the shares or a class into shares of one or more classes (whether the shares to be classified or reclassified are issued and outstanding or unissued and whether such shares constitute part or all of the shares of the Fund or such class).
Shareholders of a class of shares are entitled to share in proportion to the number of shares of such class held in dividends declared by the Board payable to holders of such class of shares and in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to holders of such class of shares upon liquidation after payment of the preferential amounts payable to holders of any outstanding preferred shares.
-91-
Shareholders have no pre-emptive, exchange or conversion rights. Upon liquidation of the Fund, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Fund and the liquidation preference with respect to any outstanding preferred shares, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining assets of the Fund among the classes of shares of the Fund in accordance with the NAV of such classes.
The Board may classify or reclassify any issued or unissued shares of the Fund into shares of any class by redesignating such shares or by setting or changing in any one or more respects, from time to time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of repurchase of such shares. Any such classification or reclassification will comply with the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and the 1940 Act.
If you purchase shares of the Fund, you will become bound by the terms and conditions of the Declaration of Trust.
The Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to change the composition of the Board by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. These provisions may have the effect of discouraging attempts to acquire control of the Fund, which attempts could have the effect of increasing the expenses of the Fund and interfering with the normal operation of the Fund. The Trustees are elected for indefinite terms and do not stand for reelection. A Trustee may be removed from office with or without cause only by a written instrument signed or adopted by a majority of the number of Trustees prior to such removal. Except as described below, the Declaration of Trust does not contain any other specific inhibiting provisions that would operate only with respect to an extraordinary transaction such as a merger, reorganization, repurchase offer, sale or transfer of substantially all of the Fund’s assets or liquidation. The Declaration of Trust requires that before bringing any derivative action on behalf of the Fund, Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Board to bring the subject action unless such effort is not likely to succeed. A pre-suit demand shall only be deemed not likely to succeed if a majority of the Board has a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue, and a Trustee shall not be deemed interested in a transaction or otherwise disqualified from ruling on the merits of a demand by virtue of such Trustee’s receipt of remuneration from the Fund for service as Trustee or on the boards of entities under common management or otherwise affiliated with the Fund. In addition, unless demand is excused, Shareholders in the aggregate holding at least 10% of the Fund’s outstanding Shares (or at least 10% of the Class to which the action relates) must join the request for the Board to commence such action. Decisions made by the Board in good faith are binding. Unless demand is excused, the Board must be given a reasonable amount of time to consider the Shareholder request, and the Board may retain advisors while considering the merits of the Shareholder request. Shareholders bringing a derivative action must undertake to reimburse the Fund for the expenses of any advisor retained to assist in considering the merits of the Shareholder request if the Board determines not to take action. Further, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, shareholders may not bring direct actions against the Fund and/or the Trustees, except to enforce their rights to vote or certain rights to distributions or books and records under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, in which case a Shareholders bringing such direct action must hold in the aggregate at least 10% of the Fund’s outstanding Shares (or at least 10% of the Class to which the action relates) join in the bringing of such direct action. These provisions regarding derivative and direct actions do not apply to claims arising under the federal securities laws.
Under the Declaration of Trust, actions by shareholders against the Fund asserting a claim governed by Delaware law or the Fund’s organizational documents must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction. This exclusive jurisdiction provision may make it more expensive for a shareholder to bring a suit but does not apply to claims arising under the federal securities laws.
Shareholders also waive the right to jury trial to the fullest extent permitted by law. The exclusive jurisdiction provision and the waiver of jury trials limit a shareholder’s ability to litigate a claim in the jurisdiction and in
-92-
a manner that may be more favorable to the shareholder. A court may choose not to enforce these provisions of the Declaration of Trust.
No provision in the Declaration of Trust shall limit or eliminate any duty under the federal securities laws, including the fiduciary duties of loyalty and care, a Trustee or officer owes to the Fund with respect to claims asserted under the federal securities laws.
Reference should be made to the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Legal Counsel
The Board has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, as independent registered public accountants for the Fund.
Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-3600, serves as counsel to the Fund. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP serves as counsel to the Independent Trustees of the Fund.
Inquiries concerning the Fund and the Shares (including procedures for purchasing Shares) should be directed to the Fund by mail at 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 or by telephone at (704) 805-7200.
-93-
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
December 16, 2022
Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund)
Class 1 Shares, Class 2 Shares, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares
300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 805-7200
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI relates to and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) of Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) (the “Fund”) dated December 16, 2022 as it may be further amended or supplemented from time to time. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by contacting the Fund at the telephone number or address set forth above.
This SAI is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”) and is not soliciting an offer to buy the Shares in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the same meaning set forth in the Prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES
The investment objective and the principal investment strategies of the Fund, as well as the principal risks associated with such investment strategies, are set forth in the Prospectus. Certain additional information regarding the investment program of the Fund is set forth below.
The Fund’s fundamental policies, which are listed below, may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. As defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund” means the vote, at an annual or special meeting of the shareholders of the Fund (the “Shareholders”), duly called, (i) of 67% or more of the Shares represented at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares are present in person or represented by proxy or (ii) of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares, whichever is less. Within the limits of the fundamental policies of the Fund, the management of the Fund has reserved freedom of action.
The Fund:
(1) | May issue senior securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules, or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules, or regulations. |
(2) | May borrow money to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules, or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules, or regulations. |
(3) | May lend money to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules, or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules, or regulations. |
(4) | May underwrite securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules, or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules, or regulations. |
(5) | May purchase and sell commodities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules, or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules, or regulations. |
(6) | May purchase and sell real estate to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules, or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules, or regulations. |
(7) | May not concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined or interpreted under the 1940 Act, and the rules, and regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, and under regulatory guidance or interpretations of such Act, rules, or regulations. |
Any restriction on investments or use of assets, including, but not limited to, market capitalization, geographic, rating and/or any other percentage restrictions, set forth in this SAI or the Fund’s Prospectus shall be measured only at the time of investment, and any subsequent change, whether in the value, market capitalization, rating, percentage held or otherwise, will not constitute a violation of the restriction, other than with respect to investment restriction (2) above related to borrowings by the Fund. For purposes of determining compliance with investment restriction (7) above related to concentration of investments, Portfolio Funds are not considered part of any industry or group of industries, and the Fund may indirectly concentrate in a particular industry or group of industries through its investments in one or more Portfolio Funds.
-2-
The Fund’s investment policies and restrictions apply only to investments made by the Fund directly (or any account consisting solely of the Fund’s assets) and do not apply to the activities and the transactions of the Portfolio Funds.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES OF THE FUND AND RELATED RISKS
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund’s investment objective is to generate long-term capital appreciation.
This section provides additional information about various types of investments and investment techniques that may be employed by the Fund or by Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests. Such investments and techniques are not expected to represent the principal investments or techniques of the majority of the Fund or of the Portfolio Funds. However, there is no limit on the types of investments the Portfolio Funds may make and certain Portfolio Funds may use such investments or techniques extensively. Similarly, there are few limits on the types of investments the Fund may make. Accordingly, the descriptions in this section cannot be comprehensive. Any decision to invest in the Fund should take into account (i) the possibility that the Portfolio Funds may make virtually any kind of investment, (ii) that the Fund has similarly broad latitude in the kinds of investments it may make (subject to the fundamental policies described above) and (iii) that all such investments will be subject to related risks, which can be substantial.
Real Estate Investments
The Fund may be exposed to real estate through co-investments and investments by Portfolio Funds in operating businesses with substantial real estate holdings or exposure. Investments in real estate are subject to a number of risks, including losses from casualty, condemnation or natural disasters, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, zoning laws, environmental regulations and other governmental action, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses.
Equity Securities
The Fund’s and/or a Portfolio Fund’s portfolio may include investments in common stocks, preferred stocks, and convertible securities of U.S. and foreign issuers. The Fund and/or a Portfolio Fund also may invest in depositary receipts relating to foreign securities. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities. Given the private equity focus of the Fund, there is expected to be no liquid market for a majority of such investments.
Common Stock. Common stock or other common equity issued by a corporation or other entity generally entitles the holder to a pro rata share of the profits, if any, of the entity without preference over any other shareholder or claims of shareholders, after making required payments to holders of the entity’s preferred stock and other senior equity. Common stock usually carries with it the right to vote and frequently an exclusive right to do so.
Preferred Stock. Preferred stock or other preferred equity generally has a preference as to dividends and, in the event of liquidation, to an issuer’s assets, over the issuer’s common stock or other common equity, but it ranks junior to debt securities in an issuer’s capital structure. Preferred stock generally pays dividends in cash or additional shares of preferred stock at a defined rate but, unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends are generally payable only if declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative, meaning that, in the event the issuer fails to make one or more dividend payments on the preferred stock, no dividends may be paid on the issuer’s common stock until all unpaid preferred stock dividends have been paid. Preferred stock may also be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.
-3-
Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock, or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a specified amount of common equity of the same or different issuer within a specified period of time at a specified price or based on a specified formula. In many cases, a convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest or a dividend that is generally paid or accrued until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Convertible securities have unique investment characteristics in that they generally (i) have higher yields (i.e., rates of interest or dividends) than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities, (ii) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying common stock into which they are convertible due to their fixed-income characteristics and (iii) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases. The Fund’s and/or the Portfolio Funds’ investments in convertible securities are expected to primarily be in private convertible securities, but may be in public convertible securities.
The value of a convertible security is primarily a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (determined by reference to the security’s anticipated worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value typically declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also increase or decrease the convertible security’s value. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the convertible security is valued principally by reference to its investment value. To the extent the value of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion value, the convertible security will be valued increasingly by reference to its conversion value. Generally, the conversion value decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity. Where no market exists for a convertible security and/or the underlying common stock, such investments may be difficult to value. A public convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value to the extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed-income security.
A convertible security may in some cases be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security is called for redemption, the holder will generally have a choice of tendering the security for redemption, converting it into common stock prior to redemption, or selling it to a third party. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect and result in losses to the Fund.
Derivative Instruments
Although the Fund does not expect to use derivatives in pursuing its principal investment strategy, Portfolio Funds may use financial instruments known as derivatives. A derivative is generally defined as an instrument whose value is derived from, or based upon, some underlying index, reference rate (such as interest rates or currency exchange rates), security, commodity or other asset. Transactions in derivative instruments present risks arising from the use of leverage (which increases the magnitude of losses), volatility, the possibility of default by a counterparty, and illiquidity. Use of derivative instruments for hedging or speculative purposes by Portfolio Fund managers could present significant risks, including the risk of losses in excess of the amounts invested. The Portfolio Fund’s ability to avoid risk through investment or trading in derivatives will depend on the ability to anticipate changes in the underlying assets, reference rates or indices.
Distressed Securities
The Fund or a Portfolio Fund may invest in debt or equity securities of domestic and foreign issuers in weak financial condition, experiencing poor operating results, having substantial capital needs or negative net worth, facing special competitive or product obsolescence problems, or that are involved in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings. Investments of this type may involve substantial financial and business risks that can result in substantial or at times even total losses. Among the risks inherent in investments in troubled entities is the fact that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true condition of such issuers. Such investments also may be adversely affected by state and federal laws relating to, among other things, fraudulent transfers and other voidable transfers or payments, lender liability, and a bankruptcy court’s power to disallow, reduce, subordinate, or disenfranchise particular claims. The market prices of such securities are also subject to abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility, and the spread between the bid and ask prices of such securities may be greater than those prevailing in other securities markets. It may take a number of years for the market price of such securities to reflect their intrinsic value. In liquidation (both in and out of bankruptcy) and other forms of corporate reorganization, there exists the risk that the reorganization either will be unsuccessful (due to, for example, failure to obtain requisite approvals), will be delayed (for example, until various liabilities, actual or contingent, have been satisfied), or will result in a distribution of cash or a new security the value of which will be less than the purchase price to the Fund and/or Portfolio Fund of the security in respect to which such distribution was made.
-4-
Consortium or Offsetting Investments
The Portfolio Fund managers may work with other Portfolio Fund managers to invest collectively in the same underlying company, which could result in increased concentration risk where multiple Portfolio Funds in the Fund’s portfolio each invest in a particular underlying company. In addition, Portfolio Funds may hold economically offsetting positions including, for example, where Portfolio Funds have independently taken opposing positions (e.g., long and short) in an investment or due to hedging by Portfolio Fund managers. To the extent that the Portfolio Fund managers do, in fact, hold such offsetting positions, the Fund’s portfolio, considered as a whole, may not achieve any gain or loss despite incurring fees and expenses in connection with such positions. In addition, Portfolio Fund managers are compensated based on the performance of their portfolios. Accordingly, there often may be times when a particular Portfolio Fund manager may receive incentive compensation in respect of its portfolio for a period even though the Fund’s NAV may have decreased during such period. Furthermore, it is possible that from time to time, various Portfolio Fund managers selected by Barings may be competing with each other for investments in one or more markets.
Portfolio Turnover
Purchases and sales of portfolio investments may be made as considered advisable by Barings in the best interests of the Shareholders. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary from year-to-year, as well as within a year. The Fund’s distributions of any profits or gains realized from portfolio transactions generally are taxable to Shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, higher portfolio turnover rates can result in corresponding increases in portfolio transaction costs for the Fund.
For reporting purposes, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio investments for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio investments owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. In determining such portfolio turnover, all investments whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less are excluded. A 100% portfolio turnover rate would occur, for example, if all of the investments in the Fund’s investment portfolio (other than short-term money market securities) were replaced once during the fiscal year. Portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor should Barings deem it advisable to purchase or sell investments.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Fund has a Board comprised of four Trustees, a majority of which are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. The Board is generally responsible for the management and oversight of the business and affairs of the Fund. The Trustees formulate the general policies of the Fund, approve contracts, and authorize Fund officers to carry out the decisions of the Board. To assist them in this role, the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, Barings or BIIL (“Independent Trustees”) have retained independent legal counsel. As investment adviser and subadviser to the Fund, respectively, Barings and BIIL may be considered part of the management of the Fund. The Trustees and principal officers of the Fund are listed below together with information on their positions with the Fund, address, and year of birth, as well as their principal occupations during at least the past five years and their other current principal business affiliations.
The Board has appointed an Independent Trustee Chairperson of the Fund. The Chairperson presides at Board meetings and may call a Board or committee meeting when he or she deems it necessary. The Chairperson participates in the preparation of Board meeting agendas and may generally facilitate communications among the Trustees, and between the Trustees and the Fund’s management, officers, and independent legal counsel, between meetings. The Chairperson may also perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. The Board has established the two standing committees described below, and may form working groups or ad hoc committees as needed.
-5-
The Board believes this leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment, and allocates areas of responsibility among committees or working groups of Trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight. The Board also believes that having a majority of Independent Trustees is appropriate and in the best interest of the Fund’s Shareholders. However, in the Board’s opinion, having interested persons serve as Trustees brings both corporate and financial viewpoints that are significant elements in its decision-making process. The Board reviews its leadership structure at least annually and may make changes to it at any time, including in response to changes in the characteristics or circumstances of the Fund.
Independent Trustees
Thomas W. Okel | Chairperson and Trustee of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1962 | |
Trustee of the Fund since 2022 | |
Trustee of 5 portfolios in the fund complex |
Trustee (since 2012), Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); Trustee (since 2015), Horizon Funds (mutual fund complex); Director (since 2018), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Director (since 2020), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Director (since 2021), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Trustee (since 2022), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); Global Head of Syndicated Capital Markets (1989-2010), Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Executive Director (2011-2019), Catawba Lands Conservancy; and Trustee (2013-2021), Barings Funds Trust (open-end investment company advised by Barings).
Mark F. Mulhern | Trustee of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1960 | |
Trustee of the Fund since 2022 | |
Trustee of 5 portfolios in the fund complex |
Director (since 2015), McKim and Creed (engineering service firm); Director (since 2016), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Director (since 2020), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Director (since 2020), Intercontinental Exchange (publicly-traded provider of marketplace infrastructure, data services and technology solutions); Director (since 2020), ICE Mortgage Technology (cloud-based platform provider for the mortgage finance industry); Director (since May 2021), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Trustee (since 2021), Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); Trustee (since 2022), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); Director and Audit Committee member (2012-2014), Highwood Properties (real estate investment trust); and Director (2015-2017), Azure MLP (midstream oil and gas); and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2014-2022), Highwood Properties, Inc. (publicly-traded real estate investment trust).
-6-
Jill Olmstead | Trustee of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1963 | |
Trustee of the Fund since 2022 | |
Trustee of 5 portfolios in the fund complex |
Chief Human Resources Officer, (since 2018), LendingTree, Inc. (online lending marketplace); Director (since 2018), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Director (since 2020), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings; and Director (since 2021), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Trustee (since 2021); Barings Global Short Duran High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); Trustee (since 2022), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); and Founding Partner (2010-2018), Spivey & Olmstead, LLC (talent and leadership consulting firm).
Interested Trustee
Jill Dinerman1 | Trustee of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1976 | |
Trustee of the Fund since 2022 | |
Trustee of 1 portfolio in the fund complex |
Global Head of Legal and General Counsel (since 2020), Managing Director (since 2016), Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary (2018-2020), Senior Counsel (2016-2018), Counsel and Director (2011-2016), Barings; Chief Legal Officer (since 2020), Assistant Secretary (2019-2020), Barings Corporate Investors and Barings Participation Investors (closed-end investment companies advised by Barings); Chief Legal Officer (since 2020), Assistant Secretary (2019-2020), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Chief Legal Officer (since 2020), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Chief Legal Officer (since 2021), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Secretary (since 2018), Barings Securities LLC (registered broker-dealer); Non-Executive Director (since 2018), Baring International Investments Limited (registered investment adviser); Non-Executive Director (since 2021), Baring Asset Management Limited (registered investment adviser); Non-Executive Director (since 2021), Baring Investment Services Limited (financial service firm); Non-Executive Director (since 2021), Barings (U.K.) Limited (financial service firm); Non-Executive Director (since 2021), Barings Europe Limited (financial service term); Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (2020-2021), Assistant Secretary (2019-2020), Barings Funds Trust (open-end Investment company advised by Barings); Vice President (2020-February 2022), Secretary (2020-2021), Assistant Secretary (2019-2020), of Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment companies advised by Barings); Trustee (since 2022), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) (closed-end investment company advised by Barings).
1 Ms. Dinerman is an “Interested Person,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as an employee of Barings.
-7-
Officers
Mina Nazemi | President of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1976 | |
Officer of the Fund since 2022 | |
Officer of 1 portfolio in the fund complex |
Head of Diversified Alternative Equity (since 2022) and Managing Director (since 2017), Barings.
James Cochrane | Chief Financial Officer of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1977 | |
Officer of the Fund since 2022 | |
Officer of 1 portfolio in the fund complex |
Director (since 2017), Barings.
Elizabeth Murray | Treasurer of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1977 | |
Officer of the Fund since 2022 | |
Officer of 7 portfolios in the fund complex |
Managing Director (since 2020), Director (2018-2020), Barings; Principal Accounting Officer (since 2020), Director of External Reporting (2018-2020), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Principal Accounting Officer (since 2020), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Principal Accounting Officer (since 2021), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Chief Financial Officer (since 2021), Treasurer (2020-2021) of Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); Principal Accounting Officer (since 2020), Barings Corporate Investors and Barings Participation Investors (closed-end investment companies advised by Barings); Treasurer (2020-2021), Barings Funds Trust (open-end investment company advised by Barings); and Vice President of Financial Reporting (2012-2018), Barings BDC, Inc. (f/k/a Triangle Capital Corporation) (business development company advised by Barings).
Matt Curtis | Tax Officer of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1971 | |
Officer of the Fund since 2022 | |
Officer of 7 portfolios in the fund complex |
Managing Director (since 2019), Global Head of Tax (since 2017), Director (2017-2019), Barings; Tax Officer (since 2022), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Tax Officer (since 2022), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Tax Officer (since 2022), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Tax Officer (since 2022), Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); and Tax Officer (since 2022), Barings Corporate Investors and Barings Participation Investors (closed-end investment companies advised by Barings).
-8-
Jill Dinerman | Chief Legal Officer of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1976 | |
Officer of the Fund since 2022 | |
Officer of 7 portfolios in the fund complex |
Global Head of Legal and General Counsel (since 2020), Managing Director (since 2016), Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary (2018-2020), Senior Counsel (2016-2018), Counsel and Director (2011-2016), Barings; Chief Legal Officer (since 2020), Assistant Secretary (2019-2020), Barings Corporate Investors and Barings Participation Investors (closed-end investment companies advised by Barings); Chief Legal Officer (since 2020), Assistant Secretary (2019-2020), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Chief Legal Officer (since 2020), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Chief Legal Officer (since 2021), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Secretary (since 2018), Barings Securities LLC (registered broker-dealer); Non-Executive Director (since 2018), Baring International Investments Limited (registered investment adviser); Non-Executive Director (since 2021), Baring Asset Management Limited (registered investment adviser); Non-Executive Director (since 2021), Baring Investment Services Limited (financial service firm); Non-Executive Director (since 2021), Barings (U.K.) Limited (financial service firm); Non-Executive Director (since 2021), Barings Europe Limited (financial service term); Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (2020-2021), Assistant Secretary (2019-2020), Barings Funds Trust (open-end Investment company advised by Barings); Chief Legal Officer (since 2020), Vice President (2020-2022), Secretary (2020-2021), Assistant Secretary (2019-2020), Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); and Trustee (since 2022), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly, Barings Access Pine Point Fund) (closed-end investment company advised by Barings).
Christopher DeFrancis | Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1967 | |
Officer of the Fund since 2022 | |
Officer of 7 portfolios in the fund complex |
Global Head of Compliance (since 2011), Barings; Chief Compliance Officer (since 2022), Barings Corporate Investors and Barings Participation Investors (closed-end investment companies advised by Barings); Chief Compliance Officer (since 2022), Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); Chief Compliance Officer (since 2022), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Chief Compliance Officer (since 2022), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Chief Compliance Officer (since 2022), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings).
Ashlee Steinnerd | Secretary of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1981 | |
Officer of the Fund since 2022 | |
Officer of 7 portfolios in the fund complex |
Head of Regulatory (since 2021), Managing Director (since 2022), Director (2019-2022), Barings; Secretary (since 2020), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings; Secretary (since 2020), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Secretary (since 2021), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Secretary (since 2021), Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); and Senior Counsel (2011-2019), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
-9-
Alexandra Pacini | Assistant Secretary of the Fund |
300 South Tryon Street | |
Suite 2500 | |
Charlotte, NC 28202 | |
Year of birth: 1992 | |
Officer of the Fund since 2022 | |
Officer of 7 portfolios in the fund complex |
Associate Director (since 2021), Analyst (2017-2021), Barings; Assistant Secretary (since 2020), Barings Corporate Investors and Barings Participation Investors (closed-end investment companies advised by Barings); Assistant Secretary (since 2020), Barings BDC, Inc. (business development company advised by Barings); Assistant Secretary (since 2021), Barings Capital Investment Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Assistant Secretary (since 2021), Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development company advised by Barings); Assistant Secretary (since 2020), Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (closed-end investment company advised by Barings); Assistant Secretary (2020-2021), Barings Funds Trust (open-end investment company advised by Barings); and Legal Clerk (2015-2017), Bryan Cave LLP (law firm).
Each Trustee of the Fund serves until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor or until he or she dies, resigns, or is removed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Trustees determine that it is desirable and in the best interest of the Fund that an exception to the retirement policy of the Fund be made, a Trustee shall retire and cease to serve as a Trustee upon the conclusion of the calendar year in which such Trustee attains the age of seventy-five years, however, an interested Trustee of the Fund shall no longer serve as a Trustee if or when they are no longer an employee of Barings or an affiliate.
The Chairperson is elected to hold such office for a term of three years or until their successor is elected and qualified to carry out the duties and responsibilities of their office, or until he or she retires, dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified.
The President, Treasurer, and Secretary and such other officers as the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time elect shall hold such office until their respective successors shall have been chosen and qualified.
Each officer and the Chairperson shall hold office at the pleasure of the Trustees.
Additional Information About the Trustees
In addition to the information set forth above, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills apply to each Trustee. Each Trustee was appointed to serve on the Board based on his or her overall experience and the Board did not identify any specific qualification as all-important or controlling. The information in this section should not be understood to mean that any of the Trustees is an “expert” within the meaning of the federal securities laws.
Thomas W. Okel — Mr. Okel brings over 20 years of experience in the underwriting, structuring, distribution and trading of debt used for corporate acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and refinancings. He previously served from 2011 to 2019 as Executive Director of Catawba Lands Conservancy, a non-profit land trust. Prior to joining Catawba Lands Conservancy, he served as Global Head of Syndicated Capital Markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he managed capital markets, sales, trading and research for the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America from 1989 to 2010. He currently serves as trustee or director of several public companies and non-profit organizations, including Barings BDC, Inc., Barings Capital Investment Corporation and Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development companies advised by Barings); and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Horizon Funds, a mutual fund complex. Mr. Okel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Davidson College and a Masters of Management, Finance, Accounting and Marketing from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
-10-
Mark F. Mulhern — Mr. Mulhern brings significant public company experience, both as a senior executive and as a board member. From September 2014 until his retirement on January 1, 2022, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Highwoods Properties, Inc., a Raleigh, North Carolina based publicly-traded real estate investment trust. Prior to joining Highwoods, Mr. Mulhern served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Exco Resources, Inc. Prior to Exco, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Progress Energy, Inc. from 2008 until its merger with Duke Energy Corporation in 2012. He joined Progress Energy in 1996 as Vice President and Controller and served in a number of leadership roles at Progress Energy, including Vice President of Strategic Planning, Senior Vice President of Finance and President of Progress Ventures. He also spent eight years at Price Waterhouse, now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Mulhern previously served on the Highwoods Board of Directors and Audit Committee from January 2012 through August 2014. He currently serves on the boards of Barings BDC, Inc., Barings Capital Investment Corporation and Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development companies advised by Barings). Additionally, Mr. Mulhern serves on the board of the Intercontinental Exchange, a Fortune 500 company and provider of marketplace infrastructure, data service and technology solutions to a broad range of customers. He also serves on the board of Ellie Mae, Inc., the operating company of ICE Mortgage Technology, both of which are subsidiaries of Intercontinental Exchange. Mr. Mulhern also currently serves on the board of McKim and Creed, a North Carolina based professional engineering services firm. Mr. Mulhern is a Certified Public Accountant and is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University.
Jill Olmstead — Ms. Olmstead has over 22 years of senior leadership experience in human resources in the financial services industry. She is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer at LendingTree, Inc. and was a Founding Partner of Spivey & Olmstead, LLC, a talent and leadership consulting firm with expertise in the fields of executive development and talent management founded in June 2010. She also currently serves on the boards of Barings BDC, Inc., Barings Capital Investment Corporation and Barings Private Credit Corporation (business development companies advised by Barings). In her capacity as Managing Director (2006 to 2009) and Executive Vice President (2000 to 2006) at Wachovia Corporation (now Wells Fargo) she was both the Head of Human Resources for the Corporate and Investment Bank and the Head of Human Resources for the International Businesses. Prior to this, she formed and led the Leadership Practices Group at Wachovia to create and implement a company-wide talent management process that identified, developed, tracked and promoted high potential leaders throughout their careers. Ms. Olmstead received a Bachelor of Science at Clemson University and a Masters in Organization Behavior and Development at Fielding University, Santa Barbara, CA.
Jill Dinerman — Ms. Dinerman is Global Head of Legal of Barings where she oversees the global legal function advising the firm on a wide range of legal and business issues and providing support for all of its investment teams. She is a member of Barings’ Senior Leadership Team. Ms. Dinerman has been a member of the Barings legal team since 2011, holding several roles in corporate governance and supporting the U.S. Fixed Income team. Before joining Barings in 2011, she was a Senior Associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman. She started her career as an Associate at Pillsbury Winthrop. Ms. Dinerman has served on the boards of several local Jewish agencies and on the board of Girls on the Run Charlotte, a nonprofit that empowers young women so they can activate their limitless potential. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.
Board Committees and Meetings
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, the full Board, which consisted of different Trustees than the current Trustees, met two times.
Audit Committee. The Fund has an Audit Committee, consisting of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust. The Audit Committee, whose members are Messrs. Okel and Mulhern and Ms. Olmstead, oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls, and internal controls of certain service providers; oversees the quality and objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof; evaluates the independence of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; evaluates the overall performance and compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer; acts as liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board; and provides immediate access for the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to report any special matters they believe should be brought to the attention of the full Board. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, the Audit Committee, which consisted of different members than the current members, met two times.
-11-
Nominating and Governance Committee. The Fund has a Nominating and Governance Committee, consisting of each Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Fund. The Nominating and Governance Committee generally meets at least twice per calendar year. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, the Nominating and Governance Committee did not meet. The Nominating and Governance Committee (a) identifies, and evaluates the qualifications of, individuals to become independent members of the Fund’s Board in the event that a position currently filled by an Independent Trustee is vacated or created; (b) nominates Independent Trustee nominees for election or appointment to the Board; (c) sets any necessary standards or qualifications for service on the Board; (d) recommends periodically to the full Board an Independent Trustee to serve as Chairperson; (e) evaluates at least annually the independence and overall performance of counsel to the Independent Trustees; (f) annually reviews the compensation of the Independent Trustees; and (g) oversees board governance issues including, but not limited to, (i) evaluating the board and committee structure and the performance of Trustees, (ii) considering and addressing any conflicts, (iii) considering the retirement policies of the Board, and (iv) considering and making recommendations to the Board at least annually concerning the Fund’s directors and officers liability insurance coverage.
The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider and evaluate nominee candidates properly submitted by shareholders of the Fund in the same manner as it considers and evaluates candidates recommended by other sources. The Nominating and Governance Committee may also consider any other facts and circumstances attendant to such shareholder submission as may be deemed appropriate by the Nominating and Governance Committee, including, without limitation, the value of the Fund’s securities owned by the shareholder and the length of time such shares have been held by the shareholder. A recommendation of a shareholder of the Fund must be submitted as described below to be considered properly submitted for purposes of the Nominating and Governance Committee’s consideration. The shareholders of the Fund must submit any such recommendation (a “Shareholder Recommendation”) in writing to the Fund’s Nominating and Governance Committee, to the attention of the Secretary, at the address of the principal executive offices of the Fund, which is 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202. The Shareholder Recommendation must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Fund at least 120 calendar days before the date on which the Fund’s proxy statement was released to shareholders for the previous year’s annual meeting. The Shareholder Recommendation must include: (i) a statement in writing setting forth: (A) the name, age, date of birth, phone number, business address, residence address and nationality of the person recommended by the shareholder (the “Candidate”); (B) the class or series and number of all shares of the Fund owned of record or beneficially by the Candidate, as reported to such shareholder by the Candidate; (C) any other information regarding the Candidate called for with respect to director nominees by paragraphs (a), (d), (e) and (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K or paragraph (b) of Item 22 of Rule 14a-101 (Schedule 14A) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (or the corresponding provisions of any regulation or rule subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency applicable to the Fund); (D) any other information regarding the Candidate that would be required to be disclosed if the Candidate were a nominee in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for election of Trustees or directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (E) whether the recommending shareholder believes that the Candidate is or will be an “interested person” of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and, if not an "interested person," information regarding the Candidate that will be sufficient for the Fund to make such determination;
(ii) the written and signed consent of the Candidate to be named as a nominee, for such Candidate’s information submitted in accordance with (i) above to be disclosed, as may be necessary or appropriate, and to serve as a Trustee if elected; (iii) the recommending shareholder’s name as it appears on the Fund’s books and the class or series and number of all shares of the Fund owned beneficially and of record by the recommending shareholder; (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the recommending shareholder and the Candidate and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made by the recommending shareholder; and (v) such other information as the Committee may require the Candidate to furnish as it may reasonably require or deem necessary to determine the eligibility of such Candidate to serve as a Trustee.
Shareholders may send other communications to the Trustees by addressing such correspondence directly to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o Barings LLC, 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202. When writing to the Board, shareholders should identify themselves, the fact that the communication is directed to the Board, the Fund they are writing about, and any relevant information regarding their Fund holdings. Except as provided below, the Secretary shall either (i) provide a copy of each shareholder communication to the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting or (ii) if the Secretary determines that the communication requires more immediate attention, forward the communication to the Board promptly after receipt. The Secretary will also provide a copy of each shareholder communication to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer.
-12-
The Secretary may, in good faith, determine that a shareholder communication should not be provided to the Board because it does not reasonably relate to the Fund or its operations, management, activities, policies, service providers, Board, officers, shareholders, or other matters relating to an investment in the Funds or is otherwise ministerial in nature (such as a request for Fund literature, share data, or financial information). The Secretary will provide to the Board on a quarterly basis a summary of the shareholder communications not provided to the Board by virtue of this paragraph.
Risk Oversight
As a registered investment company, the Fund is subject to a variety of risks, including, among others, investment risks, financial risks, compliance risks, and operational risks. Barings has primary responsibility for the Fund’s risk management on a day-to-day basis as part of its overall responsibilities. Barings is primarily responsible for managing investment risk as part of its day-to-day investment management responsibilities, as well as operational risks at its firm. Barings and the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer also assist the Board in overseeing the significant investment policies of the Fund and monitor the various compliance policies and procedures approved by the Board as a part of its oversight responsibilities.
In discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Board considers risk management issues throughout the year by reviewing regular reports prepared by Barings and the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as special written reports or presentations provided on a variety of risk issues, as needed. For example, Barings reports to the Board quarterly on the investment performance of the Fund, the financial performance of the Fund, overall market and economic conditions, and legal and regulatory developments that may impact the Fund. The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, who reports directly to the Board’s Independent Trustees, provides presentations to the Board at its quarterly meetings and an annual report to the Board concerning (i) compliance matters relating to the Fund, Barings, BIIL and the Fund’s other key service providers; (ii) regulatory developments; (iii) business continuity programs; and (iv) various risks identified as part of the Fund’s compliance program assessments. The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer also meets at least quarterly in executive session with the Independent Trustees, and communicates significant compliance-related issues and regulatory developments to the Audit Committee between Board meetings.
In addressing issues regarding the Fund’s risk management between meetings, appropriate representatives of Barings communicate with the Chairperson of the Fund, the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, or the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer. As appropriate, the Trustees confer among themselves, or with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, Barings, other service providers, and independent legal counsel, to identify and review risk management issues that may be placed on the full Board’s agenda.
The Board also relies on its committees to administer the Board’s oversight function. The Audit Committee assists the Board in reviewing with Barings and the Fund’s independent auditors, at various times throughout the year, matters relating to the annual audits, financial accounting and reporting matters, and the internal control environment at the service providers that provide financial accounting and reporting for the Fund. The Audit Committee also meets annually with representatives of Barings’ Corporate Audit Department to review the results of internal audits of relevance to the Fund. This and the Board’s other committees present reports to the Board that may prompt further discussion of issues concerning the oversight of the Fund’s risk management. The Board may also discuss particular risks that are not addressed in the committee process.
-13-
Trustee Ownership of Securities
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies | |||||
Independent Trustees | ||||||
Thomas W. Okel | None | $ | 0 | |||
Mark F. Mulhern | None | $ | 0 | |||
Jill Olmstead | None | $ | 0 | |||
Interested Trustee | ||||||
Jill Dinerman | None | $ | 0 |
* The table above provides information, as of December 31, 2021.
Independent Trustee Ownership of Securities
None of the Independent Trustees (or their immediate family members) owns securities of Barings, BIIL, the Distributor or of an entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Barings, BIIL or the Distributor.
Trustee Compensation
In consideration of the services rendered by the Independent Trustees, the Fund pays each Independent Trustee an amount of $10,000 per quarter. Trustees that are interested persons will not be compensated by the Fund. The Trustees do not receive any pension or retirement benefits.
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Fund’s Independent Trustees during the Fund's fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.1
Name of Trustee | Aggregate Compensation from the Fund | Total Compensation from Fund and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees | ||||||
Nabil N. El-Hage2 | $ | 20,000 | $ | 305,000 | ||||
Cynthia R. Plouché2 | $ | 20,000 | $ | 20,000 | ||||
Jason J. Price2 | $ | 20,000 | $ | 20,000 | ||||
Susan B. Sweeney2 | $ | 20,000 | $ | 470,000 | ||||
Thomas W. Okel3 | $ | 0 | $ | 276,156 | ||||
Mark F. Mulhern3 | $ | 0 | $ | 272,500 | ||||
Jill Olmstead3 | $ | 0 | $ | 262,500 |
-14-
1 | The Fund commenced operations on January 7, 2022. The information provided herein with respect to the compensation paid to the Fund's Independent Trustees therefore covers the period from January 7, 2022 until the end of the Fund's fiscal year, March 31, 2022. |
2 | Messrs. El-Hage and Price and Mses. Plouché and Sweeney resigned as trustees of the Fund, effective as of August 23, 2022. |
3 | Messrs. Okel and Mulhern and Ms. Olmstead became trustees of the Fund, effective as of August 24, 2022. |
The Fund, Barings, BIIL and the Distributor have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, which is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Fund, Barings, BIIL and the Distributor from engaging in deceptive, manipulative, or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Fund. The codes of ethics permit persons subject to them to invest in securities, including securities that may be held or purchased by the Fund, subject to a number of restrictions and controls. Compliance with the codes of ethics is carefully monitored and enforced.
The codes of ethics are included as exhibits to the Fund’s registration statement filed with the SEC. The codes of ethics are available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and may be obtained after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
The Adviser
Barings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MM Asset Management Holding LLC, itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of MassMutual Holding LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement with the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”). Barings is located at 300 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Caroline 28202 and is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act. Subject to the general supervision of the Board, and in accordance with the investment objective and policies of the Fund, Barings has been engaged to provide for the management of the Fund’s portfolio of securities and has the right to select subadvisers to the Fund pursuant to an investment subadvisory agreement.
The Investment Management Agreement became effective as of September 27, 2022, and unless otherwise terminated, will continue in effect for two years from such date, and from year to year thereafter, so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Investment Management Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) and is terminable without penalty (i) on sixty (60) days’ written notice to Barings either by vote of the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or (ii) on ninety (90) days’ written notice to the Fund by Barings. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the investment management agreement with the Fund’s previous investment adviser is included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders covering the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and Barings will be available in the Fund’s next annual or semiannual report to shareholders.
-15-
The Investment Management Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of Barings, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder, Barings, including its officers, directors and partners, will not be liable to the Fund or to any Shareholder, officer, director, partner or trustee of the Fund, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services thereunder. The Investment Management Agreement also provides for indemnification by the Fund to Barings for any action reasonably taken or omitted to be taken by Barings in its capacity as investment adviser in reasonable reliance upon any document, certificate or instrument which Barings reasonably believes to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons.
In consideration of the advisory and other services provided by Barings to the Fund under the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund will pay Barings an investment management fee (the “Management Fee”), paid quarterly in arrears, at the annual rate of 1.25% of the net assets of the Fund as of the end of each quarter, determined before giving effect to the payment of the management fee being calculated or to any purchases or repurchases of Shares or any distributions by the Fund. The Management Fee is paid to Barings out of the Fund’s assets and decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. To the extent Barings receives advisory fees from a Subsidiary, Barings will not receive compensation from the Fund in respect of the assets of the Fund that are invested in the Subsidiary.
A portion of the Investment Management Fee may be paid to brokers or dealers that assist in the distribution of Shares.
Barings contracts with BIIL to help manage the Fund. Subject to the oversight of the Board, Barings has the ultimate responsibility to oversee subadvisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, analysis and review of subadviser performance, as well as assistance in the identification and vetting of new or replacement subadvisers. In addition, Barings maintains responsibility for a number of other important obligations, including, among other things, board reporting, assistance in the annual advisory contract renewal process, and, in general, the performance of all obligations not delegated to a subadviser. Barings also provides advice and recommendations to the Board, and performs such review and oversight functions as the Board may reasonably request, as to the continuing appropriateness of the investment objective, strategies, and policies of the Fund, valuations of portfolio securities, and other matters relating generally to the investment program of the Fund.
The Subadviser
Barings has entered into a Subadvisory Agreement with BIIL pursuant to which BIIL serves as the Subadviser for the Fund. This agreement provides that BIIL help manage the investment and reinvestment of certain assets of the Fund. BIIL is located at 20 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7BF, United Kingdom. BIIL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barings. As compensation under the Subadvisory Agreement and with respect to the assets managed by BIIL, BIIL receives a quarterly fee equal to 10% of the Management Fee received by Barings. To the extent BIIL receives subadvisory fees with respect to a Subsidiary, BIIL will not receive compensation from Barings in respect of the assets of the Fund that are invested in such Subsidiary.
Conflicts of Interest
The potential for material conflicts of interest may exist when a portfolio manager has responsibilities for the day-to-day management of multiple accounts. These conflicts may be heightened to the extent a portfolio manager, Barings and/or an affiliate has an investment in one or more of such accounts or an interest in the performance of one or more such accounts. Barings has identified (and summarized below) areas where material conflicts of interest are most likely to arise, and has adopted policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to address such conflicts.
It is possible that an investment opportunity may be suitable for both the Fund and other accounts managed by a portfolio manager, but may not be available in sufficient quantities for both the Fund and the other accounts to participate fully. Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by the Fund and another account. A conflict may arise where the portfolio manager may have an incentive to treat an account preferentially as compared to the Fund because the account pays Barings a performance-based fee or the portfolio manager, Barings or an affiliate has an interest in the account. Barings has adopted an investment allocation policy and trade allocation procedures to address allocation of portfolio transactions and investment opportunities across multiple clients. These policies are designed to achieve fair and equitable treatment of all clients over time, and specifically prohibit allocations based on performance of an account, the amount or structure of the management fee, performance fee or profit sharing allocations, participation or investment by an employee, Barings or an affiliate, and whether the account is public, private, proprietary or third party.
-16-
Potential material conflicts of interest may also arise related to the knowledge and timing of the Fund’s trades, investment opportunities and broker selection. Portfolio managers may have information about the size, timing and possible market impact of the Fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that portfolio managers could use this information for their personal advantage and/or the advantage of other accounts they manage, or to the possible detriment of the Fund. For example, a portfolio manager could front run the Fund’s trade or short sell a security for an account immediately prior to the Fund’s sale of that security. To address these conflicts, Barings has adopted policies and procedures governing employees’ personal securities transactions, the use of short sales, and trading between the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager or accounts owned by Barings or its affiliates.
With respect to securities transactions for the Fund, Barings determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. Barings manages certain other accounts, however, where Barings may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or directed to trade such client’s transactions through a particular broker. In these cases, trades for the Fund in a particular security may be placed separately from, rather than aggregated with, such other accounts. Placing separate transaction orders for a security may temporarily affect the market price of the security or otherwise affect the execution of the transaction to the possible detriment of the Fund or the other account(s) involved. Barings has policies and procedures that address best execution and directed brokerage.
Stapled Opportunities. A secondary strategy or a co-investment strategy may make a secondary investment or co-investment, as the case may be, that is contingent upon a primary investment to which the secondary investment or co-investment is “stapled,” and in such circumstances Barings may decide to treat the entire transaction (including the stapled primary) as a secondary investment or co-investment, as the case may be.
Allocation of Opportunities arising from Barings’ Relationships. Investment opportunities, including co-investment opportunities, may arise to Barings as the result of relationships developed by Barings with Portfolio Fund managers over time, including managers of underlying Portfolio Funds of clients of Barings. Such investment opportunities will generally be allocated among one or more clients of Barings, consistent with the usual procedures as provided above (which may or may not include clients invested in the relevant Portfolio Fund). For instance, a client executing a primary investment strategy may have a primary investment in a Portfolio Fund and any co-investment or secondary investment opportunity, as the case may be, originating from the manager of such Portfolio Fund may be allocated entirely to other clients of Barings executing a co-investment strategy or secondary investment strategy, respectively. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, for example where explicit pre-emption rights or rights of first refusal accrue to clients making the original investments or in the case of stapled transactions as described above.
Investor-Sourced Investment Opportunities. One or more separate account clients of Barings or investors in a Barings-managed vehicle, such as an investor in a Barings-managed account or a Barings-managed fund-of-one, may itself have one or more direct or indirect relationships with fund sponsors, investment managers, potential Portfolio Funds or potential portfolio companies. Such clients and investors may obtain investment opportunities as a result of such relationships and may undertake to effectuate such investment opportunity through such Barings-managed vehicle. Investment opportunities accruing to specific funds or clients (e.g., an opportunity accruing to a fund as a result of a right of first refusal or an investment opportunity sourced by a specific separate account client) will generally not be subject to Barings’ investment allocation process, and other clients of Barings may not share or participate in such investment opportunities sourced by such clients or investors.
In certain cases, Barings may provide portfolio construction services and investment due diligence services to third-party clients, who negotiate their own access to the underlying portfolio investments directly with the sponsor or manager of the relevant portfolio interest and independently of Barings. Where third-party clients negotiate their own access (including as to the quantum of the investment) to underlying portfolio investments, then it is Barings’ policy to ask the sponsor or manager of the relevant portfolio interest to treat the third-party client’s request entirely separately from the request made by Barings on behalf of all other funds or clients managed by Barings, such that the third-party client’s request will not be subject to Barings’ investment allocation process (much like an investor-sourced investment opportunity), while the request made by Barings on behalf of all other clients will be subject to Barings’ investment allocation process. In these cases and where the investment is capacity-constrained, similar to an allocation by the sponsor or manager to another unrelated third-party investor, the amount allocated by the sponsor or manager of the portfolio investment to other funds or clients managed by Barings will potentially be adversely impacted by the amount made available to the client that negotiates its own access. However, to manage any potential conflicts of interest, Barings does not allow third-party clients to elect arbitrarily to opt in or out of Barings’ investment allocation policy on a case-by-case basis.
-17-
A portfolio manager may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the above is not a complete description of every conflict of interest that could be deemed to exist in managing both a fund and the other accounts listed above.
Compensation of the Management Team
Compensation packages at Barings are structured such that key professionals have a vested interest in the continuing success of the firm. Portfolio managers’ compensation is comprised of base salary, and a discretionary, performance-driven annual bonus. Certain key individuals may also receive a long-term incentive award and/or a performance fee award. As part of the firm’s continuing effort to monitor retention, Barings participates in annual compensation surveys of investment management firms and subsidiaries to ensure that Barings’ compensation is competitive with industry standards.
The base salary component is generally positioned at mid-market. Increases are tied to market, individual performance evaluations and budget constraints.
Portfolio managers may receive a yearly bonus. Factors impacting the potential bonuses include but are not limited to: i) investment performance of funds/accounts managed by a portfolio manager, ii) financial performance of Barings, iii) client satisfaction, and iv) teamwork.
Long-term incentives are designed to share the long-term success of the firm and take the form of deferred cash awards, which may include an award that resembles phantom restricted stock; linking the value of the award to a formula which includes Barings’ overall earnings. A voluntary separation of service will result in a forfeiture of unvested long-term incentive awards.
Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers
In addition to the Fund (for purposes of this section, the “Fund” includes the Subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated), the Fund’s Portfolio Managers manage, or are affiliated with, other accounts, including other pooled investment vehicles. The table below identifies the number of accounts for which the Portfolio Managers have day-to-day management responsibilities and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts, as of June 30, 2022.
Registered Investment Companies |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio Manager | Number of Accounts(1) |
Total Assets ($ in millions) |
Number of Accounts |
Total Assets ($ in millions) |
Number of Accounts |
Total Assets ($ in millions) |
||||||||||||||||||
Mina Pacheco Nazemi | 0 | $ | 0 | 2 | $ | 296.0 | 10 | $ | 5,262.7 | |||||||||||||||
Antonio Cruz | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||||||
J.R. Keeve | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 |
(1) Does not include the Fund.
-18-
The table below identifies the number of accounts for which the Portfolio Managers have day-to-day management responsibilities and the total assets in such accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts, as of June 30, 2022.
Registered
Investment Companies for which Barings receives a performance-based fee |
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles managed for which Barings receives a performance-based fee |
Other
Accounts managed for which Barings receives a performance- based fee |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio Manager | Number
of Accounts(1) |
Total
Assets ($ in millions) |
Number
of Accounts |
Total
Assets ($ in millions) |
Number
of Accounts |
Total
Assets ($ in millions) |
||||||||||||||||||
Mina Pacheco Nazemi | 0 | $ | 0 | 2 | $ | 296.0 | 8 | $ | 4,073.1 | |||||||||||||||
Antonio Cruz | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||||||
J.R. Keeve | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 |
(1) Does not include the Fund.
Portfolio Management Team Ownership of Securities in the Fund
Name of Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund | |
Mina Pacheco Nazemi | None | |
Antonio Cruz | None | |
J.R. Keeve | None |
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE ALLOCATION
Transactions on stock exchanges, commodities markets and futures markets and other agency transactions involve the payment by the Fund of negotiated brokerage commissions. Such commissions may vary among different brokers. A particular broker may charge different commissions according to such factors as execution venue and exchange. Although the Fund does not typically pay commissions for principal transactions in the OTC markets, such as the markets for most fixed income securities and certain derivatives, an undisclosed amount of profit or “mark-up” is included in the price the Fund pays. In underwritten offerings, the price paid by the Fund includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer.
The primary consideration in placing portfolio security transactions with broker-dealers for execution is to obtain the best execution of orders. The Advisers attempt to achieve this result by selecting broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions on the basis of their professional capability, the value and quality of their brokerage services, including anonymity and trade confidentiality, and the level of their brokerage commissions.
Under the Investment Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement and as permitted by Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act and to the extent not otherwise prohibited by applicable law, the Advisers may cause the Fund to pay a broker-dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the investment adviser or subadviser an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the amount other broker-dealers would have charged for the transaction if the applicable Adviser determines in good faith that the greater commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the executing broker-dealer viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or applicable Adviser's overall responsibilities to the Fund and to its other clients. The term “brokerage and research services” includes: providing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities, and the availability of securities or of purchasers or sellers of securities; furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto such as clearance and settlement.
-19-
The Advisers may obtain third-party research from broker-dealers or non-broker-dealers by entering into commission sharing arrangements (“CSAs”). Under a CSA, the executing broker-dealer agrees that part of the commissions it earns on certain equity trades will be allocated to one or more research providers as payment for research. CSAs allow the Advisers to direct broker-dealers to pool commissions that are generated from orders executed at that broker-dealer, and then periodically direct the broker-dealer to pay third party research providers for research.
Brokerage and research services provided by brokers are used for the benefit of all of the Advisers' clients and not solely or necessarily for the benefit of the Fund. The Advisers attempt to evaluate the quality of brokerage and research services provided by brokers. Results of this effort are sometimes used by the Advisers as a consideration in the selection of brokers to execute portfolio transactions.
The investment advisory fee that the Fund pays to the Advisers will not be reduced as a consequence of the Advisers' receipt of brokerage and research services. To the extent the Fund’s portfolio transactions are used to obtain such services, the brokerage commissions paid by the Fund will exceed those that might otherwise be paid, provided that the applicable Adviser determines in good faith that such excess amounts are reasonable in relation to the services provided. Such services would be useful and of value to the Advisers in serving both the Fund and other clients and, conversely, such services obtained by the placement of brokerage business of other clients would be useful to an investment adviser or subadviser in carrying out its obligations to the Fund.
Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best execution of orders, the Fund may use broker-dealer affiliates of the Advisers to effect portfolio brokerage transactions under procedures adopted by the Trustees. Pursuant to these procedures, the commission, fee, or other remuneration paid to the affiliated broker-dealer in connection with a portfolio brokerage transaction effected on a securities exchange must be reasonable and fair in comparison to those of other broker-dealers for comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable time period. This standard would allow the affiliated broker or dealer to receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker.
The revised European Union (“EU”) Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (“MiFID II”), which became effective January 3, 2018, requires EU investment managers in the scope of the EU Markets in Financial Instruments Directive to pay for research services from brokers and dealers directly out of their own resources or by establishing “research payment accounts” for each client, rather than through client commissions. MiFID II’s research requirements present various compliance and operational considerations for investment advisers and broker-dealers serving clients in both the United States and the EU. If the Advisers were subject to MiFID II, MiFID II will cause the Fund to pay for research services through client commissions in circumstances where the Advisers are prohibited from causing its other client accounts to do so, including where the Advisers aggregate trades on behalf of the Fund and those other client accounts. In such situations, the Fund would bear the additional amounts for the research services and the Advisers’ other client accounts would not, although the Advisers’ other client accounts might nonetheless benefit from those research services.
In most instances, the Fund will invest substantially all of its assets (whether directly or through the Subsidiaries) in Portfolio Funds or purchase interests in a Portfolio Fund directly from the Portfolio Fund, and such investments or purchases by the Fund may be, but are generally not, subject to transaction expenses. Nevertheless, the Fund anticipates that some of its portfolio transactions (including investments in Portfolio Funds by the Fund) may be subject to expenses. Given the private equity focus of a majority of the Portfolio Funds, significant brokerage commissions are not anticipated to be paid by such funds.
-20-
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL
The Board has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, as independent registered public accountants for the Fund.
Ropes & Gray LLP, The Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-3600, serves as counsel to the Fund. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1111 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004-2541, serves as counsel to the Independent Trustees of the Fund.
ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor") acts as the principal underwriter of the Fund's shares. The Distributor's principal business address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.
State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custodian”) serves as the primary custodian of the assets of the Fund and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. sub-custodians (which may be banks and trust companies), securities depositories and clearing agencies in accordance with the requirements of Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Advisers or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of the Custodian or U.S. or non-U.S. sub-custodians in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian. The Custodian’s principal business address is 1 Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets directly or indirectly in one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries organized as a Delaware limited liability company that is taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the “Corporate Subsidiary”). The Fund may also invest all or a portion of its remaining assets in one or more other wholly-owned subsidiaries organized as Delaware limited liability companies that are disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (such subsidiaries, along with the Corporate Subsidiary, the “Subsidiaries”). The Subsidiaries have the same investment objective and strategies as the Fund and, like the Fund, are managed by the Advisers.
The Subsidiaries are overseen by their own board of directors and are not registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund, as the sole member of each Subsidiary, does not have all of the protections offered by the 1940 Act to shareholders of investment companies registered under the 1940 Act with respect to its investments in the Subsidiaries. However, the Subsidiaries are directly or indirectly wholly-owned and controlled by the Fund and the Fund’s Board oversees the investment activities of the Fund, including its investments in the Subsidiaries, and the Fund’s role as sole member of each Subsidiary. Barings is responsible for management of the Subsidiaries.
Each Subsidiary’s board of directors currently has the same composition as the Fund’s Board.
The Corporate Subsidiary has entered into a separate investment management agreement with Barings for the provision of advisory services. Under these agreements, Barings provides the Corporate Subsidiary with the same type of advisory services, under substantially the same terms, as are provided to the Fund. Additionally, Barings has entered into a separate investment subadvisory agreement with BIIL for the provision of subadvisory services to the Corporate Subsidiary. Under these agreements, BIIL provides the Corporate Subsidiary with the same type of subadvisory services, under substantially the same terms, as are provided to the Fund.
The Corporate Subsidiary has entered into contracts for the provision of custody services and fund administration and accounting services with the same service providers who provide those services to the Fund. The Corporate Subsidiary bears the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the services that it receives pursuant to each of these separate agreements and arrangements. The Fund expects that the expenses borne by the Subsidiaries will not be material in relation to the value of the Fund’s assets.
For purposes of adhering to the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures, Barings treats the assets of the Subsidiaries as if the assets were held directly by the Fund. The Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund makes periodic reports to the Fund’s Board regarding the management and operations of the Subsidiaries.
The financial information of each Subsidiary is consolidated into the Fund’s financial statements, as contained within the Fund’s registration statement and annual and semiannual reports that will be provided to Shareholders.
-21-
By investing in the Subsidiaries, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with each Subsidiary’s investments. The Portfolio Funds and other investments held by the Subsidiaries are subject to the same risks that would apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiaries are subject to the same principal risks to which the Fund is subject (as described in the Fund’s prospectus). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiaries will be achieved. The Subsidiaries are not registered under the 1940 Act, but the Subsidiaries will comply with certain sections of the 1940 Act and be subject to the same policies and restrictions as the Fund. The Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiaries, and the Fund and the Subsidiaries are managed by Barings and BIIL, making it unlikely that the Subsidiaries will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and Shareholders. The Fund’s Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiaries, and the Fund’s role as sole member of each Subsidiary. In managing each Subsidiary’s investment portfolio, Barings and BIIL manage each Subsidiary’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions.
The Advisers, as it relates to the Subsidiaries, comply with provisions of the 1940 Act relating to investment advisory contracts under Section 15 as an investment adviser to the Fund under Section 2(a)(20) of the 1940 Act.
Changes in the tax laws of the United States and/or the State of Delaware could result in the inability of the Subsidiary to operate as described in the prospectus and this SAI and could adversely affect the Subsidiary and its members.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to Barings.
Barings will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures. Copies of Barings’ proxy policy and procedures are included as Appendix A to this SAI. The Board will periodically review the Fund’s proxy voting record.
The Fund will be required to file Form N-PX, with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. The Fund’s Form N-PX filing will be available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at (704) 805-7200 or (ii) by visiting the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or is known by the Fund to own of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of the Fund's outstanding equity securities. A control person is a person who beneficially owns more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund.
As of the date of this SAI, MassMutual owned of record and beneficially 100% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
The consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the report of Deloitte and Touche LLP thereon, as included in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, as filed with the Commission on June 2, 2022 (the “Annual Report”) (Accession No. 0001398344-22-011410), are hereby incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by calling the Fund at (704) 805-7200.
A registration statement on Form N-2, including amendments thereto, relating to the Shares offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the SEC. The Prospectus and this SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Fund and the Shares offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement. A copy of the registration statement may be reviewed and copied on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Prospective investors can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov).
-22-
APPENDIX A –PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
-A-1-
BARINGS LLC
GLOBAL PROXY VOTING POLICY
Key Points
· | Barings LLC (“Barings”) has established a Proxy Voting Policy to establish the manner in which Barings fulfills its proxy voting responsibilities and complies with applicable regulations |
· | Any proxies received by Barings should be forwarded as soon as possible to the Proxy Voting Team for timely processing and voting |
· | Barings has a responsibility to oversee any service providers it may engage to facilitate proxy voting on behalf of its clients |
Introduction/Policy Statement
As an investment adviser or manager, Barings has a fiduciary duty to vote proxies on behalf of its clients (“Clients”). Regulations that apply to Barings, including Rule 206(4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 applicable to US regulated investment advisers, requires that Barings adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of its Clients. The policies and procedures must:
· | Describe how Barings addresses material conflicts that may arise between Barings’ interests and those of its Clients; |
· | Disclose to Clients how they may obtain information regarding how Barings voted with respect to their securities; and |
· | Describe to Clients Barings’ proxy voting policies and procedures and, upon request, furnish a copy of the policies and procedures. |
The purpose of this Global Proxy Voting Policy (“Policy”) is to establish the manner in which Barings will fulfill its proxy voting responsibilities and comply with applicable regulatory requirements. Barings understands that voting proxies is part of its investment advisory and management responsibilities and believes that as a general principle proxies should be acted upon (voted or abstained) solely in the best interests of its Clients (i.e., in a manner that is most likely to enhance the economic value of the underlying securities held in Client accounts).
No Barings associate (“Associate”), officer, board of managers/directors of Barings or its affiliates (other than those assigned such responsibilities under the Policy) can influence how Barings votes proxies, unless such person has been requested to provide assistance from an authorized investment person or designee (“Proxy Analyst”) or from a member of the Trading Practices Committee and has disclosed any known Material Conflict, as discussed in the Procedures section below.
Requirements
Standard Proxy Procedures
Barings engages a proxy voting service provider (“Service Provider”) responsible for processing and maintaining records of proxy votes. In addition, the Service Provider, a recognized authority on proxy voting and corporate governance, provides research and recommendations (including environmental, social and governance topics) on proxies to Barings as its research provider (“Research Provider”). Barings’ policy is to generally vote all Client proxies for which it has proxy voting discretion in accordance with the recommendations of the Research Provider or with the Research Provider’s proxy voting guidelines (“Guidelines”), in the absence of a recommendation. In circumstances where the Research Provider has not provided a recommendation, the proxy will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.
-A-2-
Barings recognizes that there may be times when it is in the best interests of Clients to vote proxies, (i) against the Research Provider’s recommendations; or (ii) in instances where the Research Provider has not provided a recommendation, against the Guidelines. Barings can vote, in whole or part, against the Research Provider’s recommendations or Guidelines as it deems appropriate. Procedures are designed to ensure that votes against the Research Provider’s recommendations or Guidelines are made in the best interests of Clients and are not the result of any material conflict of interest (“Material Conflict”). For purposes of this Policy, a Material Conflict is defined as any position, relationship or interest, financial or otherwise, of Barings or Associate that could reasonably be expected to affect the independence or judgment concerning proxy voting.
Review of Service Provider/Research Provider
In determining whether to retain, or continue the retention of, the Service Provider and/or Research Provider Barings should consider, among other things:
· | if the Service Provider and/or Research Provider have the capacity and competency to adequately analyze the matters for which Barings is responsible for voting by, for example, reviewing the adequacy and quality of the Service Provider’s and/or Research Provider’s staffing, personnel, and/or technology; |
· | if the Research Provider has an effective process for seeking timely input from issuers and Research Provider clients with respect to such matters as its proxy voting policies, methodologies, and if applicable, its peer group constructions. If peer group comparisons are a component of the Research Provider’s substantive evaluation, Barings should consider how the Research Provider incorporates appropriate input in formulating its methodologies and construction of issuer peer groups, and how, in constructing peer groups, the Research Provider takes into account the unique characteristics regarding the issuer, to the extent available, such as the issuer’s size; its governance structure; its industry and any particular practices unique to that industry; and its history; |
· | whether the Research Provider has adequately disclosed to Barings its methodologies in formulating voting recommendations, such that Barings can understand the factors underlying the Research Provider’s voting recommendations. In addition, Barings should consider the nature of any third-party information sources that the Research Provider uses as a basis for its voting recommendations; |
· | whether the Research Provider has adequate policies and procedures to identify, disclose, and address actual and potential conflicts of interest, including (1) conflicts relating to the provision of proxy voting recommendations and proxy voting services generally, (2) conflicts relating to activities other than providing proxy voting recommendations and proxy voting services, and (3) conflicts presented by certain affiliations; |
· | the effectiveness of the Research Provider’s firm’s policies and procedures for obtaining current and accurate information relevant to matters included in its research and on which it makes voting recommendations. In assessing such matters, Barings should consider: the Research Provider’s engagement with issuers, including the firm’s process for ensuring that it has complete and accurate information about the issuer and each particular matter, and the firm’s process, if any, for investment advisers to access the issuer’s views about the firm’s voting recommendations in a timely and efficient manner; and |
· | Barings should consider requiring the Research Provider to update Barings regarding business changes Barings considers relevant (i.e., with respect to the Research Provider’s capacity and competency to provide independent proxy voting advice or carry out voting instructions), and should consider whether the Research Provider appropriately updates its methodologies, guidelines, and voting recommendations on an ongoing basis, including in response to feedback from issuers and their shareholders. |
-A-3-
Other Considerations
There could be circumstances where Barings is unable or determines not to vote a proxy on behalf of its Clients. The following is a non-inclusive list of examples whereby Barings may decide not to vote proxies on behalf of its Clients:
· | The cost of voting a proxy for a foreign security outweighs the expected benefit to the Client, so long as refraining from voting does not materially harm the Client; |
· | Barings is not given enough time to process the vote (i.e., receives a meeting notice and proxy from the issuer too late to permit voting); |
· | Barings may hold shares on a company’s record date, but sells them prior to the company’s meeting date; |
· | Barings has outstanding sell orders on a particular security and the decision to refrain from voting may be made in order to facilitate such sale; |
· | The underlying securities have been lent out pursuant to a security lending program; or |
· | The company has participated in share blocking, which would prohibit Barings ability to trade or loan shares for a period of time. |
Administration of Proxy Voting
Barings has designated the Proxy Voting Team to ensure the responsibilities set forth in this Policy are satisfied.
Handling of Proxies
Proxy statements and ballots are typically routed directly to Barings’ proxy voting Service Provider. In the event that an Associate receives a proxy statement or ballot, the Associate should immediately forward the statement or ballot to the Proxy Voting Team who will record receipt of the proxy, route the materials for review, maintain a record of all action taken and process votes.
Voting of Proxies
Typically, Barings will vote all Client proxies for which it has proxy voting discretion, where no Material Conflict exists, in accordance with the Research Provider’s recommendation or Guidelines, unless (i) Barings is unable or determines not to vote a proxy in accordance with the Policy; or (ii) a Proxy Analyst determines that it is in the Clients’ best interests to vote against the Research Provider’s recommendation or Guidelines. In the event a Proxy Analyst believes a proxy should be voted against the Research Provider’s recommendations or Guidelines, the Proxy Voting Team will vote the proxy in accordance with the Proxy Analyst’s recommendation so long as (i) no other Proxy Analyst disagrees with such recommendation; and (ii) no known Material Conflict is identified by the Proxy Analyst(s) or the Proxy Voting Team. If a Material Conflict is identified by a Proxy Analyst or the Proxy Voting Team, the proxy will be submitted to the Trading Practices Committee to determine how the proxy is to be voted in order to achieve the Clients’ best interests.
Pre-vote communications with proxy-solicitors are prohibited. In the event that a pre-vote communication occurs, it should be reported to the Trading Practices Committee, the relevant Head of Compliance and/or General Counsel prior to voting. Any questions or concerns regarding proxy-solicitor arrangements should be addressed to the relevant Head of Compliance and/or General Counsel, or the respective designees.
Oversight
Barings’ Trading Practices Committee is responsible for (i) at least annually, reviewing and recommending changes as needed to the Policy including but not limited to how proxies are processed, to ensure that the Policy serves its intended purpose; (ii) approving proxy voting forms as needed; and (iii) reviewing any proposed changes to disclosures. In addition to the above, the Proxy Voting Team will provide materials to the Barings’ Trading Practices Committee on the following matters:
-A-4-
· | The extent to which potential credible factual errors, potential incompleteness, or potential methodological weaknesses in the Service Provider and or Research Provider (that Barings becomes aware of and deems relevant) are materially affecting the research or recommendations that Barings used or is using in voting; |
· | Confirm to the Trading Practices Committee that it believes that Barings is casting votes on behalf of its clients consistently with the Policy. This confirmation will be based on the Proxy Voting Team, at least annually, sampling the proxy votes cast on behalf of its clients. The review will consist of sampling of proxy votes that relate to proposals that may require more issuer-specific analysis (e.g., mergers and acquisition transactions, dissolutions, conversions, or consolidations) and providing the results of this testing to the Trading Practices Committee; |
· | Periodically reviewing the Service Provider’s guidelines used in the voting of proxies and notify the Trading Practices Committee of any material changes; |
· | Confirm that Barings is casting votes when a conflict of interest exists in compliance with the Policy; |
· | Escalating any issues relating to proxy voting identified during internal or external audits or assessments or reviews to Trading Practices Committee; and |
· | In circumstances where either the Proxy Voting Team has not provided a recommendation or has not contemplated an issue within its Guidelines and the proxy is analyzed on a case-by-case basis, or the matter subject to the proxy was contested or highly controversial, considering whether a higher degree of analysis was necessary to assess whether any votes cast on behalf of Barings’ clients were cast in the clients’ best interest. |
New Account Procedures
Investment management agreements generally delegate the authority to Barings to vote proxies in accordance with its Policy. In the event that an investment management agreement is silent on proxy voting, Barings should obtain written instructions from the Client as to their voting preference. However, when the Client does not provide written instructions as to their voting preference, Barings will assume proxy voting responsibilities. In the event that a Client makes a written request regarding proxy voting, Barings will vote as instructed.
Required Disclosures and Client Request for Information
Barings will include a summary of this Policy in the Form ADV Part 2A for its US registered investment advisers, as well as provide instructions as to how a Client may request a copy of this Policy and/or a record of how Barings voted the Client’s proxies. Requests will be directed to the Proxy Voting Team, who will provide the information to the appropriate client service representative in order to respond to the Client in a timely manner.
Conflict Resolution and Escalation Process
Associates should immediately report any issues they believe are a potential or actual breach of this Policy to their relevant business unit management and to the relevant Chief Compliance Officer (or relevant designee). The relevant Chief Compliance Officer (or relevant designee) will review the matter and determine whether the issue is an actual breach and whether to grant an exception, and/or the appropriate course of action. When making such determination, the relevant Chief Compliance Officer (or relevant designee) may, as part of his/her review, discuss the matter with relevant business unit management, members of the Senior Leadership Team, governance committees or other parties (i.e. legal counsel, auditor, etc).
The relevant Compliance Department can grant exceptions to any provision of this Policy so long as such exceptions are consistent with the purpose of the Policy and applicable law, are documented and such documentation is retained for the required retention period. Any questions regarding the applicability of this Policy should be directed to the appropriate Compliance Department or the relevant Chief Compliance Officer (or relevant designee).
-A-5-
Books and Records Retained
The table below identifies each Record that is required to be retained as it relates to this Policy unless a different retention period is required by local regulations in the relevant jurisdiction. Records may be unique to the relevant jurisdiction or combined with records maintained by Barings.
Description/Requirement | Barings Record | Creator | Owner | Retention Period |
Source | |||||
The Trading Practices Committee review of Policy, proxy activity, and approval of Proxy Voting Forms | Trading Practices Committee meeting materials | Proxy Voting Team | Trading Practices Committee Chairperson | 7 Years | Barings Policy Requirement and Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Rule 206(4)-6 Barings Policy requirement for Barings US regulated Advisers | |||||
Proxy statements, research, recommendations, and records of votes cast | Proxy Records | Service Provider or Proxy Voting Team | Service Provider or Proxy Voting Team | 7 Years | Barings Policy Requirement and Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Rule 206(4)-6 Barings Policy requirement for Barings US regulated Advisers | |||||
Proxy Voting Forms (including supporting documentation used in deciding how to vote) | Proxy Voting Forms | Proxy Voting team and/or Proxy Analyst | Proxy Voting Team | 7 Years | Barings Policy Requirement and Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Rule 206(4)-6 Barings Policy requirement for Barings US regulated Advisers | |||||
Client written requests for proxy voting information and responses thereto | Client Proxy Requests | Proxy Voting Team | Proxy Voting Team | 7 Years | Barings Policy Requirement and Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Rule 206(4)-6 Barings Policy requirement for Barings US regulated Advisers | |||||
Form N-PX, for proxies voted on behalf of an investment company for which Barings serves as investment adviser and is responsible for making such filing on behalf of its Clients | Form N-PX | Proxy Voting Team | Proxy Voting Team | 7 Years | Barings Policy requirement and Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Rule 206(4)-6 for Barings US regulated Advisers - Rule 30b1-4 | |||||
The Proxy Voting Policy, associated procedures and any amendments thereto | Proxy Voting Policy | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Barings Policy requirement | |||||
A copy of the Research Provider’s proxy voting guidelines | Research Provider’s Proxy Voting Guidelines | Research Provider | Proxy Voting Team | 7 Years | Barings Policy requirement |
Original Date of Policy:
October 2004 (Barings)
Last Revision Date:
March 2021
-A-6-
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
Item 26. | Marketing Arrangements: Not applicable. |
Item 27. | Other Expenses of Issuance or Distribution: Not applicable. |
Item 28. | Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant: | ||
Controlling Person | Person Controlled | Nature of Control | |
Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund | MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC(a)(b) | 100% ownership | |
Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund | MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC(a)(b) | 100% ownership by MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC | |
(a) Included in the consolidated financial statements of Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund. (b) Organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. |
Item 29. | Number of Holders of Securities | |
Set forth below is the number of record holders as of June 30, 2022 of each class of securities of the Registrant. | ||
Title of Class | Number of Record Holders | |
Class 1 Shares | 1 |
Item 30. | Indemnification |
The Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, incorporated herein by reference, contains provisions limiting the liability, and providing for indemnification, of every person who is or has been a Trustee or officer (including persons who serve at the Registrant’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Registrant has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (“Covered Persons”) against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees, reasonably incurred or paid by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any claim, action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, or other, including appeals, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person except with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in a decision on the merits in any such action, suit or other proceeding to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.
The Registrant’s Principal Underwriter Agreement, filed herewith, contains provisions limiting the liability, and providing for indemnification, of the Trustees and officers under certain circumstances.
Further, the Investment Management Agreements with Barings, filed herewith, contain provisions limiting the liability and providing for indemnification of Barings and its personnel under certain circumstances.
The Registrant’s Trustees and officers are expected to be insured under a standard investment company errors and omissions insurance policy covering loss incurred by reason of negligent errors and omissions committed in their official capacities as such.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in this Item 30, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. | Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser |
a. The Investment Adviser
Barings serves as investment manager to the Registrant and serves as manager to unregistered funds, registered funds, institutions and high net worth individuals, and subadviser of registered funds. A description of any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which Barings, and each partner or executive officer of the Barings, is or has been during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is set forth in the Prospectus contained in this Registration Statement in the section entitled “Management of the Fund—Barings” and in the Statement of Additional Information contained in this Registration Statement in the section entitled “Investment Management and Other Services”.
The information as to the directors and executive officers of the Manager is set forth in Form ADV filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (IARD/CRD No. 106006), as amended through the date hereof, which is incorporated herein by reference.
b. The Investment Sub-adviser
Baring International Investment Limited (“BIIL”) serves as sub-adviser to the Registrant and some of its portfolio funds. BIIL also serves as manager to private accounts of institutional and family office clients. A description of any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which BIIL, and each partner or executive officer of BIIL, is or has been during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is set forth in the Prospectus contained in this Registration Statement in the section entitled “Management of the Fund—BIIL” and in the Statement of Additional Information contained in this Registration Statement in the section entitled “Investment Management and Other Services”.
The information as to the directors and executive officers of BIIL is set forth in Form ADV filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (IARD/CRD No. 105724), as amended through the date hereof, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 32. | Location and Accounts and Records |
All accounts, books and other documents required by Rule 31(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are maintained at the offices, as applicable of: (1) Barings, (2) BIIL, (3) the Custodian and (4) the Administrator.
(Declaration of Trust and Bylaws) Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund 300 South Tryon Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
(With respect to its services as investment adviser and Administrator) Barings LLC 300 South Tryon Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
(With respect to its services as subadviser) Baring International Investment Limited 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500 Charlotte, North Carolina 28202; and 20 Old Bailey London, EC4M 7BF, United Kingdom |
(With respect to its services as Distributor) ALPS Distributors, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000 Denver, Colorado 80203
(With respect to their services as counsel) Ropes & Gray LLP The Prudential Tower 800 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02199-3600 |
Item 33. | Management Services: Not applicable. |
Item 34. | Undertakings |
1. Not applicable. 2. Not applicable. 3. The Registrant undertakes: a. to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement: |
1. | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act; | |
2. | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and | |
3. | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
Provided, however, that paragraphs a(1), a(2), and a(3) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is filed pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement. b. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and c. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. d. That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: 1. if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B: 2. |
A. | each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and | |
B. | each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the 1933 Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or |
3. if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the 1933 Act, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. e. That for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the 1933 Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities: The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser: |
1. any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; 2. free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrants; 3. the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the 1933 Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and 4. any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser. 4. Not applicable. 5. Not applicable. 6. Not applicable. 7. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, its Statement of Additional Information |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all requirements for the effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 486(b) under the 1933 Act and has duly caused this Registration Statement of Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Charlotte and the State of North Carolina as of the 16th day of December, 2022.
BARINGS PRIVATE EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMITMENTS FUND | |||
By: | /s/ Mina Nazemi | ||
Name: | Mina Nazemi | ||
Title: President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Mina Nazemi Mina Nazemi |
President (Principal Executive Officer) |
December 16, 2022 | ||
/s/ James Cochrane James Cochrane |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
December 16, 2022 | ||
* | ||||
Thomas W. Okel | Chairperson and Trustee | December 16, 2022 | ||
* | ||||
Mark F. Mulhern | Trustee | December 16, 2022 | ||
* | ||||
Jill Olmstead | Trustee | December 16, 2022 | ||
* | Trustee and Chief Legal Officer | |||
Jill Dinerman | December 16, 2022 | |||
*By: | /s/ Ashlee Steinnerd | |
Ashlee Steinnerd | ||
Attorney-in-Fact |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit (a)(1)
STATE of DELAWARE
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
This Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust of Barings Access Pine Point Fund (the “Trust”) is hereby duly executed and filed by the undersigned trustee of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (Title 12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.) (the "Act") to amend and restate the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust of the Trust, which was filed on September 27, 2022 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Secretary of State”) and which amended and restated the Certificate of Trust of the Trust filed on December 13, 2021 with the Secretary of State, and sets forth the following:
1. Name. The name of the trust is Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund.
2. Registered Office; Registered Agent. The business address of the Trust’s registered office in the State of Delaware is c/o Corporate Creations Network Inc., 3411 Silverside Road, Tatnall Building #104, Wilmington, Delaware 19810. The name of the Trust’s registered agent at such address is Corporate Creations Network Inc.
3. Investment Company. The Trust is a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 80(a-1 et seq.).
4. Effective Date. This Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon filing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811(a)(2) of the Act.
By: | /s/ Jill Dinerman | |
Name: Jill Dinerman | ||
Title: Trustee |
Exhibit (a)(2)
BARINGS PRIVATE EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMITMENTS
FUND
(formerly known as Barings Access Pine Point Fund)
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
December 16, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
ARTICLE I | NAME AND DEFINITIONS | 1 |
Section 1.1. | Name | 1 |
Section 1.2. | Definitions | 1 |
ARTICLE II | PURPOSE | 3 |
Section 2.1. | Purpose | 3 |
ARTICLE III | TRUSTEES | 3 |
Section 3.1. | Powers | 3 |
Section 3.2. | Legal Title | 5 |
Section 3.3. | Number of Trustees; Term of Office | 5 |
Section 3.4. | Election of Trustees | 6 |
Section 3.5. | Resignation and Removal | 6 |
Section 3.6. | Vacancies | 6 |
Section 3.7. | Committees; Delegation | 6 |
Section 3.8. | Quorum; Voting | 6 |
Section 3.9. | Action Without a Meeting; Participation by Conference Telephone or Otherwise | 6 |
Section 3.10. | By-Laws | 7 |
Section 3.11. | No Bond Required | 7 |
Section 3.12. | Reliance on Experts, Etc. | 7 |
Section 3.13. | Standard of Care; Limitation of Liability | 7 |
ARTICLE IV | CONTRACTS | 7 |
Section 4.1. | Distribution Contract | 7 |
Section 4.2. | Advisory or Management Contracts | 7 |
Section 4.3. | Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc. | 8 |
ARTICLE V | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION | 8 |
Section 5.1. | No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc. | 8 |
Section 5.2. | Execution of Documents; Notice; Apparent Authority | 8 |
Section 5.3. | Trustees, Officers, Etc. | 8 |
Section 5.4. | Compromise Payment | 9 |
Section 5.5. | Rebuttable Presumption | 9 |
Section 5.6. | Indemnification Not Exclusive | 9 |
Section 5.7 | No Presumption | 9 |
ARTICLE VI | SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST | 10 |
Section 6.1. | Beneficial Interest | 10 |
Section 6.2. | Other Securities | 10 |
Section 6.3. | Initial Designation of Classes | 10 |
Section 6.4. | Rights of Shareholders | 10 |
Section 6.5. | Trust Only | 10 |
Section 6.6. | Issuance of Shares | 11 |
Section 6.7. | Register of Shares | 11 |
Section 6.8. | Share Certificates | 11 |
Section 6.9. | Transfer of Shares | 11 |
Section 6.10. | Voting Powers | 12 |
Section 6.11. | Meetings of Shareholders | 12 |
Section 6.12. | Action Without a Meeting | 12 |
Section 6.13. | Quorum and Required Vote | 12 |
Section 6.14. | Additional Provisions | 12 |
ARTICLE VII | REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF COMMON SHARES | 13 |
Section 7.1. | Repurchase of Shares | 13 |
ARTICLE VIII | DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE; DISTRIBUTIONS | 14 |
Section 8.1. | By Whom Determined | 14 |
ARTICLE IX | DURATION; DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC. | 15 |
Section 9.1. | Duration and Termination | 15 |
Section 9.2. | Amendment Procedure | 16 |
Section 9.3. | Merger and Consolidation | 16 |
Section 9.4. | Conversion to Other Business Entities | 16 |
Section 9.5. | Incorporation | 16 |
ARTICLE X | MISCELLANEOUS | 17 |
Section 10.1. | Registered Agent; Registered Office | 17 |
Section 10.2. | Governing Law | 17 |
Section 10.3. | Counterparts | 17 |
Section 10.4. | Reliance by Third Parties | 17 |
Section 10.5. | Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations | 17 |
Section 10.6. | Derivative Actions | 17 |
Section 10.7. | General Direct Actions | 18 |
Section 10.8. | Inspection of Records and Reports | 19 |
Section 10.9. | Exclusive Delaware Jurisdiction | 19 |
Section 10.10. | Waiver of Jury Trial | 19 |
Section 10.11. | Conversion | 19 |
Section 10.12. | Section Headings; Interpretation | 20 |
Section 10.13. | Delivery by Electronic Transmission or Otherwise | 20 |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST OF BARINGS PRIVATE EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMITMENTS FUND (the “TRUST”)
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is AMENDED AND RESTATED as of December 16, 2022 for the purpose of renaming the Trust Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund effective December 16, 2022.
WHEREAS, the Trust was formed under the Delaware Act (as defined below) by the filing of the Certificate of Trust in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 24, 2021 and the execution and delivery by the sole initial Trustee of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust on May 24, 2021 (the “Original Declaration of Trust”);
WHEREAS, the Original Declaration of Trust was amended and restated on December 13, 2021 to change the name of the Trust from MassMutual Access Pine Point Fund to Barings Access Pine Point Fund effective December 13, 2021 (the “Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust”);
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to further amend and restate the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to change the name of the Trust from Barings Access Pine Point Fund to Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund effective December 16, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire that the beneficial interest in the trust assets be divided into transferable shares of beneficial interest, as hereinafter provided;
NOW THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that all money and property contributed to the trust established hereunder and all proceeds thereof shall be held and managed in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder and subject to the provisions hereof.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Name. Effective December 16, 2022, the name of the trust governed hereby is “Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund” in which name, or other name from time to time as the Trustees may determine, the Trustees shall conduct the business and activities of the Trust and execute all documents and take all actions authorized herein. The Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, change the name of the Trust or any class and adopt such other name as they deem proper.
Section 1.2. Definitions. Wherever they are used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:
“1940 Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any order or orders thereunder which may from time to time be applicable to the Trust. References herein to specific sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to include such rules and regulations as are applicable to such sections as determined by the Trustees or their designees.
“Affiliate” shall have the meaning of “Affiliated Person” set forth in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
“By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time.
“Class” or “Class of Shares” shall refer to the division of Shares into two or more classes as provided in Article VI hereof.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. “Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Shares” shall mean Shares that do not have preference over any other class of Shares with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions upon liquidation, termination or winding up of the affairs of the Trust.
1
“Covered Persons” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3
“Declaration” shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust as amended from time to time. This Declaration and any By-Laws of the Trust shall constitute the governing instrument of the Trust.
“Delaware Act” shall mean Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code entitled “Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts,” as it may be amended from time to time.
“Distributor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
“General Direct Action” shall mean an action, suit or other proceeding asserting a direct claim of any nature whatsoever (regardless of whether such claim sounds in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise or is based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds) where the harm alleged falls upon all Shareholders or all Shareholders of a series or class (and not an individual harm only to the Shareholder or Shareholders bringing such action, suit or other proceeding) on a pro rata basis and/or proportionally based on their holdings of Shares.
“Investment Adviser” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
“Majority Shareholder Vote” (i) with respect to matters voted upon by all Shareholders voting as a single class, shall have the meaning of “majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company” set forth in section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act; and (ii) with respect to any other matter required to be submitted to the outstanding voting Shares, shall have the meaning of “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of a class or series set forth in Rule 18f-2(h) under the 1940 Act.
“Person” shall mean an individual, a company, a corporation, partnership, trust (statutory or common law), or association, a joint venture, an organization, a business, a firm or other entity, whether or not a legal entity, or a country, a state, municipality or other political subdivision or any governmental agency or instrumentality.
“Principal Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(29) of the 1940 Act.
“Shareholder” shall mean a record owner of Shares.
“Shares” shall mean the units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust (or, if more than one series or class is authorized, each series or class thereof) shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.
“Trust” shall mean the Delaware statutory trust established under the Delaware Act by this Declaration, as from time to time amended. All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each series or class of Shares except as the context otherwise requires.
“Trustees” shall mean the individuals who have signed this Declaration, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other individuals who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons in his or her capacity or their capacities as trustees hereunder. Unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided, any reference herein to the Trustees shall refer to the sole Trustee at any time that there is only one Trustee of the Trust.
“Trust Property” shall mean any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees.
2
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Section 2.1. Purpose. The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment primarily in securities and other instruments and rights of a financial character and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine pursuant to their authority under this Declaration.
ARTICLE III
TRUSTEES
Section 3.1. Powers. The Trustees, subject only to the specific limitations contained in this Declaration, shall have exclusive and absolute power, control and authority over the Trust Property and over the conduct of the affairs of the Trust as set forth in this Declaration, including such power, control and authority to do all such acts and things as in their sole judgment and discretion are necessary, incidental, convenient or desirable for the carrying out of or conducting of the business of the Trust or in order to promote the interests of the Trust, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by the Delaware Act. The enumeration of any specific power, control or authority herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power, control and authority or any other specific power, control or authority. The Trustees shall have all powers necessary or convenient to conduct and carry on the business of the Trust, or any part thereof, to have one or more offices and to exercise any or all of its trust powers and rights, in the State of Delaware, in any other states, territories, districts, colonies and dependencies of the United States and in any foreign countries. In construing the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have the power:
(a) To operate as and carry out the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary or appropriate to the conduct of such operations.
(b) To invest and reinvest cash, to hold cash uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, purchase or write options on, lend, enter into contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of, or otherwise deal in or dispose of, securities, indices, currencies, commodities or other property of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers acceptances, and other securities, commodities or contracts of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including, without limitation, states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, the U.S. Government or any foreign government or any political subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any domestic or international instrumentality, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in “when issued” contracts for any such securities; to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments.
(c) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write options (including options on futures contracts) with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any series or Class thereof.
(d) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such Person or Persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such Person or Persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper.
(e) To set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, which, for purposes of determining the Shareholders of any series (or Class) who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution shall be on or before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such series (or Class) having the right to receive such dividend or distribution; without fixing a record date, the Trustees may for distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for one or more series (or Classes) at any time prior to the payment of a distribution; nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for different series (or Classes).
3
(f) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or other property.
(g) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise.
(h) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security or property which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security or property held in the Trust.
(i) To join with other security or property holders in acting through a committee, depository, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security or property with, or transfer any security or property to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security or property (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper.
(j) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including, but not limited to, claims for taxes.
(k) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations.
(l) To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust exclusively for Trust purposes and in connection therewith issue notes or other evidences of indebtedness; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any or all of such indebtedness.
(m) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any of or all of such obligations.
(n) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being in or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser, principal underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability.
(o) To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, Share bonus, Share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans and trusts, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust.
(p) To enter into contracts of any kind and description.
4
(q) To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of any series or Class.
(r) To establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the State of Delaware.
(s) To invest part or all of the Trust Property, or to dispose of part or all of the Trust Property and invest the proceeds of such disposition, in securities issued by one or more other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act (including investment by means of transfer or part of all of the Trust Property in exchange for an interest or interests in such one or more investment companies) all without any requirement of approval by Shareholders unless required by the 1940 Act. Any such other investment company may (but need not) be a trust (formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state) which is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
(t) Subject to the 1940 Act, to engage in any other lawful act or activity in which a statutory trust organized under the Delaware Act may engage.
(u) In general to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.
The foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general powers of the Trustees. Any action by one or more of the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust and not an action in an individual capacity.
The Trustees have the power to construe and interpret this Declaration and to act upon any such construction or interpretation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any construction or interpretation of this Declaration by the Trustees and any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust and the Shareholders made by the Trustees in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Shareholders and all other Persons for all purposes.
The Trustees shall not be limited by any law now or hereafter in effect limiting the investments which may be made or retained by fiduciaries, but they shall have full power and authority to make any and all investments within the limitation of this Declaration that they, in their sole and absolute discretion, shall determine, and without liability for loss even though such investments do not or may not produce income or are of a character or in an amount not considered proper for the investment of trust funds. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein or required by federal law including the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall act in their sole discretion and may take any action or exercise any power without any vote or consent of the Shareholders.
Section 3.2. Legal Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be vested in the Trust as a separate legal entity under the Delaware Act, provided that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees with suitable reference to their trustee status, or in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise. No creditor of any Trustee shall have any right to obtain possession, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to, any Trust Property with respect to any claim against, or obligation of, such Trustee in its individual capacity and not related to the Trust. To the extent title to the Trust Property has been vested in the Trustees, the right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the resignation, retirement, removal, declination to serve, incapacity, or death of a Trustee, he or she shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
Section 3.3. Number of Trustees; Term of Office. The initial Trustees shall be the persons initially signing this Declaration. The number of Trustees shall be the number of persons so signing until changed by the Trustees, and the Trustees may fix the number of Trustees from time to time. Each of the Trustees executing this Declaration and each Trustee thereafter appointed or elected (whenever such election occurs) shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified or until the earlier occurrence of any of the events specified in the first sentence of Section 3.6 hereof.
5
Section 3.4. Election of Trustees. Trustees may succeed themselves in office. Trustees may be elected at a Shareholders’ meeting. Shareholders shall not be entitled to elect Trustees except as required by the 1940 Act. To the extent required by the 1940 Act, the Shareholders shall elect the Trustees on such dates as the Trustees may fix from time to time. At such a Shareholders’ meeting, Trustees shall be elected by a majority of the votes validly cast, unless otherwise required any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or by law, or when the Trustees determine in their discretion to require a larger vote. The Shareholders may elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that purpose. The election of any Trustee (other than an individual who was serving as a Trustee immediately prior thereto) shall not become effective, however, until the individual named shall have accepted in writing such election and agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Declaration. The Trustees may determine by resolution those Trustees, if any, that shall be elected by Shareholders of a particular class of Shares (e.g., by a class of preferred Shares issued by the Trust) prior to the initial offering of such class of Shares. Trustees need not own Shares.
Section 3.5. Resignation and Removal. Any Trustee may resign his trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by him and delivered to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at any later date specified in the instrument. Any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any time by written instrument signed by at least a majority of the number of Trustees prior to such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective, and the Trustees may fill vacancies caused by enlargement of their number or by the death, resignation or removal of a Trustee.
Section 3.6. Vacancies. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, retirement, resignation or removal (whether pursuant to Section 3.5 hereof or otherwise), bankruptcy, adjudication of incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of the office of a Trustee. A vacancy shall also occur upon an increase in the number of Trustees in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof. No vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of the Declaration. In the case of an existing vacancy, including a vacancy existing by reason of an increase in the number of Trustees, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy by the appointment of such individual as they in their sole and absolute discretion shall see fit, made by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office, provided that such power of appointment shall be subject to and limited by all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in Section 3.4 or this Section 3.6, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by the Declaration.
Section 3.7. Committees; Delegation. The Trustees shall have the power to appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one or more committees consisting of one or more Trustees, including an executive committee which may exercise some or all of the power and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine (including but not limited to the power to determine net asset value and net income and the power to declare a dividend or other distribution on the Shares of any series or class), subject to any limitations contained in the By-Laws and in the 1940 Act, and, subject to any limitations contained in the 1940 Act, in general to delegate from time to time to one or more of their number or to one or more officers, employees or agents of the Trust any or all of their powers, authorities, duties and the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments, either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise, as the Trustees may deem expedient (including but not limited to the power to declare a dividend or other distribution on the Shares of any series or class.
Section 3.8. Quorum; Voting. At all meetings of the Trustees, the presence of a majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of Trustees present may take any action, except when a larger vote is required by this Declaration, the By-Laws or the 1940 Act.
Section 3.9. Action Without a Meeting; Participation by Conference Telephone or Otherwise. Unless the 1940 Act requires that a particular action must be taken only at a meeting of Trustees, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Trustees (or of any committee of the Trustees) may be taken without a meeting if written consents thereto are signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office (or by a majority of the members of such committee) and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings. Unless the 1940 Act requires that Trustees must be present in person at a meeting of Trustees, Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees (or of any committee of the Trustees) by means of a conference telephone or other means if all individuals participating can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence at the meeting.
6
Section 3.10. By-Laws. The Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration or law to provide for the conduct of the business of the Trust, and may amend or repeal such By-Laws.
Section 3.11. No Bond Required. No Trustee shall be obliged to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.
Section 3.12. Reliance on Experts, Etc. Each Trustee, officer, agent and employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and completely justified and protected by relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, or upon reports made to the Trustees (a) by any of the officers or employees of the Trust, (b) by the Investment Adviser, the Distributor, the custodian or the transfer agent, or (c) by any accountants, selected dealers or appraisers or other agents, experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, regardless of whether such agent, expert or consultant may also be a Trustee. The Trustees, officers, agents and employees of the Trust may take advice of counsel with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration and with respect to other legal matters or questions, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice.
Section 3.13. Standard of Care; Limitation of Liability.
Section 3.13.1 General. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, the Trustees shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, owe no fiduciary duties to the Trust, the Shareholders or any other Person bound by this Agreement.
Section 3.13.2 Limitation of Liability. A Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Trust shall have no liability to the Trust or the Shareholders except for his own willful misfeasance (within the meaning of Section 17(h) of the 1940 Act), bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.
ARTICLE IV
CONTRACTS
Section 4.1. Distribution Contract. The Trust may from time to time enter into a distribution contract with another Person (the “Distributor”) providing for the sale of Shares, pursuant to which the Trust may agree to sell Shares of one or more series or class to the Distributor or appoint the Distributor its sales agent for the Shares. Such contract may provide that the Distributor may enter into contracts with other persons to sell the Shares on behalf of the Distributor and the Trust. Such contract may also provide for the repurchase of Shares by the Distributor as agent of the Trust and shall contain such terms and conditions, if any, as may be prescribed in the By-Laws and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV or of the By-Laws as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
Section 4.2. Advisory or Management Contracts. Subject to approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote to the extent required by the 1940 Act, the Trust may from time to time enter into investment advisory or management contracts with one or more other Persons (the “Investment Advisers”) pursuant to which the Investment Adviser or Advisers shall agree to furnish to the Trust (or cause the Trust to be furnished) management, investment advisory or subadvisory, statistical and research facilities or other services. Such contract shall contain such other terms and conditions, if any, as may be prescribed in the By-Laws and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV, the By-Laws or applicable law as the Trustees may in their discretion determine, including the grant of authority to the Investment Adviser to determine what securities shall be purchased or sold by the Trust and what portion of its assets shall be uninvested and to implement such determinations by making changes in the Trust’s investments.
7
Section 4.3. Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc. The fact that any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Trust is a shareholder, member, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser or distributor of or for any Person or of or for any parent or affiliate of any Person with which an investment advisory or management contract, principal underwriter or distributor contract or custodian, transfer agent, disbursing agent or similar agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such Person, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder of or has any other interest in the Trust, or that any such Person also has any one or more similar contracts with one or more other such Persons, or has other businesses or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract made or that may hereafter be made with the Trust or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trustees, the Trust, or the Shareholders.
ARTICLE V
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc. No Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. No Trustee shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay by way of subscription for any Shares or otherwise. All Persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust shall look only to the assets of the Trust for payment under such credit, contract or claim, and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. No Trustee shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any person other than the Trust or the Shareholders in connection with the Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable to the Trust or the Shareholders for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, employee or agent (including, without limitation, the Investment Advisers, the Distributor, the custodian and the transfer agent) of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible or liable for the act or omission of any other Trustee.
Section 5.2. Execution of Documents; Notice; Apparent Authority. Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon. Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officers or officer shall recite that the obligations of such instruments are not binding upon any of the Trustees, Shareholders, officers, employees or agents of the Trust individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind any Trustees, Shareholders or officers, employees and agents of the Trust individually. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by such officer, employee or agent of the Trust or make inquiry concerning or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of such officer, employee or agent of the Trust.
Section 5.3. Trustees, Officers, Etc. The Trust shall indemnify every person who is or has been a Trustee or officer (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person") against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees, reasonably incurred or paid by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any claim, action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, or other, including appeals, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person except with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in a decision on the merits in any such action, suit or other proceeding to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office. Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article, provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising from any such advance payments, or (c) either a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter), or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Article.
8
Section 5.4. Compromise Payment. As to any matter disposed of (whether by a compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication on the merits by a court, or by any other body before which the proceeding was brought, that such Covered Person is liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office, indemnification shall be provided if (a) approved, after notice that it involves such indemnification, by at least a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) upon a determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that such Covered Person is not liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office (the disinterested Trustees to take final action on the consideration of such approval within 60 days of a request thereof by a Covered Person), or (b) there has been obtained an opinion in writing of independent legal counsel, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry), to the effect that such indemnification would not protect such Covered Person against any liability to the Trust to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office (which opinion the Trustees shall use reasonable diligence to obtain within 60 days of a request therefor by a Covered Person). Any approval pursuant to this Section shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with this Section as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.
Section 5.5. Rebuttable Presumption. For purposes of the determination or opinion referred to in clause (c) of Section 5.3 of this Article V or clauses (a) or (b) of Section 5.4 of this Article V, the majority of disinterested Trustees acting on the matter or independent legal counsel, as the case may be, shall be entitled to rely upon a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.
Section 5.6. Indemnification Not Exclusive. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article V, the term "Covered Person" shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators and a "disinterested Trustee" is a Trustee who is not an "interested person" of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (or who has been exempted from being an "interested person" by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees or officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
Section 5.7. No Presumption. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that a Covered Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Trust or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was lawful.
9
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 6.1. Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into an unlimited number of transferable shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”). Such shares of beneficial interest may be issued in different classes and/or series of beneficial interests. All Shares issued in accordance with the terms hereof, including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable when the consideration determined by the Trustees (if any) therefor shall have been received by the Trust. The Trustees may hold treasury Shares, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as they may determine, or cancel any Shares of any series or class repurchased or redeemed at their discretion from time to time.
Section 6.2. Other Securities. The Trustees may, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, authorize and issue such other securities of the Trust as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, having such terms, rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as the Trustees see fit, including preferred interests, debt securities or other senior securities. To the extent that the Trustees authorize and issue preferred shares of any class or series, they are hereby authorized and empowered to amend or supplement the Trust’s governing instrument as they deem necessary or appropriate, including to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act or requirements imposed by the rating agencies or other Persons, all without the approval of Shareholders. Any such supplement or amendment shall be filed as is necessary. In addition, any such supplement or amendment may set forth the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of such preferred shares and any such supplement or amendment shall operate either as additions to or modifications of the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of any such preferred shares under the Trust’s governing instrument. To the extent the provisions set forth in such supplement or amendment conflict with the provisions of the Trust’s governing instrument (prior to giving effect to such supplement or amendment) with respect to any such rights, powers and privileges of the preferred shares, such amendment or supplement shall control. The Trustees are also authorized to take such actions and retain such persons as they see fit to offer and sell such securities.
Section 6.3. Initial Designation of Classes. Subject to the designation of additional classes pursuant to Section 6.2, there shall be four classes, hereby designated as Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 Shares of the Trust.
Section 6.4. Rights of Shareholders. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Declaration. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have become a party hereto. The right to conduct any business hereinbefore described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called upon to share or assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership of Shares. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust nor to entitle the legal representative of such Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in any court or otherwise against other Shareholders or the Trustees or the Trust Property, but only to the rights of such Shareholder hereunder. The Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange rights, except as the Trustees may otherwise approve, including pursuant to Section 6.2.
Unless expressly stated otherwise and subject to Section 10.6, Shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of the contractual arrangements of the Trust, and the Trust’s contractual arrangements are not intended to create any Shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust. The prospectus and statement of additional information describing the Trust are not contracts between the Trust and the Shareholders of the Trust and do not give rise to any Shareholder rights other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.
Section 6.5. Trust Only. The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust organized under the Delaware Act. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only the relationship of Trustees and beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.
10
Section 6.6. Issuance of Shares.
Section 6.6.1 General. The Trustees may from time to time without vote of the Shareholders issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold Shares. All such Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Section 6.6, shall be fully paid and nonassessable.
Section 6.6.2 On Merger or Consolidation. In connection with the acquisition of assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the assumption of, liabilities), businesses or stock of another Person, the Trustees may issue or cause to be issued Shares and accept in payment therefor, in lieu of cash, such assets or businesses at their market value (as determined by the Trustees) or such stock at the market value (as determined by the Trustees) of the assets held by such other Person, either with or without adjustment for contingent costs or liabilities, provided that the funds of the Trust are permitted by law to be invested in such assets, businesses or stock.
Section 6.6.3 Fractional Shares. The Trustees may issue and sell fractions of Shares having pro rata all the rights of full Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote and to receive dividends and distributions.
Section 6.7. Register of Shares. A register shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust or an office of the transfer agent of the Trust which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders of each series or class, the number of Shares of each such series or class held by them respectively, a record of all transfers thereof and any other information required by the Code, United States Treasury Regulations or any other taxing authority with respect to regulated investment companies. Such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders of each series or class. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein or in the By-Laws provided, until he has given his address to the transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trust as shall keep the said register for entry thereon.
Section 6.8. Share Certificates. No certificates certifying ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time.
Section 6.9. Transfer of Shares.
(a) Shares may be transferred only (i) by operation of law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution of such Shareholder or (ii) with the written consent of the Board or the Adviser (which may be withheld in each of its sole and absolute discretion).
(b) If any transferee does not meet any investor eligibility requirements established by the Fund from time to time, or if neither the Board nor the Adviser consents to a transfer, the Fund reserves the right to repurchase or redeem the transferred Shares from the Shareholder’s successor pursuant to Section 7.1.
(c) Any transferee that acquires Shares by operation of law as the result of the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, or dissolution of a Shareholder or otherwise, shall be entitled to the right to tender such Shares for repurchase by the Fund in connection with an offer to purchase such Shares made by the Fund (provided that the Fund need not make any such offer) and shall be entitled to receive any dividend and other distributions paid by the Fund with respect to such Shares, but shall not be entitled to the other rights of a Shareholder unless and until such transferee becomes a substituted Shareholder. In no event, however, will any transferee or assignee be admitted as a Shareholder without the consent of the Board or the Adviser (or a delegate of either of them), which may be withheld in each of its (or each delegate’s) sole discretion. The admission to the Fund of any transferee or successor as a substituted Shareholder shall be effective upon the execution and delivery by, or on behalf of, the substituted Shareholder of an investor certification form and acceptance thereof by the Fund.
(d) Any pledge, transfer, or assignment not made in accordance with this Section 6.9 shall be void.
11
(e) Each transferring Shareholder and transferee agrees to pay all expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Fund in connection with such Transfer. Upon the transfer to another Person or Persons of a Shareholder’s Shares, such transferring Shareholder shall cease to be a shareholder of the Fund with respect to such Shares. Unless prohibited by applicable law (and then only to the extent so prohibited) each transferring Shareholder shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, the Trustees, the officers of the Fund, each other Shareholder, and any Affiliate of the foregoing against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including legal or other expenses incurred in investigating or defending against any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses or any judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement), joint or several, to which such Persons may become subject by reason of or arising from (i) any Transfer made by such Shareholder in violation of this Section 6.9 and (ii) any misrepresentation by such Shareholder (or such Shareholder’s transferee) in connection with any such Transfer.
Section 6.10. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only: (a) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Sections 3.4 hereof; (b) with respect to any investment advisory or management contract entered into pursuant to and to the extent required by Section 4.2 hereof; (c) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration to the extent and as provided in Section 9.2 hereof; and (d) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares issued and outstanding shall, subject to applicable law, be voted as a single class in the aggregate and not by series or class, except with respect to (i) any matter determined by the Trustees to affect Shareholders of any particular series or class in a material respect different from the Shareholders of one or more other series or classes; and (ii) such matters as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. With respect to such matters, Shareholders of each affected series or class shall have the power to vote as a separate series or class, as determined by the Trustees, and Shareholders that are not so affected shall not be entitled to vote. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which Shareholders are entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders (including, without limitation, the right to amend this Declaration) and may take any action required by law, the By-Laws or this Declaration to be taken by Shareholders. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes and related matters.
Section 6.11. Meetings of Shareholders. Meetings of the Shareholders may only be called at any time by the Trustees for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Shareholders as herein provided or upon any other matters deemed to be necessary or desirable. A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the Trustees (or may be held virtually to the extent designated by the Trustees). Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given or caused to be given by the Trustees by mailing such notice at least seven days before such meeting, postage prepaid, stating the time and place of the meeting, to each Shareholder at the Shareholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Trust or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, at least seven days before such meeting, to the telephone or facsimile number or e-mail or other electronic address most recently furnished to the Trust (or its agent) by the Shareholder. Whenever notice of a meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto authorized and filed with the records of the meeting, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.
Section 6.12. Action Without a Meeting. Any action which may be taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if such proportion of Shareholders as is required to vote for approval of the matter by law, this Declaration or the By-Laws consents to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of Shareholders’ meetings. Such consents shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a Shareholders’ meeting.
Section 6.13. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by law, by the Bylaws or by this Declaration of Trust, 10% of the Shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting. Any meeting of Shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question, or by the chair of the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting without further notice. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a larger vote is required by any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or by law, or when the Trustees determine in their discretion to require a larger vote.
Section 6.14. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes and meetings and related matters.
12
ARTICLE VII
REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF COMMON SHARES
Section 7.1. Repurchase of Shares.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Shareholder or other Person holding any Shares shall have the right to withdraw or tender to the Trust for repurchase of or to redeem any such Shares. The Trustees may from time to time, and in its complete and exclusive discretion and on such terms and conditions as it may determine, cause the Trust to offer to repurchase Shares from Shareholders, including the Investment Adviser or any Affiliates thereof, pursuant to written tenders or to redeem Shares from Shareholders, including the Investment Adviser or any Affiliates thereof. In determining whether to cause the Trust to offer to repurchase Shares from Shareholders pursuant to written tenders, or to redeem Shares, the Trustees may consider the following factors, among others:
(i) whether any Shareholders have requested to tender Shares to the Trust or to have their Shares redeemed by the Trust;
(ii) the liquidity of the Trust Assets (including fees and costs associated with disposing of the Trust’s interests in underlying investments);
(iii) the investment plans and working capital and reserve requirements of the Trust;
(iv) the relative economies of scale of the tenders or redemptions with respect to the size of the Trust;
(v) the history of the Trust in repurchasing or redeeming Shares;
(vi) the availability of information as to the value of the Trust’s investments in underlying investments;
(vii) the existing conditions of the securities markets and the economy generally, as well as political, national or international developments or current affairs;
(viii) the anticipated tax consequences to the Trust of any proposed repurchases or redemptions of Shares; and
(ix) the recommendations of the Investment Adviser.
With respect to repurchases, the Trustees shall cause the Trust to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders only on terms fair to the Trust and to all Shareholders and Persons holding Shares acquired from Shareholders, as applicable.
(b) The Trustees may cause the Trust to repurchase or redeem all or any portion of the Shares of a Shareholder or any Person acquiring any Shares from or through a Shareholder if the Trustees determine or have reason to believe that:
(i) such Shares have been transferred in violation of Section 6.9 hereof, or such Shares have vested in any Person by operation of law (i.e., the result of the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, or dissolution of the Shareholder);
(ii) if any transferee does not meet any investor eligibility requirements established by the Trust from time to time, including the Fund’s minimum account balance requirement;
13
(iii) ownership of such Shares by a Shareholder or other Person is likely to cause the Trust to be in violation of, or require registration of any Shares under, or subject the Trust to additional registration or regulation under, the securities, commodities, or other laws of the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction;
(iv) continued ownership of such Shares by a Shareholder may be harmful or injurious to the business or reputation of the Trust or the Investment Adviser or may subject the Trust or any of the Shareholders to an undue risk of adverse tax or other fiscal or regulatory consequences;
(v) any of the representations and warranties made by a Shareholder or other Person in connection with the acquisition of Shares was not true when made or has ceased to be true;
(vi) with respect to a Shareholder subject to special laws or regulations, the Shareholder is likely to be subject to additional regulatory or compliance requirements under these special laws or regulations by virtue of continuing to hold any Shares;
(vii) the investment balance of the Shareholder falls below the amount the Trustees determines from time to time to be a minimum investment in the Trust or rises above the amount the Trustees determines from time to time to be a maximum investment in the Trust; or
(viii) it would be in the best interests of the Trust, as determined by the Trustees, for the Trust to repurchase or redeem such Shares.
(c) The Trust may repurchase Common Shares directly, or through the Distributor or another agent designated for the purpose, by agreement with the owner thereof, or an agent designated by such owner, at a price not exceeding the net asset value per share determined as set forth in Article VIII hereof as of the time specified in the prospectus of the Trust at the time in effect.
(d) Repurchases or redemptions of Shares by the Trust shall be payable in non-interest bearing promissory notes with such terms as determined by the Trustees in its discretion, unless the Trustees, in its discretion, determines otherwise, or, in the discretion of the Trustees, in securities (or any combination of securities and cash) of equivalent value. All such repurchases or redemptions shall be subject to any and all conditions as the Trustees may impose and all such repurchases shall be effective as of a date set by the Trustees after receipt by the Trust of all eligible written tenders of Shares as of a date set by the Trustees. The amount due to any Shareholder whose Shares are repurchased or redeemed shall be equal to the net asset value of such Shareholder’s Shares as applicable as of the effective date of repurchase or redemption (as determined by the Trust in connection with the purchase and/or redemption or repurchase of Shares), subject to any applicable early repurchase fee or contingent deferred sales charge, and subject to subsequent adjustment, in the discretion of the Investment Adviser, in the event that additional relevant information becomes available following the Trust’s annual audit.
ARTICLE VIII
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE; DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 8.1. By Whom Determined.
(a) Subject to applicable federal law, including the 1940 Act, and Article VI hereof, the Trustees, in their sole discretion, may prescribe (and delegate to any officer of the Trust or any other Person or Persons the right and obligation to prescribe) such bases and time (including any methodology or plan) for determining the per Share or net asset value of the Common Shares of the Trust or any series or classes thereof or net income attributable to the Common Shares of the Trust or any series or classes thereof, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of the Trust or any series or classes thereof and the method of determining the Shareholders to whom dividends and distributions are payable, as they may deem necessary or desirable. The Trustees may suspend the determination of net asset value to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or the regulations and orders from time to time in effect thereunder.
14
(b) Without limiting the powers of the Trustees under Section 3.1 of Article III hereof, the Trustees may at any time and from time to time, as they may determine, allocate or distribute to Shareholders such income and capital gains, accrued or realized, or returns of capital as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual, accrued or estimated expenses and liabilities (including reserves) determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to applicable federal law, including the 1940 Act, any dividend or distribution may be paid in cash and or securities or other property, and the composition of any such distribution shall be determined by the Trustees (or by any officer of the Trust or any other Person or Persons to whom such authority has been delegated by the Trustees) and may be different among Shareholders including differences among Shareholders of the same series or class. The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout plans or related plans as the Trustees shall deem appropriate.
(c) Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income and excise tax purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books of the Trust, the above provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their discretion to allocate or distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes after amended or modified.
ARTICLE IX
DURATION; DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST;
AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
Section 9.1. Duration and Termination.
(a) Unless dissolved and terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated by a vote of the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Upon the termination of the Trust,
(i) The Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business, provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property that requires Shareholder approval under Section 9.3 hereof shall receive the approval so required.
(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all claims and obligations as required by Section 3808(e) of the Delaware Act, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders according to their respective rights.
(b) After termination of the Trust and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, the Trustees shall provide for the making of all filings and applications required by law, and shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination. Thereupon, the Trustees shall be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon cease.
15
Section 9.2. Amendment Procedure.
(a) Except as specifically provided herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, amend this Declaration by an instrument in writing or an amended and restated Declaration signed by a majority of the Trustees. Such an amendment shall be authorized by a Majority Shareholder Vote if Shareholder authorization is required by the 1940 Act, with the series and classes of Shares entitled to vote on such an amendment determined pursuant to Section 6.10 hereof; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the issuance of additional voting Shares would not, on its own, be considered to limit the right of a Shareholder to vote under Section 6.10 for purposes of this sentence. Notwithstanding anything else herein, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no amendment to this Declaration shall (i) limit the rights of indemnification provided in Article V hereof with respect to actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment, (ii) impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or (iii) permit assessments upon Shareholders.
(b) An instrument in writing setting forth the amendment or an amended and restated Declaration, executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust. Subject to the foregoing, any such amendment shall be effective as provided in the instrument containing the terms of such amendment or, if there is no provision therein with respect to effectiveness, upon the execution of such instrument by a majority of the Trustees (or by an officer of the Trust pursuant to a vote of a majority of the Trustees).
Section 9.3. Merger and Consolidation. Pursuant to an agreement of merger or consolidation, the Trust, may, by act of a majority of the Trustees, without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, merge or consolidate with or into one or more business trusts or other business entities formed or organized or existing under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States or any foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction. Any such merger or consolidation shall not require the vote of the Shareholders affected thereby, unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act. In accordance with Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation may effect any amendment to this Declaration or the By-Laws or effect the adoption of a new declaration of trust or bylaws of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting business trust. Upon completion of the merger or consolidation, the Trustees shall file a certificate of merger or consolidation in accordance with Section 3810 of the Delaware Act.
Section 9.4. Conversion to Other Business Entities. A majority of the Trustees may, without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, cause (i) the Trust to convert to a common-law trust, a general partnership, limited partnership or a limited liability company organized, formed or created under the laws of the State of Delaware as permitted pursuant to Section 3821 of the Delaware Act; (ii) the Shares of the Trust to be converted into beneficial interests in another business trust created pursuant to this Section 9.4, or (iii) the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law; provided, however, that if required by the 1940 Act, no such statutory conversion, Share conversion or Share exchange shall be effective unless the terms of such transaction shall first have been approved at a meeting called for that purpose; provided, further, that in all respects not governed by statute or applicable law, the Trustees shall have the power to prescribe the procedure necessary or appropriate to accomplish a sale of assets, merger or consolidation including the power to create one or more separate business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares of the Trust into beneficial interests in such separate business trust or trusts.
Section 9.5. Incorporation. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, the Trustees may, without prior Shareholder approval, cause to be organized or assist in organizing under the laws of any jurisdiction a corporation or corporations or any other trust, partnership, association or other organization to take over all or less than all of the Trust Property or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and may sell, convey and transfer Trust Property to any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or other organization in exchange for the shares or securities thereof or otherwise, and may lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or other organization, or any corporation, partnership, trust, association or other organization in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interest.
16
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1. Registered Agent; Registered Office. The Registered Agent of the Trust within the State of Delaware for service of process, and the Registered Office of the Trust within the State of Delaware, shall be the Corporate Creations Network Inc., 3411 Silverside Road, Tatnall Building #104, Wilmington, Delaware 19800, or such other agent or place, respectively, as the Trustees may designate from time to time by any supplement to this Declaration, provided however, that such appointment shall not become effective until written notice thereof is delivered to the office of the Secretary of the State of Delaware.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. The Trust and this Declaration, and the rights and obligations of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be governed by and construed and administered according to the Delaware Act and the laws of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration (a) the provisions of Section 3540 and Section 3561 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or (b) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts which relate to or regulate (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents, or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees, which are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a “statutory trust”, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust under Delaware law. The Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by trusts under the Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power, privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.
Section 10.3. Counterparts. This Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.
Section 10.4. Reliance by Third Parties. Any certificate executed by an officer of the Trust or a Trustee certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the due authorization of the execution of any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (d) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (e) the form of any By-Laws adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees or (f) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of any Person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.
Section 10.5. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
(a) The provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with requirements of the 1940 Act, would be inconsistent with any of the conditions necessary for qualification of the Trust as a regulated investment company under the Code or is inconsistent with other applicable laws and regulations, such provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration, provided that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.
Section 10.6. Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met:
17
(a) The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of this Section 10.6(a), a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, has a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue, and a Trustee shall not be deemed interested in a transaction or otherwise disqualified from ruling on the merits of a shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee (i) receives remuneration (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Shares of the Trust or interests in any other Trust that is under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust) for his or her service on the Board of Trustees of the Trust or on the boards of one or more Trusts that are under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust and/or (ii) holds Shares of the Trust or interests in any other Trust that is under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust;
(b) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 10.6, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware Act who hold at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares of the Series or Class to which such action relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action;
(c) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 10.6, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisor in the event the Trustees determine not to take action;
(d) For purposes of this Section 10.6, the Board of Trustees may designate a committee of one Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a committee with a majority of Trustees who do not have a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue; and
(e) Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain, or compromise (or not to bring, maintain, or compromise) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be made by the Trustees in good faith and shall be binding upon the Shareholders. Where demand is not required under this Section 10.6, a Shareholder may only bring a derivative action if Shareholders owning not less than ten percent (10%) of the then outstanding Shares of the Trust or such series or class joins in the bringing of such court action, proceeding or claim.
Section 10.7. General Direct Actions.
Section 10.7.1 General. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Shareholders’ right to bring a General Direct Action against the Trust and/or its Trustees is eliminated, except for a General Direct Action to enforce an individual Shareholder right to vote or a General Direct Action to enforce an individual Shareholder’s rights under Sections 3805(e) or 3819 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. To the extent such right cannot be eliminated to this extent as a matter of Delaware law, then Section 10.7.2 shall apply.
Section 10.7.2 Required Conditions. No Shareholder may maintain a General Direct Action unless holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares or, if less than all outstanding series or classes are alleged to have been harmed in connection with the General Direct Action, ten percent (10%) of the Shares in the respective series, class or classes alleged to have been harmed, join in the bringing of such action. In addition, a Shareholder may bring a General Direct Action only if the following conditions are met:
(a) the Shareholder or Shareholders has obtained authorization from the Trustees to bring such General Direct Action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to authorize such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of this Section 10.7.2(a), a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, has a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue, and a Trustee shall not be deemed interested in a transaction or otherwise disqualified from ruling on the merits of a shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Shares of the Trust or interests in any other Trust that is under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust) for his or her service on the Board of Trustees of the Trust or on the boards of one or more Trusts that are under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust; and
18
(b) unless a demand is not required under clause (a) of this paragraph, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim; and the Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to authorize such action.
Section 10.8. Inspection of Records and Reports. To the fullest extent permitted by law, every Trustee shall have the right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records, and documents of every kind and the physical properties of the Trust. This inspection by a Trustee may be made in person or by an agent or attorney and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts of documents. No Shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account, book or document of the Trust that is not publicly available, except as conferred by the Trustees. The books and records of the Trust may be kept at such place or places as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise required by law.
Section 10.9. Exclusive Delaware Jurisdiction. Each Trustee, each officer and each Person legally or beneficially owning a Share or an interest in a Share of the Trust (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise), to the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 3804(e) of the Delaware Act, (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs (or similar) doctrine or arising out of or relating in any way to the Trust, the Delaware Act, this Declaration or the By-Laws (including, without limitation, any claims, suits, actions or proceedings to interpret, apply or enforce (A) the provisions of this Declaration or the By-Laws, or (B) the duties (including fiduciary duties), obligations or liabilities of the Trust to the Shareholders or the Trustees, or of officers or the Trustees to the Trust, to the Shareholders or each other, or (C) the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Trust, the officers, the Trustees or the Shareholders, or (D) any provision of the Delaware Act or other laws of the State of Delaware pertaining to trusts made applicable to the Trust pursuant to Section 3809 of the Delaware Act, or (E) any other instrument, document, agreement or certificate contemplated by any provision of the Delaware Act, this Declaration or the By-Laws relating in any way to the Trust (regardless, in each case, of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings (x) sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, (y) are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or (z) are derivative or direct claims)), shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction, (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding, (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper and (iv) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (iv) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. This Section 10.9 will not apply to claims brought under the federal securities laws.
Section 10.10. Waiver of Jury Trial. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, ALL SHAREHOLDERS AND ALL OTHER SUCH PERSONS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Section 10.11. Conversion. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration or the By-Laws, a favorable vote of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of the Trust entitled to vote on the matter, each affected series or class outstanding, voting as separate series or classes, shall be required to approve, adopt or authorize an amendment to this Declaration that makes the Common Shares a “redeemable security” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, unless such amendment has been approved by a majority of the Trustees then in office, in which case approval by Majority Shareholder Vote of the Shares entitled to vote on the matter shall be required. Upon the adoption of a proposal to convert the Trust from a “closed-end company” to an “open-end company” as those terms are defined by the 1940 Act and the necessary amendments to this Declaration to permit such a conversion, the Trust shall, upon complying with any requirements of the 1940 Act and state law, become an “open-end” investment company. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of the Shares otherwise required by law, or any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange.
19
Section 10.12. Section Headings; Interpretation. Section headings in this Declaration are for convenience of reference only, and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. References in this Declaration to “this Declaration” shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration as from time to time amended, and all expressions such as “hereof”, “herein” and hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration as from time to time amended and not exclusively to the article or section in which such words appear.
Section 10.13. Delivery by Electronic Transmission or Otherwise. Notwithstanding any provision in this Declaration to the contrary, any notice, proxy, vote, consent, report, instrument or writing of any kind or any signature referenced in, or contemplated by, this Declaration or the By-Laws may, in the sole discretion of the Trustees, be given, granted or otherwise delivered by electronic transmission (within the meaning of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act), including via the internet, or in any other manner permitted by applicable law.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this 16th day of December, 2022.
THOMAS W. OKEL
By: | /s/ Thomas W. Okel | |
Name: Thomas W. Okel | ||
Title: Trustee |
MARK F. MULHERN
By: | /s/ Mark F. Mulhern | |
Name: Mark F. Mulhern | ||
Title: Trustee |
JILL OLMSTEAD
By: | /s/ Jill Olmstead | |
Name: Jill Olmstead | ||
Title: Trustee |
JILL DINERMAN
By: | /s/ Jill Dinerman | |
Name: Jill Dinerman | ||
Title: Trustee |
Exhibit (b)
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
BARINGS PRIVATE EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMITMENTS FUND
(a Delaware Statutory Trust)
Effective as of May 24, 2021,
As Amended December 16, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 |
ARTICLE II OFFICES AND SEAL | 1 |
Section 2.1. Principal Office | 1 |
Section 2.2. Delaware Officer | 1 |
Section 2.3. Other Offices | 1 |
ARTICLE III SHAREHOLDERS | 1 |
Section 3.1. Meetings | 1 |
Section 3.2. Place of Meeting | 1 |
Section 3.3. Notice of Meetings | 1 |
Section 3.4. Shareholders Entitled to Vote | 2 |
Section 3.5. Quorum | 2 |
Section 3.6. Adjournment | 2 |
Section 3.7. Proxies | 2 |
Section 3.8. Inspection of List of Shareholders | 2 |
Section 3.9. Record Dates | 2 |
ARTICLE IV MEETINGS OF TRUSTEES | 2 |
Section 4.1. Regular Meetings | 2 |
Section 4.2. Special Meetings | 3 |
Section 4.3. Notice | 3 |
Section 4.4. Waiver of Notice | 3 |
Section 4.5. Adjournment and Voting | 3 |
Section 4.6. Compensation | 3 |
Section 4.7. Quorum | 3 |
Section 4.8. Action Without a Meeting | 3 |
ARTICLE V COMMITTEES | 3 |
Section 5.1. Committees of Trustees | 3 |
Section 5.2. Quorum; Voting | 4 |
Section 5.3. Meetings and Action of Committees | 4 |
ARTICLE VI CHAIR OF THE BOARD; OFFICERS | 4 |
Section 6.1. General | 4 |
Section 6.2. Election, Term of Office and Qualifications | 4 |
Section 6.3. Resignations and Removals | 4 |
Section 6.4. Vacancies and Newly Created Offices | 4 |
Section 6.5. Chair of the Board | 5 |
Section 6.6. President | 5 |
Section 6.7. Vice President | 5 |
Section 6.8. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers | 5 |
Section 6.9. Chief Compliance Officer | 5 |
Section 6.10. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries | 5 |
Section 6.11. Subordinate Officers | 6 |
ARTICLE VII EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS; VOTING OF SECURITIES | 6 |
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments | 6 |
Section 7.2. Voting of Securities | 6 |
ARTICLE VIII FISCAL YEAR; ACCOUNTANTS | 6 |
Section 8.1. Fiscal Year | 6 |
Section 8.2. Accountants | 6 |
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS; COMPLIANCE WITH 1940 ACT | 6 |
Section 9.1. Amendments | 6 |
Section 9.2. Compliance with 1940 Act | 6 |
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The terms “By-Laws,” “1940 Act,” “Delaware Act,” “Shareholder,” “Shares,” “Trust,” “Trustees,” and “Trust Property,” have the meanings given them in the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”) of Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund dated December 16, 2022, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
OFFICES AND SEAL
Section 2.1. Principal Office. The principal office of the Trust shall be located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Trustees shall fix and, from time to time, may change the location of the principal executive office of the Trust at any place within or outside the State of Delaware.
Section 2.2. Delaware Officer. The Trustees shall establish a registered office in the State of Delaware and shall appoint as the Trust’s registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware an individual resident of the State of Delaware or a Delaware corporation or a corporation authorized to transact business in the State of Delaware; in each case the business office of such registered agent for service of process shall be identical with the registered Delaware office of the Trust.
Section 2.3. Other Offices. The Trust may establish and maintain such other offices and places of business within or without the State of North Carolina as the Trustees may from time to time determine. The Trustees may at any time establish branch or subordinate offices at any place or places where the Trust intends to do business.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS
Section 3.1. Meetings. No annual meetings of the Shareholders are required to be held. A Shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees and the transaction of other proper business may be held when authorized or required by the Declaration.
Section 3.2. Place of Meeting. All Shareholders’ meetings shall be held at such place and time designated by the Trustees pursuant to the Declaration (or may be held virtually to the extent designated by the Trustees).
Section 3.3. Notice of Meetings. Notice of all Shareholders’ meetings, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust by mail or, to the extent permitted by law, by electronic mail (“e-mail”) or other electronic transmission, as defined in the Delaware Act, to each Shareholder entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting at his or her address of record on the register of the Trust or e-mail address or other address for electronic transmissions, if available. If no such address appears on the Trust’s books or is given, notice shall be deemed to have been given if sent to that Shareholder by mail or, to the extent permitted by law, by e-mail or other electronic transmission, as defined in the Delaware Act, to the Trust’s principal office. Such notice shall be given at least seven days and not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days before the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, with postage thereon prepaid, or sent by e-mail or other electronic transmission, as applicable. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. No notice need be given (a) to any Shareholder if a written waiver of notice, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto duly authorized, is filed with the records of the meeting, or (b) to any Shareholder who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her. A waiver of notice need not specify the purposes of the meeting.
Section 3.4. Shareholders Entitled to Vote. If, pursuant to Section 3.9 hereof, a record date has been fixed for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any Shareholders’ meeting, each Shareholder of the Trust entitled to vote in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Declaration, shall be entitled to vote, in person or by proxy, each Share or fraction thereof standing in his or her name on the register of the Trust at the time of determining net asset value on such record date. If the Declaration or the 1940 Act requires that Shares be voted by series or class, each Shareholder shall only be entitled to vote, in person or by proxy, each Share or fraction thereof of such series or class standing in his or her name on the register of the Trust at the time of determining net asset value on such record date. If no record date has been fixed for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a Shareholders’ meeting, such record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which notice of the meeting is mailed or sent by e-mail or other electronic transmission, as applicable, or, if notice is waived by all Shareholders, at the close of business on the tenth day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.
1
Section 3.5. Quorum. The presence at any Shareholders’ meeting shall be determined in accordance with the Declaration.
Section 3.6. Adjournment. Any meeting of Shareholders, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned or postponed, without setting a new record date, for any lawful purpose by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question of adjourning or postponing a meeting to another date and time provided that no meeting shall be adjourned or postponed for more than six (6) months beyond the originally scheduled meeting date. In addition, any meeting of Shareholders, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned or postponed, without setting a new record date, by, or upon the authority of, the chair of the meeting or the Trustees to another date and time provided that no meeting shall be adjourned or postponed for more than six months beyond the originally scheduled meeting date.
Section 3.7. Proxies. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. Any Shareholder may give authorization by telephone, facsimile, or by electronic transmission for another person to execute his or her proxy. When any Share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting, in person or by proxy, in respect of such Share unless at or prior to exercise of the vote, the Trustees receive a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. If more than one such joint owners shall be present at such meeting, in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. Unless otherwise specifically limited by their terms, proxies shall entitle the holder thereof to vote at any adjournment of a meeting.
Section 3.8. Inspection of List of Shareholders. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account, book or document of the Trust (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any list of the Trust’s Shareholders) that is not publicly available, except as conferred by the Trustees. The foregoing shall replace and restrict any default rights that a Shareholder might otherwise be entitled to under Section 3819 of the Delaware Act or otherwise.
Section 3.9. Record Dates. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as a record date for the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent in writing (including by electronic transmission) without a meeting to any action of the Trustees, or who shall receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, provided that such record date shall be not more than 120 days before the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of Shareholders is to be taken. In such case, subject to the provisions of Section 3.4, each eligible Shareholder of record on such record date shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting or adjournment, or to express such consent, or to receive payment of such dividend or distribution or to take such other action, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on the register of the Trust after the record date.
ARTICLE IV
MEETINGS OF TRUSTEES
Section 4.1. Regular Meetings. The Trustees from time to time shall provide by resolution for the holding of regular meetings for the election of officers and the transaction of other proper business and shall fix the place and time for such meetings to be held within or without the State of North Carolina (or may be held virtually to the extent designated by the Trustees).
2
Section 4.2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Trustees shall be held whenever called by the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), the President (or, in the absence or disability of the President, by any Vice President), the Treasurer, the Secretary or two or more Trustees, at the time and place within or without the State of North Carolina specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice of such meetings.
Section 4.3. Notice. No notice of regular meetings of the Trustees shall be required except as required by the 1940 Act. Notice of each special meeting shall be mailed to each Trustee, at the Trustee’s residence or usual place of business, at least two (2) days before the day of the meeting, or shall be directed to the Trustee at such place by telegraph, telecopy or cable, or shall be sent to the Trustee’s usual or last known e-mail address or other address for electronic transmissions by e-mail or other electronic transmission, as applicable, or be delivered to the Trustee personally, at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Every such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting but need not state the purposes thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by these By-Laws or by statute. No notice of adjournment of a meeting of the Trustees to another time or place need be given if such time and place are announced at such meeting.
Section 4.4. Waiver of Notice. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Trustee if a written waiver of notice, executed by him or her before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Trustee who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her. A waiver of notice need not specify the purposes of the meeting.
Section 4.5. Adjournment and Voting. At all meetings of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn the meeting, from time to time. The action of a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Trustees unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by law, by the Declaration or by these By-Laws.
Section 4.6. Compensation. Each Trustee may receive such remuneration for his or her services as such as shall consistent with the 1940 Act.
Section 4.7. Quorum. At any meeting of the Trustees a majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4.8. Action Without a Meeting. Pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Declaration and Section 3806 of the Delaware Act, the Trustees may take any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Trustees or by any committee thereof without a meeting, if (i) a consent thereto is given in writing (including by electronic transmission) by a majority of the Trustees or Members of such committee, as the case may be, and (ii) such consent is filed with the records of the meetings. Consistent with the Declaration and Section 3806 of the Delaware Act, a consent given by electronic transmission by a Trustee or by a person or persons authorized to act for a Trustee shall be deemed to be written and signed.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 5.1. Committees of Trustees. The Trustees may by resolution designate one or more committees, each consisting of two (2) or more Trustees, to serve at the pleasure of the Trustees. The Trustees may designate one or more Trustees as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee to the extent provided in the resolution of the Trustees, shall have the authority of the Trustees, except with respect to:
(a) the approval of any action which under applicable law requires approval by a majority of the entire authorized number of Trustees or certain Trustees;
(b) the filling of vacancies of Trustees;
3
(c) the amendment or termination of the Declaration or any series or class or amendment of the By-Laws or the adoption of new By-Laws;
(d) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Trustees which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;
(e) a distribution to the Shareholders of the Trust, except at a rate or in a periodic amount or within a designated range determined by the Trustees; or
(f) the appointment of any other committees of the Trustees or the members of such new committees.
Section 5.2. Quorum; Voting. Except as provided below or as otherwise specifically provided in the resolutions constituting a committee of the Trustees and providing for the conduct of its meetings, a majority of the members of any committee of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and any action of such a committee may be taken at a meeting by a vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or evidenced by one or more writings signed by such a majority.
Section 5.3. Meetings and Action of Committees. Meetings and action of committees shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of these By-Laws, with such changes in the context thereof as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Trustees generally, except that the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Trustees or by resolution of the committee. Special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Trustees. Alternate members shall be given notice of meetings of committees and shall have the right to attend all meetings of committees. The Trustees may adopt rules for the governance of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these By-Laws.
ARTICLE VI
CHAIR OF THE BOARD; OFFICERS
Section 6.1. General. The Board shall designate a Chair of the Board. The designated officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Chief Compliance Officer, and may include one or more Vice Presidents (one or more of whom may be Executive Vice Presidents), one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.11 of this Article VI.
Section 6.2. Election, Term of Office and Qualifications. The Chair of the Board and the designated officers of the Trust (except those appointed pursuant to Section 6.11) shall be elected by the Trustees at any regular or special meeting of the Trustees. Except as provided in Sections 6.3 and 6.4 of this Article VI, the Chair of the Board and the officers elected by the Trustees each shall hold office until their respective successors shall have been chosen and qualified. Any two such positions, except those of the President and a Vice President, may be held by the same person, but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity if such instrument be required by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws to be executed, acknowledged or verified by any two or more officers. The Chair of the Board shall be selected from among the Trustees and may hold such position only so long as he or she continues to be a Trustee. Any Trustee or officer may be but need not be a Shareholder of the Trust.
Section 6.3. Resignations and Removals. The Chair of the Board or any officer may resign his or her position at any time by delivering a written resignation to the Trustees, the President, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon delivery. Any person may be removed from such position with or without cause by the vote of a majority of the Trustees at any regular meeting or any special meeting. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no person resigning and no person removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal or any right to damages on account of such removal.
Section 6.4. Vacancies and Newly Created Offices. If any vacancy shall occur in any office by reason of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause, or if any new office shall be created, such vacancies or newly created offices may be filled by the Trustees at any regular or special meeting or, in the case of any office created pursuant to Section 6.11 of this Article VI, by any officer upon whom such power shall have been conferred by the Trustees.
4
Section 6.5. Chair of the Board. The Chair of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees and shall be ex officio a member of all committees of the Trustees, except the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Contract Committee, on which he or she may serve as a member if appointed. The Chair of the Board may be the chief executive officer of the Trust. Subject to the supervision of the Trustees, if the Chair is the chief executive officer, he or she shall have general charge of the business of the Trust, the Trust Property and the officers, employees and agents of the Trust. He or she shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Trustees.
Section 6.6. President. The President shall be the chief operating officer of the Trust and may be the chief executive officer of the Trust. At the request of or in the absence or disability of the Chair of the Board, the President shall in general exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Chair of the Board. Subject to the supervision of the Trustees and such direction and control as the Chair of the Board may exercise, he or she shall have general charge of the operations of the Trust and its officers, employees and agents. In addition, subject to the supervision of the Trustees, if the Chair also is the chief executive officer, he or she also shall have general charge of the business of the Trust and the Trust Property. He or she shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Trustees.
Section 6.7. Vice President. The Trustees may, from time to time, designate and elect one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and perform such duties as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Trustees or the President. At the request or in the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President (or, if there are two or more Vice Presidents, the senior in length of time in office and able to act) may perform all the duties of the President.
Section 6.8. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial, principal financial and accounting officer of the Trust and shall have general charge of the finances and books of account of the Trust. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, he or she shall have general supervision of the funds and property of the Trust and of the performance by the custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.1(s) of the Declaration of its duties with respect thereto. The Treasurer shall render a statement of condition of the finances of the Trust to the Trustees as often as they shall require the same and he or she shall in general perform all the duties incident to the office of the Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Trustees or the President.
Any Assistant Treasurer may perform such duties of the Treasurer as the Treasurer or the Trustees may assign. In the absence of the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer may perform all duties of the Treasurer.
Section 6.9. Chief Compliance Officer. Subject to the ultimate control of the Trust by the Trustees, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust shall be responsible for the design, oversight and periodic review of the Trust’s procedures for compliance with applicable Federal securities laws. The designation, compensation and removal of the Chief Compliance Officer shall be subject to approval by the Trustees as contemplated by Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Chief Compliance Officer shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Trustees (collectively or by the Chair), the President or by these By-Laws.
Section 6.10. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Trust and shall record all proceedings of the meetings of the Shareholders and Trustees in one or more books to be kept for that purpose. He or she shall keep (or cause to be kept) in safe custody the seal of the Trust, and shall have charge of (or cause a service provider of the Trust to have charge of) the records of the Trust, including the register of Shares and such other books and papers as the Trustees may direct and such books, reports, certificates and other documents required by law to be kept, all of which shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any Trustee. He or she shall perform such other duties as appertain to his or her office or as may be required by the Trustees.
Any Assistant Secretary may perform such duties of the Secretary as the Secretary or the Trustees may assign, and, in the absence of the Secretary, he or she may perform all the duties of the Secretary.
5
Section 6.11. Subordinate Officers. The Trustees from time to time may appoint such other subordinate officers or agents as they may deem advisable, each of whom shall have such title, hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Trustees may determine. The Trustees from time to time may delegate to one or more of the Chair of the Board, officers or agents the power to appoint any such subordinate officers or agents and to prescribe their respective rights, terms of office, authorities and duties.
ARTICLE VII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS; VOTING OF SECURITIES
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All deeds, documents, transfers, contracts, agreements, requisitions, orders, promissory notes, assignments, endorsements, checks and drafts for the payment of money by the Trust, and any other instruments requiring execution either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise may be signed by the Chair, the President, a Vice President or the Secretary and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or as the Trustees may otherwise, from time to time, authorize. Any such authorization may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 7.2. Voting of Securities. Unless otherwise ordered by the Trustees, the Chair, the President or any Vice President shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Trustees to attend and to act and to vote, or in the name of the Trustees to execute proxies to vote, at any meeting of stockholders of any company in which the Trust may hold stock. At any such meeting such person shall possess and may exercise (in person or by proxy) any and all rights, powers and privileges incident to the ownership of such stock. The Trustees may by resolution from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
ARTICLE VIII
FISCAL YEAR; ACCOUNTANTS
Section 8.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall be established, re-established or changed from time-to-time by resolution of the Trustees.
Section 8.2. Accountants. (a) The Trustees shall employ a public accountant or a firm of independent public accountants as their accountant to examine the accounts of the Trust and to sign and certify at least annually financial statements filed by the Trust. The accountant’s certificates and reports shall be addressed both to the Trustees and to the Shareholders.
(b) Any vacancy occurring due to the death or resignation of the accountant may be filled at a meeting called for the purpose by the vote, cast in person, of a majority of those Trustees who are not Interested Persons of the Trust.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS; COMPLIANCE WITH 1940 ACT
Section 9.1. Amendments. These By-Laws may be amended or repealed, in whole or in part, by a majority of the Trustees then in office at any meeting of the Trustees, or by one or more writings signed by such a majority.
Section 9.2. Compliance with 1940 Act. No provision of these By-Laws shall be given effect to the extent inconsistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
6
Exhibit (g)(1)
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
BARINGS LLC,
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND
AND
ANY SUBSIDIARY OF THE FUND SET FORTH ON EXHIBIT A HERETO
This INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 27, 2022 (the “Initial Effective Date”), is between Barings Access Pine Point Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”) and any wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund that may be formed by the Fund and listed on Exhibit A hereto from time to time (each, a “Subsidiary”) and Barings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules promulgated thereunder, the “1940 Act”), and each Subsidiary is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund that is intended to be treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules promulgated thereunder, the “Advisers Act”);
WHEREAS, the Fund and each Subsidiary desire to retain the Adviser to provide investment advisory services to the Fund and each Subsidiary in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is willing to provide investment advisory services to the Fund and each Subsidiary in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants hereinafter contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Fund, each Subsidiary and the Adviser hereby agree as follows:
1. | In General. |
The Adviser agrees, all as more fully set forth herein, to act as investment adviser to the Fund and each Subsidiary with respect to the investment of the Fund’s and each Subsidiary’s assets and to supervise and arrange for the day-to-day operations of the Fund and each Subsidiary and the purchase of assets for and the sale of assets held in the investment portfolio of the Fund and each Subsidiary.
References herein to the Fund include references to each Subsidiary in respect of the rights and obligations and all other terms set forth in this Agreement, as and to the extent applicable.
2. | Duties and Obligations of the Adviser with Respect to Investment of Assets of the Fund. |
(a) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this paragraph and subject to the direction and control of the Fund’s board of trustees (the “Board of Trustees”), the Adviser shall act as the investment adviser to the Fund and shall manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser shall, during the term and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, (i) determine the composition of the portfolio of the Fund, the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing such changes; (ii) identify, evaluate and negotiate the structure of the investments made by the Fund; (iii) execute, close, service and monitor the investments that the Fund makes; (iv) determine the securities and other assets that the Fund will purchase, retain or sell; (v) perform due diligence on prospective portfolio companies; (vi) provide the Fund with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the Fund may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of its assets; and (vii) comply with the applicable provisions of the Fund’s pricing procedures which it has received and, will provide reasonable assistance to the Fund in valuing securities held by the Fund. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to restrict the Fund’s right to hire its own employees or to contract for administrative or other services to be performed by third parties, including but not limited to, the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares.
(b) In the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Adviser shall at all times use all reasonable efforts to conform to, and act in accordance with, any requirements imposed by (i) the provisions of the 1940 Act, and of any rules or regulations in force thereunder, subject to the terms of any exemptive order applicable to the Fund, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as applicable to the Fund; (ii) any other applicable provision of law; (iii) the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws of the Fund, as such documents may be amended from time to time; (iv) the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Fund as set forth in the reports and/or registration statements that the Fund files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as they may be amended from time to time by the Board of Trustees of the Fund; and (v) any policies and determinations of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and provided in writing to the Adviser.
(c) The Adviser may engage one or more investment advisers (each, a “Sub-Adviser”) which are registered under the Advisers Act to act as sub-advisers to provide the Fund certain services set forth in Section 2(a) of this Agreement, all as shall be set forth in a written contract (each, a “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) to which the Fund and the Adviser shall be parties, which Sub-Advisory Agreement shall be subject to approval by the vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Adviser, any sub-adviser, or of the Fund (each, a “Non-Interested Trustee”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval and, to the extent required by the 1940 Act, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and otherwise consistent with the terms of the 1940 Act. The Adviser and not the Fund shall be responsible for any compensation payable to any Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that the Adviser shall have the right to direct the Fund to pay directly to any Sub-Adviser the amounts due and payable to such Sub-Adviser from the fees and expenses payable to the Adviser under this Agreement.
(d) The Adviser will maintain all books and records with respect to the Fund’s securities transactions required by sub-paragraphs (b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by the administrator or sub-administrator to the Fund (collectively, the “Administrators”) under an administration agreement or sub-administration agreement, as applicable to be entered into by the Fund concurrent herewith (collectively, the “Administration Agreements”), or by the Fund’s custodian or transfer agent) and preserve such records for the periods prescribed therefor by Rule 31a-2 of the 1940 Act. The Adviser shall have the right to retain copies, or originals where required by Rule 204-2 promulgated under the Advisers Act, of such records to the extent required by applicable law, subject to observance of its confidentiality obligations under this Agreement.
(e) All investment professionals of the Adviser and its staff, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory and management services hereunder, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, shall be provided and paid for by the Adviser and not by the Fund. The Fund shall bear all other costs and expenses of its operations and transactions, including, without limitation, those relating to:
(i) organizational and offering expenses;
2
(ii) fees and expenses incurred in valuing the Fund’s assets and computing its net asset value (including the cost and expenses of any independent valuation firm);
(iii) the fees and expenses incurred by the Fund or payable to third parties, including lawyers, accountants, auditors, agents, consultants or other advisors, in connection with the Fund’s financial, accounting and legal affairs and in monitoring the Fund’s investments and performing due diligence on the Fund’s prospective portfolio companies or otherwise related to, or associated with, evaluating and making investments, including expenses related to unsuccessful portfolio acquisition efforts;
(iv) all fees, costs and expenses of money borrowed by the Fund, including principal, interest and the costs associated with the establishment and maintenance of any credit facilities, other financing arrangements, or other indebtedness of the Fund, if any (including commitment fees, accounting and legal fees, closing and other costs);
(v) offerings of the Fund’s common stock and other securities;
(vi) investment advisory and management fees payable under Section 6 of this Agreement;
(vii) administration fees;
(viii) transfer agent and custody fees and expenses;
(ix) federal and state registration fees;
(x) all costs of registration and listing the Fund’s securities on any securities exchange;
(xi) federal, state and local taxes;
(xii) Non-Interested Trustees’ compensation, fees and expenses;
(xiii) costs of preparing and filing reports or other documents required by the SEC or other regulators;
(xiv) costs of any reports, proxy statements or other notices to stockholders, including printing costs;
(xv) costs of holding stockholder meetings;
(xvi) the Fund’s allocable portion of the fidelity bond, directors and officers/errors and omissions liability insurance, and any other insurance premiums, including independent trustee liability policies;
(xvii) direct costs and expenses of administration and operation, including printing, mailing, copying, secretarial and other staff, independent auditors and outside legal costs;
(xviii) all third-party legal, expert and other fees, costs and expenses relating to any actions, proceedings, lawsuits, demands, causes of action and claims, whether actual or threatened, made by or against the Fund, or which the Fund is authorized or obligated to pay under applicable law or its governing agreements or by the Board of Trustees;
(xix) subject to Section 7 below, any judgment or settlement of pending or threatened proceedings (whether civil, criminal or otherwise) against the Fund, or against any trustee, director, partner, member or officer of the Fund in his or her capacity as such for which the Fund is required to indemnify such trustee, director, partner, member or officer by any court or governmental agency, or settlement of pending or threatened proceedings;
(xx) all travel and related expenses of directors, trustees, officers, managers, agents and employees of the Fund and the Adviser, incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board of Trustees or holders of securities of the Fund or performing other business activities that relate to the Fund, including travel and related expenses incurred in connection with the purchase, consideration for purchase, financing, refinancing, sale or other disposition of any investment or potential investment of the Fund; provided, however, that the Fund shall only be responsible for (A) a proportionate share of such expenses, as determined by the Adviser in good faith, where such expenses were not incurred solely for the benefit of the Fund, and (B) expenses incurred in accordance with the Fund’s travel expense reimbursement policies;
3
(xxi) all expenses relating to payments of dividends or interest or distributions in cash or any other form made or caused to be made by the Board of Trustees to or on account of holders of the securities of the Fund, including in connection with any dividend reinvestment plan or direct stock purchase plan;
(xxii) all fees, costs and expenses related to (A) the design and maintenance of the Fund’s web site or sites and (B) the Fund’s allocable share of costs associated with technology-related expenses, including any computer software or hardware, electronic equipment or purchased information technology services from third-party vendors or affiliates of the Adviser that is used for the Fund, technology service providers and related software/hardware utilized in connection with the Fund’s investment and operational activities;
(xxiii) all fees, costs and expenses incurred with respect to market information systems and publications, research publications and materials, and settlement, clearing and custodial fees and expenses; provided, however, that the Fund shall only be responsible for a proportionate share of such expenses, as determined by the Adviser in good faith, where such expenses were not incurred solely for the benefit of the Fund; and
(xxiv) all other non-investment advisory expenses incurred by the Fund or an Administrator in connection with administering the Fund’s business (including payments under an Administration Agreement based upon the Fund’s allocable portion of the applicable Administrator’s overhead in performing its obligations under an Administration Agreement, including rent and the allocable portion of the cost of the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer and their respective staffs).
(f) The Adviser shall give the Fund the benefit of its professional judgment and effort in rendering services hereunder, but neither the Adviser nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons shall be liable for any act or omission or for any loss sustained by the Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, provided, that the foregoing exculpation shall not apply to a loss resulting from fraud, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; provided further, however, that the foregoing shall not constitute a waiver of any rights which the Fund may have which may not be waived under applicable law.
(g) The Adviser is hereby authorized, on behalf of the Fund and at the direction of the Board of Trustees pursuant to delegated authority, to possess, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise deal in, and exercise all rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of ownership or possession with respect to, the Fund’s investments and other property and funds held or owned by the Fund, including voting and providing consents and waivers with respect to the Fund’s investments and exercising and enforcing rights with respect to any claims relating to the Fund’s investments and other property and funds, including with respect to litigation, bankruptcy or other reorganization.
(h) The Adviser will place orders either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer in connection with making investments on the Fund’s behalf hereunder. The Adviser may effect the purchase and sale of securities in private transactions on such terms and conditions as are customary in such transactions, may use a broker or dealer to effect said transactions and may enter into a contract in which the broker or dealer acts either as principal or as agent. Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, in placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Adviser will attempt to obtain the best price and the most favorable execution of its orders. In placing orders, the Adviser will consider the experience and skill of the firm’s securities traders as well as the firm’s financial responsibility and administrative efficiency. Consistent with this obligation, the Adviser may select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Fund and other clients of the Adviser. Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser hereunder. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the long term, subject to review by the Board of Trustees of the Fund from time to time with respect to the extent and continuation of such practice to determine whether the Fund benefits, directly or indirectly, from such practice. In any case where a Sub-Adviser has been retained in respect of some or all of the assets of the Fund as contemplated by Section 2(c) above, the Adviser shall report periodically to the Board of Trustees as to the brokerage activities of the Sub-Adviser in respect of the Fund, at such times and in such format as the Board of Trustees may reasonably specify.
4
(i) The Adviser will provide to the Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as it may reasonably request.
3. | Services Not Exclusive. |
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Adviser or any officer, employee or other affiliate thereof from acting as investment adviser for any other person, firm or entity, whether or not the investment objectives or policies of any such other person, firm, or entity are similar to those of the Fund, or from engaging in any other lawful activity, and shall not in any way limit or restrict the Adviser or any of its officers, employees or agents from buying, selling or trading any securities for its or their own accounts or for the accounts of others for whom it or they may be acting; provided, however, that the Adviser will not undertake, and will cause its employees not to undertake, activities which, in its reasonable judgment, will adversely affect the performance of the Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement.
4. | Confidentiality. |
The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto, including all “nonpublic personal information,” as defined under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (Public law 106-102, 113 Stat. 1138), shall be used by the other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party, without the prior consent of such providing party, except that such confidential information may be disclosed to an affiliate or agent of the disclosing party to be used for the sole purpose of providing the services set forth herein. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is requested by or required to be disclosed to any governmental or regulatory authority, including in connection with any required regulatory filings or examinations, by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund hereby consents and authorizes the Adviser and its affiliates to use and disclose confidential information relating to the Fund in connection with (a) the preparation of performance information relating to the Fund and (b) in connection with any contemplated sale of the outstanding equity or assets of the Adviser, or any person who may be deemed to “control” the Adviser within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
5
5. | Expenses. |
During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser will bear all compensation expenses (including health insurance, pension benefits, payroll taxes and other compensation related matters) of its employees and shall bear the costs of any salaries of any officers or trustees of the Fund who are affiliated persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Adviser.
6. | Compensation of the Adviser. |
The Adviser, for its services to the Fund, will be entitled to receive a management fee (the “Management Fee”) from the Fund. The fees that are payable under this Agreement for any partial period will be appropriately prorated. The Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 1.25% of the net assets of the Fund (including, for the avoidance of doubt, assets held in the Subsidiaries) as of the end of each quarter, determined before giving effect to the payment of the management fee being calculated or to any purchases or repurchases of shares of the Fund or any distributions by the Fund. For the avoidance of doubt, for any period with respect to which the Adviser receives compensation for investment advisory services from a subsidiary that is not a party to this Agreement, the fee payable by the Fund pursuant to this Agreement will be calculated based on the net assets of the Fund as of the end of each month excluding the net assets of such subsidiary. The Fund hereby agrees with the Adviser that any entity or person associated with the Adviser which is a member of a national securities exchange is authorized to effect any transaction on such exchange for the account of the Fund which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Fund hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).
7. | Indemnification. |
The Adviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder in good faith and shall not be responsible for any action of the Board of Trustees in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendations of the Adviser. The Adviser (and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with the Adviser) shall not be liable to the Fund for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Adviser in connection with the performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Fund (except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the 1940 Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty (as the same is finally determined by judicial proceedings) with respect to the receipt of compensation for services), and the Fund shall indemnify, defend and protect the Adviser (and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with the Adviser) (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) and hold them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs, demands, charges, claims and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Fund or its security holders) arising out of any actions or omissions or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Adviser’s duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Fund. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 7 to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, any liability to the Fund or its security holders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject by reason of fraud, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Adviser’s duties and obligations under this Agreement (as the same shall be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder).
6
8. | Duration and Termination. |
(a) This Agreement shall become effective as of the Initial Effective Date. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ written notice, (i) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, (ii) by the vote of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, or (iii) by the Adviser upon 90 days’ written notice. The provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the Adviser shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement. Further, notwithstanding the termination or expiration of this Agreement as aforesaid, the Adviser shall be entitled to any amounts owed under Section 6 through the date of termination or expiration.
(b) This Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the Initial Effective Date and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of the Board of Trustees, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
(c) This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 15(a)(4) of the 1940 Act).
9. | Disclaimer of Shareholder Liability |
This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
10. | Notices. |
Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing to the other party at such address as the other party may designate from time to time for the receipt of such notice and shall be deemed to be received on the earlier of the date actually received or on the fourth day after the postmark if such notice is mailed first class postage prepaid.
11. | Amendment of this Agreement. |
This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Fund must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act. In addition, Exhibit A to this Agreement may be amended by the Fund from time to time to add any newly formed wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries of the Fund, effective with respect to each Subsidiary as of the date set forth in Exhibit A across such Subsidiary’s name.
12. | Entire Agreement; Governing Law. |
This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
7
13. | Miscellaneous. |
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
14. | Counterparts. |
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts by the parties hereto, each of which shall constitute an original counterpart, and all of which, together, shall constitute one Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the foregoing instrument to be executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the Initial Effective Date.
BARINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND, a Delaware Statutory Trust | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | President | |
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | President |
[Signature Page to Investment Advisory Agreement]
Exhibit A
As of September 27, 2022
Name of Subsidiary | Place of Jurisdiction | Date Added |
MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC | Delaware | September 27, 2022 |
Exhibit (g)(2)
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
BARINGS LLC
AND
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS SUBSIDIARY LLC
This INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 27, 2022 (the “Initial Effective Date”), is between MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC (the “Fund”), a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barings Access Pine Point Fund, a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules promulgated thereunder, the “1940 Act”), a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”) and Barings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”). The purpose of the Fund is to facilitate the implementation of the Trust’s strategies.
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules promulgated thereunder, the “Advisers Act”);
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Adviser to provide investment advisory services to the Fund in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is willing to provide investment advisory services to the Fund in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants hereinafter contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Fund and the Adviser hereby agree as follows:
1. | In General. |
The Adviser agrees, all as more fully set forth herein, to act as investment adviser to the Fund with respect to the investment of the Fund’s assets and to supervise and arrange for the day-to-day operations of the Fund and the purchase of assets for and the sale of assets held in the investment portfolio of the Fund.
2. | Duties and Obligations of the Adviser with Respect to Investment of Assets of the Fund. |
(a) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this paragraph and subject to the direction and control of the Fund’s Managers (the “Fund’s Board”), the Adviser shall act as the investment adviser to the Fund and shall manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser shall, during the term and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, (i) determine the composition of the portfolio of the Fund, the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing such changes; (ii) identify, evaluate and negotiate the structure of the investments made by the Fund; (iii) execute, close, service and monitor the investments that the Fund makes; (iv) determine the securities and other assets that the Fund will purchase, retain or sell; (v) perform due diligence on prospective portfolio companies; (vi) provide the Fund with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the Fund may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of its assets; and (vii) comply with the applicable provisions of the Fund’s pricing procedures which it has received and, will provide reasonable assistance to the Fund in valuing securities held by the Fund. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to restrict the Fund’s right to hire its own employees or to contract for administrative or other services to be performed by third parties, including but not limited to, the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. In managing the assets of the Fund, the Adviser will not take any actions with respect to the Fund’s assets that would cause the Fund or the Trust to violate any provisions of the 1940 Act applicable to the Fund or the Trust, to the extent that would be required by the 1940 Act if the Fund were registered under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(b) In the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Adviser shall at all times use all reasonable efforts to conform to, and act in accordance with, any requirements imposed by (i) the provisions of the 1940 Act, and of any rules or regulations in force thereunder, subject to the terms of any exemptive order applicable to the Fund, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as applicable to the Fund; (ii) any other applicable provision of law; (iii) the provisions of the Fund’s Limited Liability Company Agreement, as such documents may be amended from time to time; (iv) the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Fund as set forth in the reports and/or registration statements that the Fund files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as they may be amended from time to time by the Fund’s Board; and (v) any policies and determinations of the Fund’s Board and provided in writing to the Adviser.
(c) The Adviser may engage one or more investment advisers (each, a “Sub-Adviser”) which are registered under the Advisers Act to act as sub-advisers to provide the Fund certain services set forth in Section 2(a) of this Agreement, all as shall be set forth in a written contract (each, a “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) to which the Fund and the Adviser shall be parties, which Sub-Advisory Agreement shall be subject to approval by the vote of a majority of the members of the Fund’s Board who are not “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Adviser, any sub-adviser, or of the Fund (each, a “Non-Interested Trustee”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval and, to the extent required by the 1940 Act, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and otherwise consistent with the terms of the 1940 Act. The Adviser and not the Fund shall be responsible for any compensation payable to any Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that the Adviser shall have the right to direct the Fund to pay directly to any Sub-Adviser the amounts due and payable to such Sub-Adviser from the fees and expenses payable to the Adviser under this Agreement.
(d) The Adviser will maintain all books and records with respect to the Fund’s securities transactions required by sub-paragraphs (b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by the administrator or sub-administrator to the Fund (collectively, the “Administrators”) under an administration agreement or sub-administration agreement, as applicable to be entered into by the Fund concurrent herewith (collectively, the “Administration Agreements”), or by the Fund’s custodian or transfer agent) and preserve such records for the periods prescribed therefor by Rule 31a-2 of the 1940 Act. The Adviser shall have the right to retain copies, or originals where required by Rule 204-2 promulgated under the Advisers Act, of such records to the extent required by applicable law, subject to observance of its confidentiality obligations under this Agreement.
(e) All investment professionals of the Adviser and its staff, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory and management services hereunder, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, shall be provided and paid for by the Adviser and not by the Fund. The Fund shall bear all other costs and expenses of its operations and transactions, including, without limitation, those relating to:
(i) organizational and offering expenses;
(ii) fees and expenses incurred in valuing the Fund’s assets and computing its net asset value (including the cost and expenses of any independent valuation firm);
2
(iii) the fees and expenses incurred by the Fund or payable to third parties, including lawyers, accountants, auditors, agents, consultants or other advisors, in connection with the Fund’s financial, accounting and legal affairs and in monitoring the Fund’s investments and performing due diligence on the Fund’s prospective portfolio companies or otherwise related to, or associated with, evaluating and making investments, including expenses related to unsuccessful portfolio acquisition efforts;
(iv) all fees, costs and expenses of money borrowed by the Fund, including principal, interest and the costs associated with the establishment and maintenance of any credit facilities, other financing arrangements, or other indebtedness of the Fund, if any (including commitment fees, accounting and legal fees, closing and other costs);
(v) offerings of the Fund’s common stock and other securities;
(vi) investment advisory and management fees payable under Section 6 of this Agreement;
(vii) administration fees;
(viii) transfer agent and custody fees and expenses;
(ix) federal and state registration fees;
(x) all costs of registration and listing the Fund’s securities on any securities exchange;
(xi) federal, state and local taxes;
(xii) Manager compensation, fees and expenses;
(xiii) costs of preparing and filing reports or other documents required by the SEC or other regulators;
(xiv) costs of any reports, proxy statements or other notices to stockholders, including printing costs;
(xv) costs of holding stockholder meetings;
(xvi) the Fund’s allocable portion of the fidelity bond, directors and officers/errors and omissions liability insurance, and any other insurance premiums, including independent trustee liability policies;
(xvii) direct costs and expenses of administration and operation, including printing, mailing, copying, secretarial and other staff, independent auditors and outside legal costs;
(xviii) all third-party legal, expert and other fees, costs and expenses relating to any actions, proceedings, lawsuits, demands, causes of action and claims, whether actual or threatened, made by or against the Fund, or which the Fund is authorized or obligated to pay under applicable law or its governing agreements or by the Fund’s Board;
3
(xix) subject to Section 7 below, any judgment or settlement of pending or threatened proceedings (whether civil, criminal or otherwise) against the Fund, or against any trustee, director, partner, member or officer of the Fund in his or her capacity as such for which the Fund is required to indemnify such trustee, director, partner, member or officer by any court or governmental agency, or settlement of pending or threatened proceedings;
(xx) all travel and related expenses of directors, trustees, officers, managers, agents and employees of the Fund and the Adviser, incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Fund’s Board or holders of securities of the Fund or performing other business activities that relate to the Fund, including travel and related expenses incurred in connection with the purchase, consideration for purchase, financing, refinancing, sale or other disposition of any investment or potential investment of the Fund; provided, however, that the Fund shall only be responsible for (A) a proportionate share of such expenses, as determined by the Adviser in good faith, where such expenses were not incurred solely for the benefit of the Fund, and (B) expenses incurred in accordance with the Fund’s travel expense reimbursement policies;
(xxi) all expenses relating to payments of dividends or interest or distributions in cash or any other form made or caused to be made by the Fund’s Board to or on account of holders of the securities of the Fund, including in connection with any dividend reinvestment plan or direct stock purchase plan;
(xxii) all fees, costs and expenses related to (A) the design and maintenance of the Fund’s web site or sites and (B) the Fund’s allocable share of costs associated with technology-related expenses, including any computer software or hardware, electronic equipment or purchased information technology services from third-party vendors or affiliates of the Adviser that is used for the Fund, technology service providers and related software/hardware utilized in connection with the Fund’s investment and operational activities;
(xxiii) all fees, costs and expenses incurred with respect to market information systems and publications, research publications and materials, and settlement, clearing and custodial fees and expenses; provided, however, that the Fund shall only be responsible for a proportionate share of such expenses, as determined by the Adviser in good faith, where such expenses were not incurred solely for the benefit of the Fund; and
(xxiv) all other non-investment advisory expenses incurred by the Fund or an Administrator in connection with administering the Fund’s business (including payments under an Administration Agreement based upon the Fund’s allocable portion of the applicable Administrator’s overhead in performing its obligations under an Administration Agreement, including rent and the allocable portion of the cost of the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer and their respective staffs).
(f) The Adviser shall give the Fund the benefit of its professional judgment and effort in rendering services hereunder, but neither the Adviser nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons shall be liable for any act or omission or for any loss sustained by the Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, provided, that the foregoing exculpation shall not apply to a loss resulting from fraud, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; provided further, however, that the foregoing shall not constitute a waiver of any rights which the Fund may have which may not be waived under applicable law.
4
(g) The Adviser is hereby authorized, on behalf of the Fund and at the direction of the Fund’s Board pursuant to delegated authority, to possess, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise deal in, and exercise all rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of ownership or possession with respect to, the Fund’s investments and other property and funds held or owned by the Fund, including voting and providing consents and waivers with respect to the Fund’s investments and exercising and enforcing rights with respect to any claims relating to the Fund’s investments and other property and funds, including with respect to litigation, bankruptcy or other reorganization.
(h) The Adviser will place orders either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer in connection with making investments on the Fund’s behalf hereunder. The Adviser may effect the purchase and sale of securities in private transactions on such terms and conditions as are customary in such transactions, may use a broker or dealer to effect said transactions and may enter into a contract in which the broker or dealer acts either as principal or as agent. Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, in placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Adviser will attempt to obtain the best price and the most favorable execution of its orders. In placing orders, the Adviser will consider the experience and skill of the firm’s securities traders as well as the firm’s financial responsibility and administrative efficiency. Consistent with this obligation, the Adviser may select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Fund and other clients of the Adviser. Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser hereunder. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the long term, subject to review by the Fund’s Board of the Fund from time to time with respect to the extent and continuation of such practice to determine whether the Fund benefits, directly or indirectly, from such practice. In any case where a Sub-Adviser has been retained in respect of some or all of the assets of the Fund as contemplated by Section 2(c) above, the Adviser shall report periodically to the Fund’s Board as to the brokerage activities of the Sub-Adviser in respect of the Fund, at such times and in such format as the Fund’s Board may reasonably specify.
(i) The Adviser will provide to the Fund’s Board such periodic and special reports as it may reasonably request.
3. | Services Not Exclusive. |
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Adviser or any officer, employee or other affiliate thereof from acting as investment adviser for any other person, firm or entity, whether or not the investment objectives or policies of any such other person, firm, or entity are similar to those of the Fund, or from engaging in any other lawful activity, and shall not in any way limit or restrict the Adviser or any of its officers, employees or agents from buying, selling or trading any securities for its or their own accounts or for the accounts of others for whom it or they may be acting; provided, however, that the Adviser will not undertake, and will cause its employees not to undertake, activities which, in its reasonable judgment, will adversely affect the performance of the Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement.
4. | Confidentiality. |
The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto, including all “nonpublic personal information,” as defined under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (Public law 106-102, 113 Stat. 1138), shall be used by the other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party, without the prior consent of such providing party, except that such confidential information may be disclosed to an affiliate or agent of the disclosing party to be used for the sole purpose of providing the services set forth herein. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is requested by or required to be disclosed to any governmental or regulatory authority, including in connection with any required regulatory filings or examinations, by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund hereby consents and authorizes the Adviser and its affiliates to use and disclose confidential information relating to the Fund in connection with (a) the preparation of performance information relating to the Fund and (b) in connection with any contemplated sale of the outstanding equity or assets of the Adviser, or any person who may be deemed to “control” the Adviser within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
5
5. | Expenses. |
During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser will bear all compensation expenses (including health insurance, pension benefits, payroll taxes and other compensation related matters) of its employees and shall bear the costs of any salaries of any officers or trustees of the Fund who are affiliated persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Adviser.
6. | Compensation of the Adviser. |
The Adviser, for its services to the Fund, will be entitled to receive a management fee (the “Management Fee”) from the Fund. The fees that are payable under this Agreement for any partial period will be appropriately prorated. The Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 1.25% of the net assets of the Fund as of the end of each quarter, determined before giving effect to the payment of the management fee being calculated or to any purchases or repurchases of shares of the Fund or any distributions by the Fund. The Fund hereby agrees with the Adviser that any entity or person associated with the Adviser which is a member of a national securities exchange is authorized to effect any transaction on such exchange for the account of the Fund which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Fund hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).
7. | Indemnification. |
The Adviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder in good faith and shall not be responsible for any action of the Fund’s Board in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendations of the Adviser. The Adviser (and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with the Adviser) shall not be liable to the Fund for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Adviser in connection with the performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Fund (except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the 1940 Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty (as the same is finally determined by judicial proceedings) with respect to the receipt of compensation for services), and the Fund shall indemnify, defend and protect the Adviser (and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with the Adviser) (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) and hold them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs, demands, charges, claims and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Fund or its security holders) arising out of any actions or omissions or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Adviser’s duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Fund. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 7 to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, any liability to the Fund or its security holders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject by reason of fraud, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Adviser’s duties and obligations under this Agreement (as the same shall be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder).
6
8. | Duration and Termination. |
(a) This Agreement shall become effective as of the Initial Effective Date. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ written notice, (i) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, (ii) by the vote of the Fund’s Board, or (iii) by the Adviser upon 90 days’ written notice. The provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the Adviser shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement. Further, notwithstanding the termination or expiration of this Agreement as aforesaid, the Adviser shall be entitled to any amounts owed under Section 6 through the date of termination or expiration.
This Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the Initial Effective Date and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of the Fund’s Board, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Fund’s Board who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, as if the Fund were registered under the 1940 Act.
(b) This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 15(a)(4) of the 1940 Act).
9. | Disclaimer of Shareholder Liability |
This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
10. | Notices. |
Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing to the other party at such address as the other party may designate from time to time for the receipt of such notice and shall be deemed to be received on the earlier of the date actually received or on the fourth day after the postmark if such notice is mailed first class postage prepaid.
11. | Amendment of this Agreement. |
This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Fund must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act, as if the Fund were registered under the 1940 Act.
12. | Entire Agreement; Governing Law. |
This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
7
13. | Miscellaneous. |
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
14. | Counterparts. |
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts by the parties hereto, each of which shall constitute an original counterpart, and all of which, together, shall constitute one Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the foregoing instrument to be executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the Initial Effective Date.
BARINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS SUBSIDIARY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | President |
Exhibit (g)(3)
SEPTEMBER 27, 2022
BARINGS LLC
and
Baring international investment limited
and
Barings access pine point fund
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT IN RESPECT OF
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND AND ANY SUBSIDIARY OF BARINGS ACCESS
PINE POINT FUND SET FORTH IN SCHEDULE 1 HERETO
(d)
CONTENTS
Clause | Page | |
1. | Definitions | 1 |
2. | Appointment of the Sub-Adviser | 2 |
3. | Notices | 5 |
4. | Compensation | 6 |
5. | Representations and Undertakings | 6 |
6. | Access to Information | 6 |
7. | UK Regulatory Matters | 6 |
8. | Duration and Termination | 6 |
9. | Counterparts | 7 |
10. | Governing Law and Jurisdiction | 7 |
Schedule 1 – Subsidiaries of Barings Access Pine Point Fund
Schedule 2 – Investment Advisory Agreement
Schedule 3 – Compensation Policy
Schedule 4 – UK Regulatory Matters
THIS SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT is made as of the 27th day of September 2022 by and between:
(1) | BARINGS LLC, whose principal address is 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States of America (“Barings”); |
(2) | BARING INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITED, whose registered office is at 20 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7BF, United Kingdom (the “Sub-Adviser”); and |
(3) | BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND, whose principal address is 300 S. Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 AND EACH SUBSIDIARY OF THE FUND SET FORTH IN SCHEDULE 1 HERETO (collectively, the “Client”) |
WHEREAS:
(A) | Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement dated September 27, 2022 between the Client and Barings as amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), a copy of which is attached as Schedule 2 hereto, Barings was appointed by the Client to provide investment advisory services to the Client (such services and others described in the Investment Advisory Agreement, the “Services”). |
(B) | Barings wishes to appoint the Sub-Adviser, pursuant to Section 2(c) of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as a delegate in connection with the Services to be provided under the Investment Advisory Agreement on terms and conditions, except as provided herein, identical to the terms and conditions under which Barings has been appointed by the Client to provide Services to the Client. The Client is a party to this Sub-Advisory Agreement for the purposes of satisfying the conditions set out in Section 2(c) of the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
(C) | This Sub-Advisory Agreement provides a framework for the terms on which the Sub-Advisers shall provide the Services for the Portfolio. |
NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
1. | DEFINITIONS |
1.1 | In this Sub-Advisory Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: |
“Compensation Policy” means the compensation policy set out in Schedule 3 hereto or such other policy as may be agreed between Barings and the Sub-Adviser in respect of the Portfolio from time to time;
“Conflicts Of Interest Policy” means the conflicts of interest policy of the Sub-Adviser as set out at https://barings-web.azureedge.net/assets/user/media/Global-Conflicts-of-Interest-Policy.pdf or as otherwise notified to Barings by the Sub-Adviser from time to time;
“Data Protection Laws” means any applicable law regarding the processing, privacy, and use of Personal Data, including the GDPR;
“Execution Policy” has the meaning given to it in Schedule 3;
1
“FCA” means the UK Financial Conduct Authority and any replacement or successor body or bodies;
“FCA Handbook” means the handbook published by the FCA that sets out the rules and guidance made by it from time to time under FSMA;
“FCA Rules” means the rules, evidential provisions and guidance made by the FCA under FSMA as set out in the FCA Handbook and any directly applicable European Union financial services legislation or rules applicable to the Sub-Adviser, subject to any waiver, modification or individual guidance from time to time applicable to the Sub-Adviser;
“FSMA” means the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and any subordinate legislation made under it, or any applicable successor regulatory regime in the United Kingdom;
“GDPR” means the EU General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679);
“Personal Data” means any personal data (as defined pursuant to article 4(1) of the GDPR) processed by either Party or its approved sub-processor, in connection with the Sub-Advisory Agreement;
“Portfolio” has the meaning given to it in Clause 2.3;
“Services” has the meaning given to it in Recital (A); and
“Sub-Advisory Agreement” means this sub-advisory agreement (as amended from time to time).
1.2 | References in this Sub-Advisory Agreement to any statute or statutory instrument or government regulations or rules of any regulatory authority shall be to the modification, amendment, extension or re-enactment thereof. |
1.3 | In this Sub-Advisory Agreement, the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa as the context shall admit or require. |
1.4 | In this Sub-Advisory Agreement, the headings are used for ease of reference only and shall not be deemed to form any part of this Sub-Advisory Agreement. |
1.5 | Terms not defined herein are as otherwise defined in the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
1.6 | References herein to the Client include references to each subsidiary of Barings Access Pine Point Fund set forth in Schedule 1 hereto in respect of the rights and obligations and all other terms set forth in this Agreement, as and to the extent applicable. |
2. | APPOINTMENT OF THE SUB-ADVISER |
2.1 | Barings hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser (and the Sub-Adviser hereby accepts such appointment) to act (on a non-exclusive basis) as discretionary investment advisor to Barings in connection with the selection and management of assets on behalf of the Client. The Sub-Adviser is only authorized by Barings on behalf of the Client, from time to time when deemed to be in the best interests of the Client and to the extent permitted by applicable law and relevant Client procedures, to purchase and/or sell securities and other instruments which the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates underwrites, deals in, makes a market in and/or for the issuer thereof performs or seeks to perform investment banking or other services. The Sub-Adviser has been further authorized, to the extent permitted by applicable law and relevant Client procedures, to select brokers (including any brokers affiliated with the Sub-Adviser) for the execution of trades on behalf of the Client. The Sub-Adviser has been further authorized, to the extent permitted by applicable law and relevant Client procedures, to select brokers (including any brokers affiliated with the Sub-Adviser) for the execution of trades on behalf of the Client. |
2
2.2 | The Client confirms that this Sub-Advisory Agreement has been approved in accordance with Section 2(c) of the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
2.3 | Barings shall be responsible for the overall project management of the Client’s portfolio of assets (the “Portfolio”) and shall be the primary point of contact with the Client. |
2.4 | Save as expressly varied, the Sub-Adviser shall discharge its obligations hereunder on terms and conditions that are, as far as possible, identical to the terms and conditions under which Barings itself was appointed to act as an investment adviser to the Client in the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to rely on the accuracy of all representations and warranties made in the Investment Advisory Agreement by the parties to the Investment Advisory Agreement and, save as expressly varied herein, shall be entitled to the same rights and protections as if it were the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Adviser shall be subject to Barings’ oversight and review in relation to the matters set out or otherwise contemplated by this Sub-Advisory Agreement. |
2.5 | In the event that Barings and the Client agree to an amendment of the Investment Advisory Agreement, Barings shall provide the Sub-Adviser with reasonable advance written notice of any such amendment. Unless the Sub-Adviser objects in writing to such amendment within three days of receipt of such notification, it shall be deemed to have accepted such amendment and the terms of this Sub-Advisory Agreement shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly. |
2.6 | Without limiting in any way its other obligations under this Sub-Advisory Agreement and save as set out herein, the Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement as if it was originally party thereto as the Adviser, save that all reporting and disclosure shall be made to Barings rather than directly to the Client. For the avoidance of doubt, the Sub-Adviser shall be deemed to satisfy such requirements if such reporting and disclosure is made to Barings within the timeframes set forth in the Investment Advisory Agreement for Barings to report to the Client. Save as provided in the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall follow its own policies and procedures in the performance of its duties hereunder. |
2.7 | The Sub-Adviser and Barings shall supply information to each other promptly on demand as may be necessary or desirable to enable the Sub-Adviser and Barings to fulfil their respective obligations under this Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
3
2.8 | The Sub-Adviser shall, pursuant to the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, provide Barings with reports and with all information, details, reports, records and documents it requires in its capacity as the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
2.9 | A power of attorney containing the list of the persons authorised to sign documentation and give instructions (including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, the execution of brokerage agreements and other terms and conditions and master agreements with appropriate counterparties) on behalf of the Sub-Adviser in relation to the performance by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations hereunder and executed by the Sub-Adviser, as may be updated from time to time, will be provided to Barings upon request. |
2.10 | It is confirmed that, for the avoidance of doubt, Barings shall maintain oversight responsibilities for the Sub-Adviser’s activities as they relate to the Portfolio (including the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with the requirements set out, referred to or contemplated by the Investment Advisory Agreement), but that the Sub-Adviser will not be under the day-to-day direction and supervision of Barings. Barings will not exercise significant control over, or provide detailed instructions in relation to, the Sub-Adviser’s general advisory and management activities under this Sub-Advisory Agreement, other than as required to ensure the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with the Investment Advisory Agreement and applicable law and regulation; provided however, that Barings will retain ultimate discretion over the selection, acquisition and disposal of assets to or from the Portfolio. |
2.11 | Without the prior written consent of Barings and the Client, the Sub-Adviser shall not appoint an agent or delegate to perform any of its duties under this Sub-Advisory Agreement or exercise any of its rights and powers hereunder. In the event that the Sub-Adviser appoints an agent or delegate, the Sub-Adviser shall be liable to Barings in relation to such agent or delegate to the same extent as Barings would have been liable to the Client under the Investment Advisory Agreement had such appointment been made by it. |
2.12 | Following a request from the Client, Barings shall be entitled to subrogate its rights under this Sub-Advisory Agreement to the Client. |
2.13 | Section 6 (Compensation of the Adviser) of the Investment Advisory Agreement shall not apply to this Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Adviser's compensation for the provision of its services hereunder shall be as provided in Clause 4 and Schedule 3 hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Barings shall be solely responsible for paying compensation to the Sub-Adviser hereunder. |
2.14 | Barings hereby delegates to the Sub-Adviser the power to exercise all other ancillary rights or duties in connection with the Portfolio including, to the extent necessary, executing any trade documentation or other documentation related to the management of the Portfolio granted by the Client to Barings under the Investment Advisory Agreement. When executing such documentation, the Sub-Adviser shall use the following form of execution: |
4
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND | ||
By: Baring International Investment Limited as Sub-Adviser and Attorney-in-fact | ||
By: | /s/ Naoki Ohta |
The Sub-Adviser shall not sub-delegate this power, provided that the Sub-Adviser may appoint any notary or any individual employed by, or who is a member of, an external legal firm, as the Sub-Adviser’s true and lawful attorney with full power and authority in its name and on its behalf, to sign or to execute and deliver any guarantee or security document or other documents or deeds that are necessary or desirable to be executed by the Sub-Adviser outside of London in connection with any investment, asset or instrument forming part of the Portfolio.
2.15 | The following data protection provisions are applicable between the parties hereto: |
2.15.1 | The Sub-Adviser will comply (and will ensure that any third party to which personal data is passed will comply) with Barings’ instructions in relation to the holding, obtaining and processing of Personal Data relating to the Portfolio. |
2.15.2 | Barings undertakes to supply Personal Data to the Sub-Adviser in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Laws. |
2.15.3 | Each of the parties hereto agrees to: |
(a) | be responsible for any Personal Data it may process in relation to the Sub-Advisory Agreement; |
(b) | comply with GDPR and any other Data Protection Laws, applicable to the collection and processing of the Personal Data; |
(c) | take appropriate technical and organisational measures against unauthorised or unlawful processing of Personal Data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, the Personal Data; and |
(d) | agree respective responsibilities for exercising of data subject rights and providing notice in respect of data breach reporting obligations. |
3. | NOTICES |
Any notice under this Sub-Advisory Agreement shall be in writing to the other party at such address as the other party may designate from time to time for the receipt of such notice and shall be deemed to be received on the earlier of the date actually received or on the fourth day after the postmark if such notice is mailed first class postage prepaid.
5
4. | COMPENSATION |
The Sub-Adviser shall be compensated by Barings (and not the Client) for its services under this Sub-Advisory Agreement in accordance with the Compensation Policy set out in Schedule 3 hereto.
5. | REPRESENTATIONS AND UNDERTAKINGS |
5.1 | Barings hereby represents and warrants to the Sub-Adviser that it has full power and authority to enter into this Sub-Advisory Agreement and that it has been granted full power and authority by the Client to retain the Sub-Adviser to provide advisory services and assist with the management of the Portfolio on the terms set out in this Sub-Advisory Agreement. Barings confirms that it has received a copy of Parts 2A and 2B of the Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV and a copy of the Sub-Adviser’s Privacy Notice. |
5.2 | The Sub-Adviser hereby represents and warrants to Barings that it has full power and authority to enter into this Sub-Advisory Agreement, and further represents that it is (a) registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended and (b) authorized and regulated by the FCA in the conduct of its investment business. |
6. | ACCESS TO INFORMATION |
The Sub-Adviser shall supply Barings with whatever information it may reasonably request (a) in relation to the Portfolio, (b) in order to discharge its oversight responsibilities for the Sub-Adviser’s activities and (c) to respond to any requests that Barings may receive from the Client or any relevant regulatory body (or, in each case, their respective agents or advisors).
7. | UK REGULATORY MATTERS |
The Sub-Adviser is required by the FCA Rules to make certain disclosures and seek certain consents in its terms of business with its clients. These are set out in Schedule 4 hereto.
8. | DURATION AND TERMINATION |
8.1 This Sub-Advisory Agreement shall become effective on the effective date of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as set forth in Section 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement, and may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ written notice, (i) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Client, (ii) by the vote of the Client’s Board of Trustees, (iii) by Barings or (iv) by the Sub-Adviser.
8.2 This Sub-Advisory Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from its initial effective date and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (A) the vote of the Client’s Board of Trustees, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Client and (B) by the vote of a majority of the Client’s Board of Trustees, who are not “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of the Adviser, any sub-adviser, or of the Client, unless otherwise terminated hereunder. This Sub-Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically if any of the following events occur:
6
(a) | the “assignment” (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 15(a)(4) of the 1940 Act) of either the Investment Advisory Agreement or this Sub-Advisory Agreement; or |
(b) | the termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
8.3 For the avoidance of doubt, this Sub-Advisory Agreement may also be terminated by Barings without penalty for any reason upon 60 days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser or by the Sub-Adviser without penalty for any reason upon 60 days’ written notice to Barings. Additionally, Barings may terminate this Sub-Advisory Agreement immediately in the event Barings determines in its sole discretion that the Sub-Adviser has materially breached any term of this Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Adviser has failed to cure such breach within 20 days of notice from Barings of such breach. Furthermore, in the event that the Sub-Adviser determines in its sole discretion that it may no longer perform its obligations under this Sub-Advisory Agreement due to changes in applicable law, due to take effect within a timescale rendering it impossible for the Sub-Adviser to terminate on 60 days’ written notice, this Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Sub-Adviser on such written notice to Barings as the Sub-Adviser can reasonably give. Upon such termination, Barings shall pay the Sub-Adviser the fees due to the Sub-Adviser for services rendered prior to the date of termination as provided in the Compensation Policy.
9. | COUNTERPARTS |
This Sub-Advisory Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
10. | GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION |
For the avoidance of doubt, this Sub-Advisory Agreement is subject to Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement.
7
SIGNATURE PAGE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Sub-Advisory Agreement to be duly executed as a deed the day and year first above written.
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED by | ) |
BARINGS LLC | ) |
acting by: | ) |
/s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | ||
Signed in the presence of: | ||
Mina Pacheco Nazemi | (Name) | |
300 S. Tryon St., Ste. 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 | (Address) | |
Managing Director | (Occupation) | |
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED by | ) | |
BARING INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT | ) | |
LIMITED | ||
acting by: | ) | |
/s/ Naoki Ohta | ||
Signed in the presence of: | ||
Naoki Ohta | (Name) | |
20 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7BF | (Address) | |
Managing Director | (Occupation) |
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED by | ) |
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND | ) |
acting by: | ) |
/s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | ||
Signed in the presence of: | ||
Mina Pacheco Nazemi | (Name) | |
300 S. Tryon St., Ste. 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 | (Address) | |
President | (Occupation) |
8
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED by | ) | |
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS | ) | |
LLC | ||
acting by: | ) | |
/s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | ||
Signed in the presence of: | ||
Mina Pacheco Nazemi | (Name) | |
300 S. Tryon St., Ste. 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 | (Address) | |
President | (Occupation) |
9
EXECUTION POLICY – EXPRESS CONSENT
Barings LLC expressly consents to orders being executed outside EU regulated markets, multilateral trading facilities and organised trading facilities, where to do so is in accordance with Baring International Investment Limited’s execution policy.
/s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Date December 15, 2022 | |
Signed by: Mina Pacheco Nazemi, Managing Director |
10
SCHEDULE 1
SUBSIDIARIES OF BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND
As of September 27, 2022
Name of Subsidiary | Place of Jurisdiction | Date Added |
MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC | Delaware | September 27, 2022 |
SCHEDULE 2
Investment Advisory Agreement
SCHEDULE 3
Compensation Policy
Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, Barings will be paid a management fee by the Client monthly in arrears (such total fee amount, the “Barings Fee”).
As compensation for the services rendered by the Sub-Adviser, Barings will pay to the Sub-Adviser a portion of the Barings Fee, in an amount in U.S. dollars equal to the following percentage of such Barings Fee with respect to the Client: 10%. For the avoidance of doubt, for any period in which the Sub-Adviser receives compensation for sub-advisory services in respect of a subsidiary, the fee payable by Barings pursuant to this Sub-Advisory Agreement will not include fees received by Barings based on the net assets of such subsidiary.
SCHEDULE 4
UK Regulatory Matters
1. | Client Categorisation |
The Sub-Adviser has categorised Barings as a professional client and the Sub-Adviser will provide its services hereunder on that basis. Retail clients (as defined in the Glossary to the FCA Handbook) benefit from a higher degree of protection under the FCA Rules than professional clients.
Barings has the right to request the Sub-Adviser to categorise it as a retail client, either generally or in specific circumstances. However, it should be noted that it is not the Sub-Adviser’s policy to accept requests to be treated as a retail client for any service provided in accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
It is Barings’ sole responsibility to keep the Sub-Adviser informed about any change to the Barings’ circumstances which could affect the Sub-Adviser’s categorisation of Barings as a professional client.
2. | Order Handling and Best Execution |
Whenever the Sub-Adviser executes an order for Barings in relation to a financial instrument covered by the EU Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ("MiFID")1 (including an order which results from the exercise of its discretion), the Sub-Adviser is required by the FCA Rules to take all sufficient steps to obtain the best result for Barings in accordance with the Sub-Adviser's order execution policy (the "Execution Policy"). The Sub-Adviser is subject to similar obligations when it transmits an order to another entity for execution.
A copy of the current Execution Policy can be found at https://barings-web.azureedge.net/assets/user/media/Barings-Execution-Policy.pdf. The Sub-Adviser may update the Execution Policy from time to time and shall notify Barings of any material changes to it.
The Execution Policy summarises the way in which the Sub-Adviser complies with its trading obligations under the FCA Rules. The Sub-Adviser will inform Barings of any material change to the Execution Policy.
The Execution Policy contemplates that the Sub-Adviser may execute an order outside of an EU-regulated market, organised trading facility or multilateral trading facility. Where this is contemplated the Sub-Adviser is required to obtain Barings’s prior express consent. By signing this Sub-Advisory Agreement, Barings consents to the Execution Policy and specifically consents to the Sub-Adviser executing transactions on its behalf outside an EU-regulated market, organised trading facility or multilateral trading facility.
1“MiFID” means Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 on markets in financial instruments, and any secondary legislation, rules, regulations and procedures made pursuant thereto.
Specific instructions from Barings in relation to the execution of orders may prevent the Sub-Adviser from following the Execution Policy in relation to such orders in respect of the elements of execution covered by the instructions.
Pursuant to its obligations under this Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser may aggregate orders for Barings with orders for its other clients. The Sub-Adviser is required, by the FCA Rules, to notify Barings that, on some occasions, the effect of aggregation may work to the disadvantage of Barings in relation to a particular order.
3. | Investment Objectives |
When the Sub-Adviser makes an investment recommendation to Barings or manages its investments, the Sub-Adviser is obliged by FCA Rules to take reasonable steps to ensure that its decision to trade is “suitable” for Barings as per the FCA Rules. The Sub-Adviser is obliged to take into account Barings’s investment objectives. For this purpose, the Sub-Adviser understands that Barings’s investment objectives are as set out in the Investment Advisory Agreement and such ancillary documentation relating to the investment objectives of the Portfolio as Barings may supply to the Sub-Adviser from time to time.
As Barings is a professional client, the Sub-Adviser is entitled to assume that Barings has the necessary level of experience and knowledge in order to understand the risks involved in the transaction(s) or in the management of the Portfolio. Unless notified to the contrary by Barings, the Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to assume that this remains the case for the duration of the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
Any brokers the Sub-Adviser uses to execute orders which it carries out for Barings may also be required by FCA Rules to assess the suitability of those orders for Barings. Barings agrees that the Sub-Adviser's understanding of Barings’s investment objectives is correct and consents to the Sub-Adviser making those investment objectives, and any relevant regulatory consents given in this Sub-Advisory Agreement, known to brokers and others where reasonably required in connection with the provision of the Sub-Adviser's services.
4. | Limit Orders |
If Barings provides the Sub-Adviser with or the Sub-Adviser generates a limit order in respect of shares admitted to trading on an EEA-regulated market which is not immediately executed under prevailing market conditions, the FCA Rules require the Sub-Adviser, in certain circumstances, to make that order (each a “Client Limit Order”) public immediately unless it has Barings’s consent not to do so. It may not always be in Barings’s best interests to make an unexecuted order public in this way. Accordingly, by signing this Sub-Advisory Agreement, Barings instructs the Sub-Adviser not to make public immediately a Client Limit Order in respect of shares admitted to trading on an EEA-regulated market which is not immediately executed under prevailing market conditions, unless the Sub-Adviser decides in its absolute discretion that it is appropriate to do so.
5. | Conflicts Of Interest |
The FCA Rules require the Sub-Adviser to take all appropriate steps to identify and to prevent or manage conflicts of interest between (i) the Sub-Adviser (and its staff) and Barings; and (ii) Barings and the Sub-Adviser's other clients.
If the arrangements the Sub-Adviser makes to prevent or manage conflicts of interest are not sufficient to ensure, with reasonable confidence, that risks of damage to the interests of Barings will be prevented, it is obliged to disclose the general nature and sources of conflicts of interest to Barings, in order to enable Barings to make an informed decision about the Sub-Adviser's services.
A copy of the Sub-Adviser Conflicts of Interest Policy can be found at https://barings-web.azureedge.net/assets/user/media/Global-Conflicts-of-Interest-Policy.pdf. The Sub-Adviser will inform Barings of any material change to the policy.
6. | Risk Warnings |
The Sub-Adviser is obliged under the FCA Rules to provide Barings with a general description of the nature and risks of the investments included in the Portfolio. Those investments may include shares, bonds, warrants, interests in syndicated loans and other types of security and derivative described in the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Adviser is obliged to inform Barings about such risks as failure of security, loss of capital, volatility, illiquidity, leverage and contingent liabilities. Barings is a sophisticated institutional investor and has agreed with the Sub-Adviser that it is not appropriate for the Sub-Adviser to provide more detailed risk warnings. However, more details about the risks involved are available on request.
7. | Compensation and Complaints |
The Sub-Adviser is not covered by the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme. All formal complaints by Barings relating to the services provided by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement should in the first instance be made in writing to the compliance officer of the Sub-Adviser. A copy of the Sub-Adviser's complaints management policy is available on request and will otherwise be provided in accordance with the FCA Rules.
8. | Reporting |
The FCA Rules require the Sub-Adviser to provide Barings with periodic statements in a particular form in respect of the Portfolio, except where Barings has agreed that it does not wish to receive statements in such format. Barings confirms that it does not require periodic statements.
Barings acknowledges that it does not wish to receive from the Sub-Adviser information under Article 50 (Costs and associated charges disclosure) and Article 62 (10% Portfolio Depreciation Notifications) of the MiFID Org Regulation. Barings will obtain the relevant information from internal systems to provide portfolio reporting to Barings Private Credit Corporation.
9. | Fees, Commissions and Non-Monetary Benefits |
The Sub-Adviser will pay directly from its own resources for all research (as defined in the FCA Rules) received from third parties in connection with the provision of its services to Barings.
The Sub-Adviser may make payments to third parties in connection with the services it provides under this Sub-Advisory Agreement, which may relate to due diligence, protection of Barings’s rights and the completion of the legal and accounting steps required to enter into transactions or to exercise any rights under a transaction where the Sub-Adviser considers that these either (i) are designed to enhance the quality of the relevant service to Barings, and will not impact compliance with the Sub-Adviser’s duty to act honestly, fairly and professionally in the best interests of Barings, or (ii) enable or are necessary for the provision of the services under the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
Minor non-monetary benefits
Under the FCA Rules, in the course of providing portfolio management services to the Investment Manager, the Sub-Adviser is prohibited from accepting and retaining any fees, commission or monetary benefits, or accepting any non-monetary benefits (other than acceptable minor non-monetary benefits and research which is permitted), where these are paid or provided by any third party or a person acting on their behalf.
Where the Sub-Adviser receives any such fees, commissions or monetary benefits, it will transfer these to the Barings account and will inform Barings in the periodic statement to be provided in accordance with the provisions on reporting of any such fees, commissions or monetary benefits that were received and transferred to Barings during the relevant period.
The Sub-Adviser may accept and retain fees, commissions or non-monetary benefits which are paid or provided to the Sub-Adviser by a person acting on behalf of the Investment Manager, provided that person is aware that such payments have been made on Barings’ behalf and the amount and frequency of the payment is agreed in writing between Barings and the Sub-Adviser and not determined by a third party.
The following benefits received by the Sub-Adviser in the course of providing services to Barings will be considered to be acceptable minor non-monetary benefits for the purposes of this section:
(a) | information or documentation relating to a financial instrument or investment service that is generic in nature or personalised to reflect the circumstances of an individual client; |
(b) | written material from a third party that is commissioned and paid for by a corporate issuer or potential issuer to promote a new issuance by the issuer, or where the third party firm is contractually engaged and paid by the issuer to produce such material on an ongoing basis, provided that the relationship is clearly disclosed in the material and that the material is made available at the same time to any firms wishing to receive it or to the general public; |
(c) | participation in conferences, seminars and other training events on the benefits and features of a specific financial instrument or an investment service; |
(d) | hospitality of a reasonable de minimis value, including food and drink during a business meeting or a conference, seminar or other training event specified in this section; |
(e) | research relating to an issue of shares, debentures, warrants or certificates representing certain securities by an issuer, which is: |
(i) | produced prior to the issue being completed by a person that is providing underwriting or placing services to the issuer on that issue; and |
(ii) | made available to prospective investors in the issue; and |
(f) | research that is received so that the Sub-Adviser may evaluate the research provider’s research service, provided that: |
(i) | it is received during a trial period that lasts no longer than three months; |
(ii) | no monetary or non-monetary consideration is due (whether during the trial period, before or after) to the research provider for providing the research during the trial period; |
(iii) | the trial period is not commenced with the research provider within 12 months from the termination of an arrangement for the provision of research (including any previous trial period) with the research provider; and |
(iv) | the Sub-Adviser makes and retains a record of the dates of any trial period accepted under this section, as well as a record of how the conditions in (i) to (iii) were satisfied for each such trial period, |
provided that, in the Sub-Adviser’s view, the minor non-monetary benefit is:
(a) | capable of enhancing the quality of the service provided by the Sub-Adviser to Barings; |
(b) | of a scale and nature that it could not be judged to impair the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with its duty to act honestly, fairly and professionally in the best interests of Barings; and |
(c) | reasonable, proportionate and of a scale that is unlikely to influence the Sub-Adviser’s behaviour in any way that is detrimental to the interests of Barings. |
10. | Recording Communications |
The Sub-Adviser will record telephone conversations and electronic communications, including communications with Barings which result or may result in transactions for the Client. A copy of the recoding of such conversations and communications will be available to Barings on request to the Sub-Adviser for a period of five years and, where requested by the FCA, for a period of up to seven years.
11. | Transaction Reporting and Use of Confidential Information |
MiFID imposes certain transaction and position reporting obligations on clients in relation to their investments, including the procurement of a valid Legal Entity Identifier (LEI). Clients are responsible for (i) providing all the necessary information and documentation under these obligations; and (ii) taking any action reasonably required by the firm in relation to these obligations.
In order to report details of our client transactions, the Sub-Adviser may need to disclose confidential information to a regulatory authority, via a third party, where such disclosure is required to enable it to assist in complying with reporting obligations in connection with the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
12. | Exclusion of Liability Under the Regulatory System |
The Sub-Adviser confirms that nothing in this Sub-Advisory Agreement seeks to exclude or restrict any duty or liability owed to Barings under the Regulatory System (as defined in the Glossary to the FCA Handbook).
Exhibit (g)(4)
September 27, 2022
Barings llc
and
Baring international investment limited
and
Massmutual private equity funds subsidiary llc
Sub-advisory agreement in respect of
Massmutual private equity funds subsidiary llc
CONTENTS
Clause | Page | |
1. | Definitions | 1 |
2. | Appointment of the Sub-Adviser | 2 |
3. | Notices | 5 |
4. | Compensation | 6 |
5. | Representations and Undertakings | 6 |
6. | Access to Information | 6 |
7. | UK Regulatory Matters | 6 |
8. | Duration and Termination | 6 |
9. | Counterparts | 7 |
10. | Governing Law and Jurisdiction | 7 |
Schedule 1 – Investment Advisory Agreement
Schedule 2 – Compensation Policy
Schedule 3 – UK Regulatory Matters
THIS SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT is made as of the 27th day of September 2022 by and between:
(1) | BARINGS LLC, whose principal address is 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States of America (“Barings”); |
(2) | BARING INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITED, whose registered office is at 20 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7BF, United Kingdom (the “Sub-Adviser”); and |
(3) | MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS SUBSIDIARY LLC, whose principal address is 300 S. Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 (the “Client”) |
WHEREAS:
(A) | Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement dated September 27, 2022 between the Client and Barings as amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), a copy of which is attached as Schedule 1 hereto, Barings was appointed by the Client to provide investment advisory services to the Client (such services and others described in the Investment Advisory Agreement, the “Services”). |
(B) | Barings wishes to appoint the Sub-Adviser, pursuant to Section 2(c) of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as a delegate in connection with the Services to be provided under the Investment Advisory Agreement on terms and conditions, except as provided herein, identical to the terms and conditions under which Barings has been appointed by the Client to provide Services to the Client. The Client is a party to this Sub-Advisory Agreement for the purposes of satisfying the conditions set out in Section 2(c) of the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
(C) | This Sub-Advisory Agreement provides a framework for the terms on which the Sub-Advisers shall provide the Services for the Portfolio. |
NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
1. | DEFINITIONS |
1.1 | In this Sub-Advisory Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: |
“Compensation Policy” means the compensation policy set out in Schedule 2 hereto or such other policy as may be agreed between Barings and the Sub-Adviser in respect of the Portfolio from time to time;
“Conflicts Of Interest Policy” means the conflicts of interest policy of the Sub-Adviser as set out at https://barings-web.azureedge.net/assets/user/media/Global-Conflicts-of-Interest-Policy.pdf or as otherwise notified to Barings by the Sub-Adviser from time to time;
“Data Protection Laws” means any applicable law regarding the processing, privacy, and use of Personal Data, including the GDPR;
“Execution Policy” has the meaning given to it in Schedule 3;
1
“FCA” means the UK Financial Conduct Authority and any replacement or successor body or bodies;
“FCA Handbook” means the handbook published by the FCA that sets out the rules and guidance made by it from time to time under FSMA;
“FCA Rules” means the rules, evidential provisions and guidance made by the FCA under FSMA as set out in the FCA Handbook and any directly applicable European Union financial services legislation or rules applicable to the Sub-Adviser, subject to any waiver, modification or individual guidance from time to time applicable to the Sub-Adviser;
“FSMA” means the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and any subordinate legislation made under it, or any applicable successor regulatory regime in the United Kingdom;
“GDPR” means the EU General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679);
“Personal Data” means any personal data (as defined pursuant to article 4(1) of the GDPR) processed by either Party or its approved sub-processor, in connection with the Sub-Advisory Agreement;
“Portfolio” has the meaning given to it in Clause 2.3;
“Services” has the meaning given to it in Recital (A); and
“Sub-Advisory Agreement” means this sub-advisory agreement (as amended from time to time).
1.2 | References in this Sub-Advisory Agreement to any statute or statutory instrument or government regulations or rules of any regulatory authority shall be to the modification, amendment, extension or re-enactment thereof. |
1.3 | In this Sub-Advisory Agreement, the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa as the context shall admit or require. |
1.4 | In this Sub-Advisory Agreement, the headings are used for ease of reference only and shall not be deemed to form any part of this Sub-Advisory Agreement. |
1.5 | Terms not defined herein are as otherwise defined in the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
2. | APPOINTMENT OF THE SUB-ADVISER |
2.1 | Barings hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser (and the Sub-Adviser hereby accepts such appointment) to act (on a non-exclusive basis) as discretionary investment advisor to Barings in connection with the selection and management of assets on behalf of the Client. The Sub-Adviser is only authorized by Barings on behalf of the Client, from time to time when deemed to be in the best interests of the Client and to the extent permitted by applicable law and relevant Client procedures, to purchase and/or sell securities and other instruments which the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates underwrites, deals in, makes a market in and/or for the issuer thereof performs or seeks to perform investment banking or other services. The Sub-Adviser has been further authorized, to the extent permitted by applicable law and relevant Client procedures, to select brokers (including any brokers affiliated with the Sub-Adviser) for the execution of trades on behalf of the Client. The Sub-Adviser has been further authorized, to the extent permitted by applicable law and relevant Client procedures, to select brokers (including any brokers affiliated with the Sub-Adviser) for the execution of trades on behalf of the Client. |
2
2.2 | The Client confirms that this Sub-Advisory Agreement has been approved in accordance with Section 2(c) of the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
2.3 | Barings shall be responsible for the overall project management of the Client’s portfolio of assets (the “Portfolio”) and shall be the primary point of contact with the Client. | |
2.4 | Save as expressly varied, the Sub-Adviser shall discharge its obligations hereunder on terms and conditions that are, as far as possible, identical to the terms and conditions under which Barings itself was appointed to act as an investment adviser to the Client in the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to rely on the accuracy of all representations and warranties made in the Investment Advisory Agreement by the parties to the Investment Advisory Agreement and, save as expressly varied herein, shall be entitled to the same rights and protections as if it were the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Adviser shall be subject to Barings’ oversight and review in relation to the matters set out or otherwise contemplated by this Sub-Advisory Agreement. |
2.5 | In the event that Barings and the Client agree to an amendment of the Investment Advisory Agreement, Barings shall provide the Sub-Adviser with reasonable advance written notice of any such amendment. Unless the Sub-Adviser objects in writing to such amendment within three days of receipt of such notification, it shall be deemed to have accepted such amendment and the terms of this Sub-Advisory Agreement shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly. |
2.6 | Without limiting in any way its other obligations under this Sub-Advisory Agreement and save as set out herein, the Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement as if it was originally party thereto as the Adviser, save that all reporting and disclosure shall be made to Barings rather than directly to the Client. For the avoidance of doubt, the Sub-Adviser shall be deemed to satisfy such requirements if such reporting and disclosure is made to Barings within the timeframes set forth in the Investment Advisory Agreement for Barings to report to the Client. Save as provided in the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall follow its own policies and procedures in the performance of its duties hereunder. |
2.7 | The Sub-Adviser and Barings shall supply information to each other promptly on demand as may be necessary or desirable to enable the Sub-Adviser and Barings to fulfil their respective obligations under this Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
3
2.8 | The Sub-Adviser shall, pursuant to the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, provide Barings with reports and with all information, details, reports, records and documents it requires in its capacity as the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
2.9 | A power of attorney containing the list of the persons authorised to sign documentation and give instructions (including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, the execution of brokerage agreements and other terms and conditions and master agreements with appropriate counterparties) on behalf of the Sub-Adviser in relation to the performance by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations hereunder and executed by the Sub-Adviser, as may be updated from time to time, will be provided to Barings upon request. |
2.10 | It is confirmed that, for the avoidance of doubt, Barings shall maintain oversight responsibilities for the Sub-Adviser’s activities as they relate to the Portfolio (including the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with the requirements set out, referred to or contemplated by the Investment Advisory Agreement), but that the Sub-Adviser will not be under the day-to-day direction and supervision of Barings. Barings will not exercise significant control over, or provide detailed instructions in relation to, the Sub-Adviser’s general advisory and management activities under this Sub-Advisory Agreement, other than as required to ensure the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with the Investment Advisory Agreement and applicable law and regulation; provided however, that Barings will retain ultimate discretion over the selection, acquisition and disposal of assets to or from the Portfolio. |
2.11 | Without the prior written consent of Barings and the Client, the Sub-Adviser shall not appoint an agent or delegate to perform any of its duties under this Sub-Advisory Agreement or exercise any of its rights and powers hereunder. In the event that the Sub-Adviser appoints an agent or delegate, the Sub-Adviser shall be liable to Barings in relation to such agent or delegate to the same extent as Barings would have been liable to the Client under the Investment Advisory Agreement had such appointment been made by it. |
2.12 | Following a request from the Client, Barings shall be entitled to subrogate its rights under this Sub-Advisory Agreement to the Client. |
2.13 | Section 6 (Compensation of the Adviser) of the Investment Advisory Agreement shall not apply to this Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Adviser's compensation for the provision of its services hereunder shall be as provided in Clause 4 and Schedule 2 hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Barings shall be solely responsible for paying compensation to the Sub-Adviser hereunder. |
2.14 | Barings hereby delegates to the Sub-Adviser the power to exercise all other ancillary rights or duties in connection with the Portfolio including, to the extent necessary, executing any trade documentation or other documentation related to the management of the Portfolio granted by the Client to Barings under the Investment Advisory Agreement. When executing such documentation, the Sub-Adviser shall use the following form of execution: |
4
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS SUBSIDIARY LLC | ||
By: Baring International Investment Limited as Sub-Adviser and Attorney-in-fact | ||
By: | /s/ Naoki Ohta |
The Sub-Adviser shall not sub-delegate this power, provided that the Sub-Adviser may appoint any notary or any individual employed by, or who is a member of, an external legal firm, as the Sub-Adviser’s true and lawful attorney with full power and authority in its name and on its behalf, to sign or to execute and deliver any guarantee or security document or other documents or deeds that are necessary or desirable to be executed by the Sub-Adviser outside of London in connection with any investment, asset or instrument forming part of the Portfolio.
2.15 | The following data protection provisions are applicable between the parties hereto: |
2.15.1 | The Sub-Adviser will comply (and will ensure that any third party to which personal data is passed will comply) with Barings’ instructions in relation to the holding, obtaining and processing of Personal Data relating to the Portfolio. |
2.15.2 | Barings undertakes to supply Personal Data to the Sub-Adviser in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Laws. |
2.15.3 | Each of the parties hereto agrees to: |
(a) | be responsible for any Personal Data it may process in relation to the Sub-Advisory Agreement; |
(b) | comply with GDPR and any other Data Protection Laws, applicable to the collection and processing of the Personal Data; |
(c) | take appropriate technical and organisational measures against unauthorised or unlawful processing of Personal Data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, the Personal Data; and |
(d) | agree respective responsibilities for exercising of data subject rights and providing notice in respect of data breach reporting obligations. |
3. | NOTICES |
Any notice under this Sub-Advisory Agreement shall be in writing to the other party at such address as the other party may designate from time to time for the receipt of such notice and shall be deemed to be received on the earlier of the date actually received or on the fourth day after the postmark if such notice is mailed first class postage prepaid.
5
4. | COMPENSATION |
The Sub-Adviser shall be compensated by Barings (and not the Client) for its services under this Sub-Advisory Agreement in accordance with the Compensation Policy set out in Schedule 2 hereto.
5. | REPRESENTATIONS AND UNDERTAKINGS |
5.1 | Barings hereby represents and warrants to the Sub-Adviser that it has full power and authority to enter into this Sub-Advisory Agreement and that it has been granted full power and authority by the Client to retain the Sub-Adviser to provide advisory services and assist with the management of the Portfolio on the terms set out in this Sub-Advisory Agreement. Barings confirms that it has received a copy of Parts 2A and 2B of the Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV and a copy of the Sub-Adviser’s Privacy Notice. |
5.2 | The Sub-Adviser hereby represents and warrants to Barings that it has full power and authority to enter into this Sub-Advisory Agreement, and further represents that it is (a) registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended and (b) authorized and regulated by the FCA in the conduct of its investment business. |
6. | ACCESS TO INFORMATION |
The Sub-Adviser shall supply Barings with whatever information it may reasonably request (a) in relation to the Portfolio, (b) in order to discharge its oversight responsibilities for the Sub-Adviser’s activities and (c) to respond to any requests that Barings may receive from the Client or any relevant regulatory body (or, in each case, their respective agents or advisors).
7. | UK REGULATORY MATTERS |
The Sub-Adviser is required by the FCA Rules to make certain disclosures and seek certain consents in its terms of business with its clients. These are set out in Schedule 3 hereto.
8. | DURATION AND TERMINATION |
8.1 This Sub-Advisory Agreement shall become effective on the effective date of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as set forth in Section 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement, and may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ written notice, (i) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Client, (ii) by the vote of the Client’s Board, (iii) by Barings or (iv) by the Sub-Adviser.
8.2 This Sub-Advisory Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from its initial effective date and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (A) the vote of the Client’s Board, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Client and (B) by the vote of a majority of the Client’s Board, who are not “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of the Adviser, any sub-adviser, or of the Client, in each case, as if the Fund were registered under the 1940 Act, unless otherwise terminated hereunder. This Sub-Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically if any of the following events occur:
6
(a) | the “assignment” (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 15(a)(4) of the 1940 Act) of either the Investment Advisory Agreement or this Sub-Advisory Agreement; or |
(b) | the termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
8.3 For the avoidance of doubt, this Sub-Advisory Agreement may also be terminated by Barings without penalty for any reason upon 60 days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser or by the Sub-Adviser without penalty for any reason upon 60 days’ written notice to Barings. Additionally, Barings may terminate this Sub-Advisory Agreement immediately in the event Barings determines in its sole discretion that the Sub-Adviser has materially breached any term of this Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Adviser has failed to cure such breach within 20 days of notice from Barings of such breach. Furthermore, in the event that the Sub-Adviser determines in its sole discretion that it may no longer perform its obligations under this Sub-Advisory Agreement due to changes in applicable law, due to take effect within a timescale rendering it impossible for the Sub-Adviser to terminate on 60 days’ written notice, this Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Sub-Adviser on such written notice to Barings as the Sub-Adviser can reasonably give. Upon such termination, Barings shall pay the Sub-Adviser the fees due to the Sub-Adviser for services rendered prior to the date of termination as provided in the Compensation Policy.
9. | COUNTERPARTS |
This Sub-Advisory Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
10. | GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION |
For the avoidance of doubt, this Sub-Advisory Agreement is subject to Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement.
7
SIGNATURE PAGE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Sub-Advisory Agreement to be duly executed as a deed the day and year first above written.
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED by | ) |
BARINGS LLC | ) |
acting by: | ) |
/s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | ||
Signed in the presence of: | ||
Mina Pacheco Nazemi | (Name) | |
300 S. Tryon St., Ste. 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 | (Address) | |
Managing Director | (Occupation) | |
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED by | ) | |
BARING INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT | ) | |
LIMITED | ||
acting by: | ) | |
/s/ Naoki Ohta | ||
Signed in the presence of: | ||
Naoki Ohta | (Name) | |
20 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7BF | (Address) | |
Managing Director | (Occupation) | |
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED by | ) | |
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS | ) | |
SUBSIDIARY LLC | ||
acting by: | ) | |
/s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | ||
Signed in the presence of: | ||
Mina Pacheco Nazemi | (Name) | |
300 S. Tryon St., Ste. 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 | (Address) | |
President | (Occupation) |
8
EXECUTION POLICY – EXPRESS CONSENT
Barings LLC expressly consents to orders being executed outside EU regulated markets, multilateral trading facilities and organised trading facilities, where to do so is in accordance with Baring International Investment Limited’s execution policy.
/s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | Date December 15, 2022 | |
Signed by: Mina Pacheco Nazemi, Managing Director |
9
Schedule 1
Investment Advisory Agreement
Schedule 2
Compensation Policy
Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, Barings will be paid a management fee by the Client monthly in arrears (such total fee amount, the “Barings Fee”).
As compensation for the services rendered by the Sub-Adviser, Barings will pay to the Sub-Adviser a portion of the Barings Fee, in an amount in U.S. dollars equal to the following percentage of such Barings Fee with respect to the Client: 10%. For the avoidance of doubt, for any period in which the Sub-Adviser receives compensation for sub-advisory services in respect of a subsidiary, the fee payable by Barings pursuant to this Sub-Advisory Agreement will not include fees received by Barings based on the net assets of such subsidiary.
Schedule 3
UK Regulatory Matters
1. | Client Categorisation |
The Sub-Adviser has categorised Barings as a professional client and the Sub-Adviser will provide its services hereunder on that basis. Retail clients (as defined in the Glossary to the FCA Handbook) benefit from a higher degree of protection under the FCA Rules than professional clients.
Barings has the right to request the Sub-Adviser to categorise it as a retail client, either generally or in specific circumstances. However, it should be noted that it is not the Sub-Adviser’s policy to accept requests to be treated as a retail client for any service provided in accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
It is Barings’ sole responsibility to keep the Sub-Adviser informed about any change to the Barings’ circumstances which could affect the Sub-Adviser’s categorisation of Barings as a professional client.
2. | Order Handling and Best Execution |
Whenever the Sub-Adviser executes an order for Barings in relation to a financial instrument covered by the EU Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ("MiFID")1 (including an order which results from the exercise of its discretion), the Sub-Adviser is required by the FCA Rules to take all sufficient steps to obtain the best result for Barings in accordance with the Sub-Adviser's order execution policy (the "Execution Policy"). The Sub-Adviser is subject to similar obligations when it transmits an order to another entity for execution.
A copy of the current Execution Policy can be found at https://barings-web.azureedge.net/assets/user/media/Barings-Execution-Policy.pdf. The Sub-Adviser may update the Execution Policy from time to time and shall notify Barings of any material changes to it.
The Execution Policy summarises the way in which the Sub-Adviser complies with its trading obligations under the FCA Rules. The Sub-Adviser will inform Barings of any material change to the Execution Policy.
The Execution Policy contemplates that the Sub-Adviser may execute an order outside of an EU-regulated market, organised trading facility or multilateral trading facility. Where this is contemplated the Sub-Adviser is required to obtain Barings’s prior express consent. By signing this Sub-Advisory Agreement, Barings consents to the Execution Policy and specifically consents to the Sub-Adviser executing transactions on its behalf outside an EU-regulated market, organised trading facility or multilateral trading facility.
1“MiFID” means Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 on markets in financial instruments, and any secondary legislation, rules, regulations and procedures made pursuant thereto.
Specific instructions from Barings in relation to the execution of orders may prevent the Sub-Adviser from following the Execution Policy in relation to such orders in respect of the elements of execution covered by the instructions.
Pursuant to its obligations under this Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser may aggregate orders for Barings with orders for its other clients. The Sub-Adviser is required, by the FCA Rules, to notify Barings that, on some occasions, the effect of aggregation may work to the disadvantage of Barings in relation to a particular order.
3. | Investment Objectives |
When the Sub-Adviser makes an investment recommendation to Barings or manages its investments, the Sub-Adviser is obliged by FCA Rules to take reasonable steps to ensure that its decision to trade is “suitable” for Barings as per the FCA Rules. The Sub-Adviser is obliged to take into account Barings’s investment objectives. For this purpose, the Sub-Adviser understands that Barings’s investment objectives are as set out in the Investment Advisory Agreement and such ancillary documentation relating to the investment objectives of the Portfolio as Barings may supply to the Sub-Adviser from time to time.
As Barings is a professional client, the Sub-Adviser is entitled to assume that Barings has the necessary level of experience and knowledge in order to understand the risks involved in the transaction(s) or in the management of the Portfolio. Unless notified to the contrary by Barings, the Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to assume that this remains the case for the duration of the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
Any brokers the Sub-Adviser uses to execute orders which it carries out for Barings may also be required by FCA Rules to assess the suitability of those orders for Barings. Barings agrees that the Sub-Adviser's understanding of Barings’s investment objectives is correct and consents to the Sub-Adviser making those investment objectives, and any relevant regulatory consents given in this Sub-Advisory Agreement, known to brokers and others where reasonably required in connection with the provision of the Sub-Adviser's services.
4. | Limit Orders |
If Barings provides the Sub-Adviser with or the Sub-Adviser generates a limit order in respect of shares admitted to trading on an EEA-regulated market which is not immediately executed under prevailing market conditions, the FCA Rules require the Sub-Adviser, in certain circumstances, to make that order (each a “Client Limit Order”) public immediately unless it has Barings’s consent not to do so. It may not always be in Barings’s best interests to make an unexecuted order public in this way. Accordingly, by signing this Sub-Advisory Agreement, Barings instructs the Sub-Adviser not to make public immediately a Client Limit Order in respect of shares admitted to trading on an EEA-regulated market which is not immediately executed under prevailing market conditions, unless the Sub-Adviser decides in its absolute discretion that it is appropriate to do so.
5. | Conflicts Of Interest |
The FCA Rules require the Sub-Adviser to take all appropriate steps to identify and to prevent or manage conflicts of interest between (i) the Sub-Adviser (and its staff) and Barings; and (ii) Barings and the Sub-Adviser's other clients.
If the arrangements the Sub-Adviser makes to prevent or manage conflicts of interest are not sufficient to ensure, with reasonable confidence, that risks of damage to the interests of Barings will be prevented, it is obliged to disclose the general nature and sources of conflicts of interest to Barings, in order to enable Barings to make an informed decision about the Sub-Adviser's services.
A copy of the Sub-Adviser Conflicts of Interest Policy can be found at https://barings-web.azureedge.net/assets/user/media/Global-Conflicts-of-Interest-Policy.pdf. The Sub-Adviser will inform Barings of any material change to the policy.
6. | Risk Warnings |
The Sub-Adviser is obliged under the FCA Rules to provide Barings with a general description of the nature and risks of the investments included in the Portfolio. Those investments may include shares, bonds, warrants, interests in syndicated loans and other types of security and derivative described in the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Adviser is obliged to inform Barings about such risks as failure of security, loss of capital, volatility, illiquidity, leverage and contingent liabilities. Barings is a sophisticated institutional investor and has agreed with the Sub-Adviser that it is not appropriate for the Sub-Adviser to provide more detailed risk warnings. However, more details about the risks involved are available on request.
7. | Compensation and Complaints |
The Sub-Adviser is not covered by the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme. All formal complaints by Barings relating to the services provided by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement should in the first instance be made in writing to the compliance officer of the Sub-Adviser. A copy of the Sub-Adviser's complaints management policy is available on request and will otherwise be provided in accordance with the FCA Rules.
8. | Reporting |
The FCA Rules require the Sub-Adviser to provide Barings with periodic statements in a particular form in respect of the Portfolio, except where Barings has agreed that it does not wish to receive statements in such format. Barings confirms that it does not require periodic statements.
Barings acknowledges that it does not wish to receive from the Sub-Adviser information under Article 50 (Costs and associated charges disclosure) and Article 62 (10% Portfolio Depreciation Notifications) of the MiFID Org Regulation. Barings will obtain the relevant information from internal systems to provide portfolio reporting to Barings Private Credit Corporation.
9. | Fees, Commissions and Non-Monetary Benefits |
The Sub-Adviser will pay directly from its own resources for all research (as defined in the FCA Rules) received from third parties in connection with the provision of its services to Barings.
The Sub-Adviser may make payments to third parties in connection with the services it provides under this Sub-Advisory Agreement, which may relate to due diligence, protection of Barings’s rights and the completion of the legal and accounting steps required to enter into transactions or to exercise any rights under a transaction where the Sub-Adviser considers that these either (i) are designed to enhance the quality of the relevant service to Barings, and will not impact compliance with the Sub-Adviser’s duty to act honestly, fairly and professionally in the best interests of Barings, or (ii) enable or are necessary for the provision of the services under the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
Minor non-monetary benefits
Under the FCA Rules, in the course of providing portfolio management services to the Investment Manager, the Sub-Adviser is prohibited from accepting and retaining any fees, commission or monetary benefits, or accepting any non-monetary benefits (other than acceptable minor non-monetary benefits and research which is permitted), where these are paid or provided by any third party or a person acting on their behalf.
Where the Sub-Adviser receives any such fees, commissions or monetary benefits, it will transfer these to the Barings account and will inform Barings in the periodic statement to be provided in accordance with the provisions on reporting of any such fees, commissions or monetary benefits that were received and transferred to Barings during the relevant period.
The Sub-Adviser may accept and retain fees, commissions or non-monetary benefits which are paid or provided to the Sub-Adviser by a person acting on behalf of the Investment Manager, provided that person is aware that such payments have been made on Barings’ behalf and the amount and frequency of the payment is agreed in writing between Barings and the Sub-Adviser and not determined by a third party.
The following benefits received by the Sub-Adviser in the course of providing services to Barings will be considered to be acceptable minor non-monetary benefits for the purposes of this section:
(a) | information or documentation relating to a financial instrument or investment service that is generic in nature or personalised to reflect the circumstances of an individual client; |
(b) | written material from a third party that is commissioned and paid for by a corporate issuer or potential issuer to promote a new issuance by the issuer, or where the third party firm is contractually engaged and paid by the issuer to produce such material on an ongoing basis, provided that the relationship is clearly disclosed in the material and that the material is made available at the same time to any firms wishing to receive it or to the general public; |
(c) | participation in conferences, seminars and other training events on the benefits and features of a specific financial instrument or an investment service; |
(d) | hospitality of a reasonable de minimis value, including food and drink during a business meeting or a conference, seminar or other training event specified in this section; |
(e) | research relating to an issue of shares, debentures, warrants or certificates representing certain securities by an issuer, which is: |
(i) | produced prior to the issue being completed by a person that is providing underwriting or placing services to the issuer on that issue; and |
(ii) | made available to prospective investors in the issue; and |
(f) | research that is received so that the Sub-Adviser may evaluate the research provider’s research service, provided that: |
(i) | it is received during a trial period that lasts no longer than three months; |
(ii) | no monetary or non-monetary consideration is due (whether during the trial period, before or after) to the research provider for providing the research during the trial period; |
(iii) | the trial period is not commenced with the research provider within 12 months from the termination of an arrangement for the provision of research (including any previous trial period) with the research provider; and |
(iv) | the Sub-Adviser makes and retains a record of the dates of any trial period accepted under this section, as well as a record of how the conditions in (i) to (iii) were satisfied for each such trial period, |
provided that, in the Sub-Adviser’s view, the minor non-monetary benefit is:
(a) | capable of enhancing the quality of the service provided by the Sub-Adviser to Barings; |
(b) | of a scale and nature that it could not be judged to impair the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with its duty to act honestly, fairly and professionally in the best interests of Barings; and |
(c) | reasonable, proportionate and of a scale that is unlikely to influence the Sub-Adviser’s behaviour in any way that is detrimental to the interests of Barings. |
10. | Recording Communications |
The Sub-Adviser will record telephone conversations and electronic communications, including communications with Barings which result or may result in transactions for the Client. A copy of the recoding of such conversations and communications will be available to Barings on request to the Sub-Adviser for a period of five years and, where requested by the FCA, for a period of up to seven years.
11. | Transaction Reporting and Use of Confidential Information |
MiFID imposes certain transaction and position reporting obligations on clients in relation to their investments, including the procurement of a valid Legal Entity Identifier (LEI). Clients are responsible for (i) providing all the necessary information and documentation under these obligations; and (ii) taking any action reasonably required by the firm in relation to these obligations.
In order to report details of our client transactions, the Sub-Adviser may need to disclose confidential information to a regulatory authority, via a third party, where such disclosure is required to enable it to assist in complying with reporting obligations in connection with the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
12. | Exclusion of Liability Under the Regulatory System |
The Sub-Adviser confirms that nothing in this Sub-Advisory Agreement seeks to exclude or restrict any duty or liability owed to Barings under the Regulatory System (as defined in the Glossary to the FCA Handbook).
Exhibit (h)(1)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of December 16, 2022, between Barings Access Pine Point Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), and ALPS Distributors, Inc., a Colorado corporation (“ALPS”).
WHEREAS, the Fund is a closed-end management investment company that is operated as a tender offer fund and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);
WHEREAS, ALPS is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”); and
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to employ the services of ALPS in connection with the promotion and distribution of the shares of the Fund (the “Shares”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings herein contained, the parties agree as follows.
1. | ALPS Appointment and Duties. |
(a) | The Fund hereby appoints ALPS to provide the distribution services set forth in this Agreement on Appendix A, as amended from time to time, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. ALPS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such specified services. ALPS shall for all purposes be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly authorized in this Agreement, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund. |
(b) | ALPS may employ or associate itself with a person or persons or organizations as ALPS believes to be desirable in the performance of its duties hereunder; provided that, in such event, the compensation of such person or persons or organizations shall be paid by and be the sole responsibility of ALPS, and the Fund shall bear no cost or obligation with respect thereto; and provided further that ALPS shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement in such event and shall be responsible for all acts of any such person or persons or organizations taken in furtherance of this Agreement to the same extent it would be for its own acts. |
2. | ALPS Compensation; Expenses. |
(a) | ALPS shall not be entitled to compensation for services provided by ALPS under this Agreement. ALPS may receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses from the Fund’s investment adviser related to its services hereunder or for additional services as may be agreed upon by ALPS and the Fund’s investment adviser. |
(b) | ALPS will bear all expenses in connection with the performance of its services under this Agreement, except as otherwise provided herein. ALPS will not bear any of the costs of Fund personnel. Other Fund expenses incurred shall be borne by the Fund or the Fund’s investment adviser, including, but not limited to, initial organization and offering expenses; the blue sky registration and qualification of Shares for sale in the various states in which the officers of the Fund shall determine it advisable to qualify such Shares for sale (including registering the Fund as a broker or dealer or any officer of the Fund as agent or salesman in any state); litigation expenses; taxes; costs of preferred shares; expenses of conducting repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing Fund shares; administration, transfer agency, and custodial expenses; interest; Fund trustees’ fees; brokerage fees and commissions; state and federal registration fees; advisory fees; insurance premiums; fidelity bond premiums; Fund and investment advisory related legal expenses; costs of maintenance of Fund existence; printing and delivery of materials in connection with meetings of the Fund’s trustees; printing and mailing of shareholder reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information, other offering documents and supplements, proxy materials, repurchase offer notifications and other communications to shareholders; securities pricing data and expenses in connection with electronic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). To the extent applicable, the Fund is responsible for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by ALPS in connection with travel expenses to Board meetings. |
3. | Documents. The Fund has furnished or will furnish, upon request, ALPS with copies of the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, advisory and sub-advisory agreements, custodian agreement, transfer agency agreement, administration agreement, current prospectus, statement of additional information, periodic Fund reports, and all forms relating to any plan, program or service offered by the Fund. The Fund shall furnish, within a reasonable time period, to ALPS a copy of any amendment or supplement to any of the above-mentioned documents. Upon request, the Fund shall furnish promptly to ALPS any additional documents necessary or advisable to perform its functions hereunder, including, but not limited to, each repurchase offer notification filed by the Fund with the SEC. As used in this Agreement the terms “registration statement,” “prospectus” and “statement of additional information” shall mean any registration statement, prospectus and statement of additional information filed by the Fund with the SEC and any amendments and supplements thereto that are filed with the SEC. |
4. | Sales of Shares. |
(a) | The Fund grants to ALPS the right to sell the Shares as agent on behalf of the Fund, during the term of this Agreement, subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and of the laws governing the sale of securities in the various states (“Blue Sky Laws”), under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. ALPS shall have the right to sell, as agent on behalf of the Fund, the Shares covered by the registration statement, prospectus and statement of additional information for the Fund then in effect under the 1933 Act and 1940 Act. |
2
(b) | The rights granted to ALPS shall be exclusive, except that the Fund reserves the right to sell Shares directly to investors on applications received and accepted by the Fund. |
(c) | Except as otherwise noted in the Fund’s current prospectus and/or statement of additional information, all Shares sold to investors by ALPS or the Fund will be sold at the public offering price. The public offering price for all accepted subscriptions will be the net asset value per Share, as determined in the manner described in the Fund’s current prospectus and/or statement of additional information. |
(d) | Repurchases of Shares of the Fund will be made at the net asset value per Share in accordance with the Fund’s applicable repurchase offer and then-current prospectus. If a fee in connection with any repurchase offer is in effect, such fee will be paid to the Fund. The net asset value of the Shares will be calculated by the Fund or by another entity on behalf of the Fund. ALPS has no duty to inquire into, or liability for, the accuracy of the net asset value per Share as calculated or the Fund’s compliance with any periodic repurchase offer in accordance with the 1940 Act and/or related policies adopted by the Fund. |
(e) | The Fund reserves the right to suspend sales and ALPS’ authority to process orders for Shares on behalf of the Fund if, in the judgment of the Fund, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. Suspension will continue for such period as may be determined by the Fund. The Fund agrees to promptly notify ALPS in the event that the Fund determines not to issue a repurchase offer in accordance with the specified schedule set forth in the Fund’s then current prospectus. |
(f) | In consideration of these rights granted to ALPS, ALPS agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to distribute the Shares. ALPS shall review and file Fund advertising materials with the SEC and/or FINRA to the extent required by the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and by the rules of FINRA. This shall not prevent ALPS from entering into like arrangements (including arrangements involving the payment of underwriting commissions) with other issuers. ALPS will act only on its own behalf as principal should it choose to enter into selling agreements with selected dealers or others, to the extent applicable. |
(g) | ALPS is not authorized by the Fund to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in the registration statement or prospectus and statement of additional information, or contained in shareholder reports, repurchase offer notifications or other material that may be prepared by or on behalf of the Fund for ALPS’ use. Consistent with the foregoing, ALPS may prepare and distribute sales literature or other material as it may deem appropriate, subject to approval by the Fund, provided such sales literature complies with applicable laws and regulations. |
(h) | The Fund agrees that it will take all action necessary to register the Shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act (subject to the approval of its shareholders where applicable). The Fund shall make available to ALPS, at ALPS’ expense, such number of copies of its prospectus, statement of additional information, and periodic reports as ALPS may reasonably request. The Fund shall furnish to ALPS copies of all information, financial statements, repurchase offer notifications and other papers, which ALPS may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Shares of the Fund. |
3
(i) | The Fund agrees to execute any and all documents and to furnish any and all information and otherwise to take all actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the qualification of the Shares for sale in such states as ALPS may designate. The Fund must notify ALPS in writing of the states in which the Shares may be sold and must notify ALPS in writing of any changes to the information contained in the previous notification. |
(j) | The Fund shall not use the name of ALPS, or any of its affiliates, in any prospectus or statement of additional information, sales literature, and other material relating to the Fund in any manner without the prior written consent of ALPS (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that ALPS hereby approves all lawful uses of the names of ALPS and its affiliates in the prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund and in all other materials which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or which are required by the SEC, FINRA or any state securities authority. |
(k) | Neither ALPS nor any of its affiliates shall use the name of the Fund in any publicly disseminated materials, including sales literature, in any manner without the prior written consent of the Fund (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that the Fund hereby approves all lawful uses of its name in any required regulatory filings of ALPS which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of ALPS hereunder, or which are required by the SEC, FINRA or any state securities authority. |
(l) | To the extent applicable, ALPS will promptly transmit any orders received by it for purchase, redemption, or exchange of the Shares to the Fund’s transfer agent. |
(m) | To the extent applicable and only upon eligibility of, and direction from, the Fund, ALPS will enter into agreements with financial intermediaries (each an “Intermediary Agreement”) in connection with the sale of Fund shares. ALPS will not be obligated to make payments to any such financial intermediaries unless ALPS has received an authorized payment from such applicable Fund, if subject to a distribution plan or other such plan approved by the Fund’s board of trustees, and/or the applicable Fund’s investment adviser. |
5. | Insurance. ALPS will maintain at its expense an errors and omissions insurance policy adequate to cover its distribution activities hereunder relating to the Fund. |
4
6. | Right to Receive Advice. |
(a) | Advice of the Fund and Service Providers. If ALPS is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take, ALPS may request directions, advice, or instructions from the Fund or, as applicable, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, or other service providers. |
(b) | Advice of Counsel. If ALPS is in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, ALPS may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel for the Fund, the Fund’s investment adviser, or ALPS, at the option of ALPS). |
(c) | Conflicting Advice. In the event of a conflict between directions, advice or instructions ALPS receives from the Fund or any service provider and the advice ALPS receives from counsel, ALPS may in its sole discretion rely upon and follow the advice of counsel. ALPS will provide the Fund with prior written notice of its intent to follow advice of counsel that is materially inconsistent with directions, advice or instructions from the Fund. Upon request, ALPS will provide the Fund with a copy of such advice of counsel. |
7. | Standard of Care; Limitation of Liability; Indemnification. |
(a) | ALPS shall be obligated to act in good faith and to exercise commercially reasonable care and diligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. |
(b) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary ALPS and each of its affiliates, members, shareholders, directors, officers, partners, employees, agents, successors or assigns (“ALPS Associates”) shall not be liable to the Fund for any action or inaction of any ALPS Associate except to the extent of direct Losses1 finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted solely from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of ALPS in the performance of ALPS’ duties, obligations, representations, warranties or indemnities under this Agreement or an Intermediary Agreement. Except with respect to all amounts payable by Fund as part of its indemnity obligations under this Section 7, in no event shall either party be liable for Losses that are indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary or enhanced or that represent lost profits, opportunity costs or diminution of value. |
(c) | The Fund shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless ALPS Associates from and against Losses (including legal fees and costs to enforce this provision) that ALPS Associates suffer, incur, or pay as a result of any third-party claim or claim among the parties arising out of the subject matter of or otherwise in any way related to this Agreement or an Intermediary Agreement (“Claims”), including but not limited to: |
1 As used in this Agreement, the term “Losses” means any and all compensatory, direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary, enhanced or other damages, settlement payments, attorneys’ fees, costs, damages, charges, expenses, interest, applicable taxes or other losses of any kind.
5
(i) | all actions taken by ALPS or ALPS Associates that are necessary to provide the services under this Agreement and/or an Intermediary Agreement, or in reliance upon any instructions, information, or requests, whether oral, written or electronic, received from the Fund or its officers; or |
(ii) | any Claims that the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, shareholder report, sales literature and advertisements approved for use by the Fund and/or the Fund’s investment adviser or other information filed or made public by the Fund (as from time to time amended) include an untrue statement of a material fact or omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (and in the case of the prospectus and statement of additional information, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, or any other statute, regulation, self-regulatory organization rule or applicable common law. |
(d) | Any expenses (including legal fees and costs) incurred by ALPS Associates in defending or responding to any Claims (or in enforcing this provision) shall be paid by the Fund on a quarterly basis prior to the final disposition of such matter upon receipt by the Fund of an undertaking by ALPS to repay such amount if it shall be determined that an ALPS Associate is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 7 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall constitute a waiver by the Fund of any of its legal rights available under U.S. federal securities laws or any other laws whose applicability is not permitted to be contractually waived. |
8. | Activities of ALPS. The services of ALPS under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and ALPS shall be free to render similar services to others. The Fund recognizes that from time to time directors, officers and employees of ALPS may serve as directors, officers and employees of other corporations or businesses (including other investment companies) and that such other corporations and businesses may include ALPS as part of their name and that ALPS or its affiliates may enter into distribution agreements or other agreements with such other corporations and businesses. |
9. | Accounts and Records. The accounts and records maintained by ALPS shall be the property of the Fund. ALPS shall prepare, maintain and preserve such accounts and records as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations. ALPS shall surrender such accounts and records to the Fund, in the form in which such accounts and records have been maintained or preserved, promptly upon receipt of instructions from the Fund. The Fund shall have access to such accounts and records at all times during ALPS’ normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by ALPS to the Fund at the Fund’s expense. ALPS shall assist the Fund, the Fund’s independent auditors, or, upon approval of the Fund, any regulatory body, in any requested review of the Fund’s accounts and records, and reports by ALPS or its independent accountants concerning its accounting system and internal auditing controls will be open to such entities for audit or inspection upon reasonable request. ALPS shall have access to all electronic communications, including password access to the system storing the electronic communications, of registered representatives of ALPS that are associated with the Fund and are required to be maintained under Rule 17a-4 of the 1934 Act and applicable FINRA Rules. Electronic storage media maintained by the Fund will comply with Rule 17a-4 of the 1934 Act. |
6
10. | Confidential and Proprietary Information. ALPS agrees that it will, on behalf of itself and its officers and employees, treat all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all records and information relative to the Fund and its current and former shareholders and other information germane thereto, as confidential and as proprietary information of the Fund and not to use, sell, transfer, or divulge such information or records to any person for any purpose other than performance of its duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing from the Fund, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Approval may not be withheld where ALPS may be exposed to civil, regulatory, or criminal proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when requested by the Fund. When requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, ALPS shall use reasonable commercial efforts to request confidential treatment of such information. ALPS shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of records and information relating to the Fund and its current and former shareholders. |
11. | Compliance with Rules and Regulations. ALPS shall comply (and to the extent ALPS takes or is required to take action on behalf of the Fund hereunder shall cause the Fund to comply) with all applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders and code of ethics, as well as all investment restrictions, policies and procedures adopted by the Fund of which ALPS has knowledge (it being understood that ALPS is deemed to have knowledge of all investment restrictions, policies or procedures set out in the Fund’s public filings or otherwise provided to ALPS). Except as set out in this Agreement, ALPS assumes no responsibility for such compliance by the Fund. ALPS shall maintain at all times a program reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) with respect to the services provided, and shall provide to the Fund a certification to such effect no less than annually or as otherwise reasonably requested by the Fund. ALPS shall make available its compliance personnel and shall provide at its own expense summaries and other relevant materials relating to such program as reasonably requested by the Fund. |
12. | Representations and Warranties of ALPS. ALPS represents and warrants to the Fund that: |
(a) | It is duly organized and existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado. |
(b) | It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
7
(c) | All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
(d) | It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement in accordance with industry standards. |
(e) | ALPS has conducted a review of its supervisory controls system and has made available to the Fund the most current summary report of such review and any updates thereto. Every time ALPS conducts a review of its supervisory control system it will make available to the Fund for inspection a summary report of such review and any updates thereto. ALPS shall immediately notify the Fund of any changes in how it conducts its business that would materially change the results of its most recent review of its supervisory controls system and any other changes to ALPS’ business that would affect the business of the Fund or the Fund’s investment adviser. |
13. | Representations and Warranties of the Fund. The Fund represents and warrants to ALPS that: |
(a) | It is a statutory trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and is registered with the SEC as a closed-end management investment company that is operated as a tender offer fund. |
(b) | It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
(c) | The Board of Trustees of the Fund has duly authorized it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
(d) | The registration statement and each Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information: (i) have been prepared, and all sales literature and advertisements approved by the Fund and/or the Fund's investment adviser or other materials prepared by or on behalf of the Fund for ALPS' use ("Sales Materials") shall be prepared, in all material respects, in conformity with the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC (the "Rules and Regulations") and (ii) contain, and all Sales Materials shall contain, all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations. |
(e) | All statements of fact contained therein, or to be contained in all Sales Materials, are or will be true and correct in all material respects at the time indicated or the effective date, as the case may be, and none of the registration statement, any Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information, nor any Sales Materials shall include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of each Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information in light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading. The Fund shall, from time to time, file such amendment or amendments to the registration statement and each Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information as, in the light of future developments, shall, in the opinion of the Fund's counsel, be necessary in order to have the registration statement and each Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information at all times contain all material facts required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of each Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information in light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading. The Fund shall not file any amendment to the registration statement or a Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information without providing ALPS reasonable notice thereof in advance, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Fund's right to file at any time such amendments to the registration statement or a Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information as the Fund may deem advisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund shall not be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to any information or statement provided by ALPS for inclusion in the registration statement or any Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information. |
8
14. | Consultation Between the Parties. ALPS and the Fund shall regularly consult with each other regarding ALPS’ performance of its obligations under this Agreement. In connection therewith, the Fund shall submit to ALPS at a reasonable time in advance of filing with the SEC reasonably final copies of any amended or supplemented registration statement (including exhibits) under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and any repurchase offer notification; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Fund’s right to file at any time such amendments to any registration statement and/or supplements to any prospectus or statement of additional information, of whatever character, as the Fund may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional. |
15. | Anti-Money Laundering. ALPS agrees to maintain an anti-money laundering program in compliance with Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA Patriot Act”) and all applicable laws and regulations promulgated thereunder. ALPS confirms that, as soon as possible, following the request from the Fund, ALPS will supply the Fund with copies of ALPS’ anti-money laundering policy and procedures, and such other relevant certifications and representations regarding such policy and procedures as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time. |
16. | Business Interruption Plan. ALPS shall maintain in effect a business interruption plan, and enter into any agreements necessary with appropriate parties making reasonable provisions for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment customary in the industry. In the event of equipment failures, ALPS shall, at no additional expense to the Fund, take commercially reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. |
9
17. | Duration and Termination of this Agreement. |
(a) | Initial Term. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above (“Effective Date”) and shall continue thereafter throughout the period that ends two (2) years after the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”). |
(b) | Renewal Term. If not sooner terminated, this Agreement shall renew at the end of the Initial Term and shall thereafter continue for successive annual periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant portfolio of the Fund, provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by the majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If a plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act is in effect, continuance of the plan and this Agreement must be approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no financial interest in the operation of such plan or in any agreements related to such plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. |
(c) | This Agreement is terminable on sixty (60) days’ written notice by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant portfolio of the Fund, or by ALPS. |
(d) | Deliveries Upon Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement, ALPS agrees to cooperate in the orderly transfer of distribution duties and shall deliver to the Fund or as otherwise directed by the Fund (at the expense of the Fund) all records and other documents made or accumulated in the performance of its duties for the Fund hereunder. |
18. | Assignment. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Fund without the prior written consent of ALPS, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld by ALPS. |
19. | Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. To the extent that the laws of the State of New York conflict with the 1940 Act or such rules, the latter shall control. |
20. | Names. The obligations of the Fund entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any director, shareholder, representative, or agent thereof are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the directors, shareholders, representatives or agents of the Fund personally, but bind only the property of the Fund, and all persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund. |
10
21. | Amendments to this Agreement. This Agreement may only be amended by the parties in writing. |
22. | Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed to have been given when received or when sent by telex or facsimile, and shall be given to the following addresses (or such other addresses as to which notice is given): |
To ALPS:
ALPS Distributors, Inc.
1290 Broadway, Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80203
Attn: Steve Kyllo, SVP & Director
E-Mail: steve.kyllo@sscinc.com
To the Fund:
Barings Access Pine Point Fund
300 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Attn: Jill Dinerman, Chief Legal Officer
E-Mail: Jill.Dinerman@Barings.com
with a copy to
Ashlee.Steinnerd@Barings.com
24. | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. |
25. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that ALPS may embody in one or more separate documents its agreement, if any, with respect to delegated duties and oral instructions. |
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | President | |
ALPS DISTRIBUTORS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Steve Kyllo | |
Name: | Steve Kyllo | |
Title: | SVP & Director |
APPENDIX A
SERVICES
· | Act as legal underwriter/distributor |
· | Maintain & supervise FINRA registrations for licensed individuals |
o Coordinate Continuing Education requirements
o Administer & maintain required filings/licenses with FINRA
· | Provide investment company advertising and sales literature review, approval and record maintenance Online submission, review/approval, & real-time status updates through SS&C Advertising Review Portal |
o File required materials with FINRA
o Provide advertising regulatory and disclosure guidance
· | Enter into agreements with intermediaries to assist in the distribution of the Shares |
o Online access provided through SS&C Portal
· | Perform financial intermediary payments & reporting |
· | Fulfill key account intermediary agreements initial and ongoing information and due diligence requests |
· | Review each intermediary in accordance with SS&C Intermediary Oversight Program |
· | Deliver quarter reporting detail due diligence activity associated with your network, including risk ratings of each intermediary |
Exhibit (j)(2)
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CUSTODY AGREEMENT
This amendment, dated September 27, 2022, is made to the Custody Agreement, by and among each entity identified on Appendix A thereto (collectively, the “Client”), and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street” or the “Bank”), dated as of December 7, 2021 (the “Fund Custody Agreement”). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Fund Custody Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Client and the Bank wish to amend the Fund Custody Agreement by updating Schedule 2 (Notices) thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Schedule 2 to the Fund Custody Agreement (Notices) is amended in its entirety and replaced with a new Schedule 2 annexed hereto.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first written above.
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND | ||
(previously known as, MassMutual Access Pine Point Fund) | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Nazemi | |
Name: Mina Nazemi | ||
Title: President | ||
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS SUBSIDIARY LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Nazemi | |
Name: Mina Nazemi | ||
Title: President | ||
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Murphy | |
Name: Kevin Murphy | ||
Title: Managing Director |
Schedule 2
Notices
(Section 29)
CUSTODIAN: | STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY |
Attention: | Kevin W. Murphy, Managing Director |
CC: | Legal Department |
Address: | One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02110 |
Telephone No: | 617-662-9645 |
Email: | kwmurphy@statestreet.com |
CLIENT: | APPLICABLE ENTITY SET FORTH ON APPENDIX A |
Attention: | James Cochrane |
Address: | 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Telephone No: | (980) 417-5489 |
Email: | James.Cochrane@barings.com |
Attention: | Elizabeth Murray |
Address: | 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Telephone No: | (980) 417-6400 |
Email: | elizabeth.murray@barings.com |
With a copy to: | Ashlee Steinnerd |
Address: | 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Telephone No: | (980) 417-5788 |
Email: | ashlee.steinnerd@barings.com |
Exhibit (j)(4)
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CUSTODY AGREEMENT
This amendment, dated September 27, 2022, is made to the Custody Agreement between MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC (the “Client”), and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street” or the “Bank”), dated as of December 21, 2021 (the “Subsidiary Custody Agreement”). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Subsidiary Custody Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Client and the Bank wish to amend the Subsidiary Custody Agreement by updating Schedule 2 (Notices) thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Schedule 2 to the Subsidiary Custody Agreement (Notices) is amended in its entirety and replaced with a new Schedule 2 annexed hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first written above.
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS SUBSIDIARY LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Murphy | |
Name: | Kevin Murphy | |
Title: | Managing Director |
Schedule 2
Notices
(Section 29)
CUSTODIAN: | STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY |
Attention: | Kevin W. Murphy, Managing Director |
CC: | Legal Department |
Address: | One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02110 |
Telephone No: | 617-662-9645 |
Email: | kwmurphy@statestreet.com |
CLIENT: | MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS SUBSIDIARY LLC |
Attention: | James Cochrane |
Address: | 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Telephone No: | (980) 417-5489 |
Email: | James.Cochrane@barings.com |
Attention: | Elizabeth Murray |
Address: | 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Telephone No: | (980) 417-6400 |
Email: | elizabeth.murray@barings.com |
With a copy to: | Ashlee Steinnerd |
Address: | 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Telephone No: | (980) 417-5788 |
Email: | ashlee.steinnerd@barings.com |
Exhibit (k)(1)
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
This ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of September 27, 2022 by and between Barings Access Pine Point Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), and Barings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Administrator to provide administrative services in the manner and on the terms hereinafter set forth for the Fund and, as applicable, to any wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund that may be formed by the Fund and listed on Appendix A hereto from time to time (each, a “Subsidiary”). References herein to the Fund shall include a Subsidiary, except as otherwise provided; and
WHEREAS, the Administrator is willing to provide administrative services to the Fund on the terms and conditions hereafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants hereinafter contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the Fund and the Administrator hereby agree as follows:
1. | Duties of the Administrator. |
(a) Employment of Administrator. The Fund hereby employs the Administrator to act as administrator of the Fund, and to furnish, or arrange for others to furnish, the administrative services, personnel and facilities described below, subject to review by and the overall control of the Fund’s board of trustees (the “Board of Trustees”), for the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Administrator hereby accepts such employment and agrees during such period to render, or arrange for the rendering of, such services and to assume the obligations herein set forth subject to the reimbursement of costs and expenses as provided for below. The Administrator and any such other persons providing services arranged for by the Administrator shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be independent contractors and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized herein, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed agents of the Fund.
(b) Services. The Administrator shall perform (or oversee, or arrange for, the performance of) the administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator shall provide the Fund with office facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at such office facilities and such other services as the Administrator, subject to review by the Board of Trustees, shall from time to time determine to be necessary or useful to perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator shall perform fund accounting services for the Fund as set forth in Exhibit A: Fund Accounting Functions. The Administrator shall also, on behalf of the Fund and subject to the Board of Trustees’ approval, arrange for the services of, and oversee, custodians, depositories, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, other stockholder servicing agents, accountants, attorneys, underwriters, brokers and dealers, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and such other persons in any such other capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable. The Administrator shall make reports to the Board of Trustees regarding its performance of the obligations hereunder and furnish advice and recommendations with respect to such other aspects of the business and affairs of the Fund as it shall determine to be desirable; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to require the Administrator to, and the Administrator shall not, in its capacity as Administrator, provide any advice or recommendation relating to the securities and other assets that the Fund should purchase, retain or sell or any other investment advisory services to the Fund. The Administrator shall be responsible for the financial and other records that the Fund is required to maintain and shall prepare all reports and other materials required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other regulatory authority, including, but not limited to, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and amendments to its registration statements (on Form N-2 or any successor form). In addition, the Administrator will assist the Fund in determining and publishing the Fund’s net asset value, overseeing the preparation and filing of the Fund’s tax returns, and the printing and dissemination of reports to stockholders of the Fund, and generally overseeing the payment of the Fund’s expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Fund by others. Additionally, the Administrator will, for the Fund, determine the monthly pricing of the portfolio investments, including securities that are fair valued, and the computation of the net asset value and the net income of the Fund in accordance with the Prospectus, resolutions of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and the valuation procedures of the Fund as in effect from time to time. The Administrator may rely in good faith upon information prepared by or furnished to it or the Fund by any accounting or sub-accounting agent, and broker, dealer, sub-adviser or pricing or valuation service, or other usual or customary source of financial, accounting, or valuation information, and the Administrator shall not be responsible for any loss occasioned by or resulting directly or indirectly from such reliance.
(c) Sub-Administrators. The Administrator may engage one or more administrators (each, a “Sub-Administrator”) to act as sub-administrators to provide the Fund certain administrative services set forth in Section 1(b) of this Agreement, all as shall be set forth in a written contract (each, a “Sub-Administration Agreement”) to which the Administrator shall be a party.
2. | Records. |
The Administrator agrees to maintain and keep all books, accounts and other records of the Fund that relate to activities performed by the Administrator hereunder and, if required by any applicable statutes, rules and regulations, including without limitation, the 1940 Act, will maintain and keep such books, accounts and records in accordance with such statutes, rules and regulations. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Administrator agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund shall at all times remain the property of the Fund, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the termination of this Agreement or otherwise on written request. The Administrator further agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act will be preserved for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act unless any such records are earlier surrendered as provided above. Records shall be surrendered in usable machine-readable form. The Administrator shall have the right to retain copies of such records subject to observance of its confidentiality obligations under this Agreement.
2
3. | Confidentiality. |
The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto, including all “nonpublic personal information,” as defined under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (Public law 106-102, 113 Stat. 1138), shall be used by the other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party, without the prior consent of such providing party, except that such confidential information may be disclosed to an affiliate or agent of the disclosing party to be used for the sole purpose of providing the services set forth herein. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is requested by or required to be disclosed to any governmental or regulatory authority, including in connection with any required regulatory filings or examinations, by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund hereby consents and authorizes the Administrator and its affiliates to use and disclose confidential information relating to the Fund in connection with (a) the preparation of performance information relating to the Fund and (b) in connection with any contemplated sale of the outstanding equity or assets of the Adviser (defined below), Administrator, or any person who may be deemed to “control” either of the Adviser or the Administrator, in each case within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
4. | Compensation; Allocation of Costs and Expenses. |
(a) Reimbursement. The Administrator shall pay all of its own expenses incurred in performing its obligations under this Agreement, but shall not be responsible for paying any expenses of the Fund. The Administrator will make available, without expense to the Fund, the services of such of its (or its affiliates’) directors, officers, and employees as may duly be elected trustees or officers of the Fund, subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations imposed by law. The Administrator will pay the compensation of such of its (or its affiliates’) directors, officers, and employees as may duly be elected trustees or officers of the Fund. The Administrator will not be required to pay any expenses of the Fund other than those specifically allocated to it in this Agreement. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator will not be required to pay:
(i) the actual cost of goods and services used for the Fund and obtained by the Administrator from entities not affiliated with the Fund, which is reasonably allocated to the Fund on the basis of assets, revenues, time records or other method conforming with generally accepted accounting principles;
(ii) all fees, costs and expenses associated with the engagement of a Sub-Administrator, if any; and
3
(iii) costs associated with (a) the monitoring and preparation of regulatory reporting, including registration statements and amendments thereto, prospectus supplements, and tax reporting, (b) the coordination and oversight of service provider activities and the direct cost of such contractual matters related thereto and (c) the preparation of all financial statements and the coordination and oversight of audits, regulatory inquiries, certifications and sub-certifications.
(b) Allocation of Costs and Expenses. The Fund will bear all costs and expenses that are incurred in its operation and transactions and not specifically assumed by the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), pursuant to that certain Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2022, by and between the Fund and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”).
(c) Compensation. For the services to be rendered and the facilities to be furnished by the Administrator as provided for in this Agreement, the Fund will compensate the Administrator as the Fund and the Administrator may from time to time agree, as set out on Exhibit B, as it may be amended from time to time.).
5. | Limitation on Indemnification. |
The Administrator, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members, and any other person or entity affiliated with any of them shall not be liable to the Fund for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrator in connection with the performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as administrator for the Fund, and the Fund shall indemnify, defend and protect the Administrator (and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members, and any other person or entity affiliated with the Administrator) (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), and hold them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs, demands, charges, claims and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Fund or its security holders) arising out of any actions or omissions or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Administrator’s duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as administrator for the Fund. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 5 to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, any liability to the Fund or its security holders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject by reason of fraud, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Administrator’s duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Administrator’s duties and obligations under this Agreement (to the extent applicable, as the same shall be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder).
6. | Activities of the Administrator. |
The services of the Administrator to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Administrator and each other person providing services as arranged by the Administrator is free to render services to others. It is understood that trustees, officers, employees and stockholders of the Fund are or may become interested in the Administrator and its affiliates, as directors, officers, members, managers, employees, partners, stockholders or otherwise, and that the Administrator and directors, officers, members, managers, employees, partners and stockholders of the Administrator and its affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Fund as officers, directors, stockholders or otherwise.
4
7. | Duration and Termination of this Agreement. |
(a) This Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date hereof and thereafter continue automatically for successive annual periods, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of Trustees and (ii) a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Board of Trustees, or by the Administrator, upon 90 days’ written notice to the other party or by vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act).
(c) This Agreement may not be assigned by a party without the consent of the other party. The provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the Administrator shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement.
8. | Amendments of this Agreement. |
This Agreement may be amended pursuant to a written instrument by mutual consent of the parties hereto.
9. | Entire Agreement; Governing Law. |
This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, if any. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
10. | Notices. |
All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service (with signature required), by facsimile, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at their respective principal executive office addresses.
11. | Miscellaneous. |
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors.
5
12. | Counterparts. |
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts by the parties hereto, each of which shall constitute an original counterpart, and all of which, together, shall constitute one Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND | |||
By: | /s/ James Cochrane | ||
Name: James Cochrane | |||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS LLC | |||
By: | /s/ James Cochrane | ||
Name: James Cochrane | |||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
BARINGS LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Mina Nazemi | ||
Name: Mina Nazemi | |||
Title: Managing Director |
Appendix A
Subsidiaries of Barings Access Pine Point Fund
As of September 27, 2022
Name of Subsidiary | Place of Jurisdiction | Date Added |
MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC | Delaware | September 27, 2022 |
Exhibit A
Fund Accounting Functions
The Administrator shall have the following responsibilities pursuant to Section 1(b) of this Agreement:
1. Maintain the books and records of the Fund pursuant to applicable rules of the Investment Company Act of 1940, including the following:
(a) Journals containing an itemized daily record in detail of all purchases and sales of securities, including private equity investments, all receipts and disbursements of cash and all other debits and credits, as required;
(b) General and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all asset, liability, reserve, capital, income and expense accounts as required;
(c) A monthly trial balance of all ledger accounts as required.
2. Monthly pricing of all portfolio investments incorporating general private equity pricing principles or other methods as may be approved by the Fund’s Trustees from time to time.
3. Daily posting of all income and expense accruals and reconciliation of general ledger balances and total shares outstanding.
4. Computation of the monthly net asset value as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange on the last business day of each calendar month on which the Exchange is open for business.
5. Reporting of the monthly net asset value and dividend distributions, when calculated, to the Fund’s transfer agent, the Fund and others as requested.
6. Calculation of dividends and capital gain distributions.
7. Routine monitoring of the Fund’s investments and providing prompt notice of any violations of the diversification requirements, investment restrictions or investment policies.
8. Calculation of yields and returns pursuant to SEC formulas, and any other performance calculations as required, and providing Fund prices and performance numbers to industry reporting services.
9. Routine monitoring of the Fund’s investments and providing prompt notice of any violations of the diversification requirements, investment restrictions or investment policies.
10. Preparing reports on expense limitations and net asset value analysis, as requested.
11. Maintain historical records of the Fund net asset values and dividend distributions.
12. Preparing Blue Sky filings.
13. Preparing audited annual and unaudited semi-annual reports including statement of investments, financial statements and footnotes.
14. Producing documents and responding to inquiries during SEC, IRS or other governmental audits, as required.
15. Providing the portfolio managers with cash availability based on security settlements, shareholder activity, maturities, and income collections for the Fund on each business day.
Exhibit B
Compensation
Barings AccessSM Pine Point Fund
Class 1 Shares | Class 2 Shares | Class 3 Shares | Class 4 Shares |
0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Exhibit (k)(2)
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
This ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of September 27, 2022 by and between MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Fund”), and Barings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Administrator to provide administrative services in the manner and on the terms hereinafter set forth for the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Administrator is willing to provide administrative services to the Fund on the terms and conditions hereafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants hereinafter contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the Fund and the Administrator hereby agree as follows:
1. | Duties of the Administrator. |
(a) Employment of Administrator. The Fund hereby employs the Administrator to act as administrator of the Fund, and to furnish, or arrange for others to furnish, the administrative services, personnel and facilities described below, subject to review by and the overall control of the managers of the Fund (the “Board”), for the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Administrator hereby accepts such employment and agrees during such period to render, or arrange for the rendering of, such services and to assume the obligations herein set forth subject to the reimbursement of costs and expenses as provided for below. The Administrator and any such other persons providing services arranged for by the Administrator shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be independent contractors and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized herein, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed agents of the Fund.
(b) Services. The Administrator shall perform (or oversee, or arrange for, the performance of) the administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator shall provide the Fund with office facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at such office facilities and such other services as the Administrator, subject to review by the Board, shall from time to time determine to be necessary or useful to perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator shall perform fund accounting services for the Fund as set forth in Exhibit A: Fund Accounting Functions. The Administrator shall also, on behalf of the Fund and subject to the Board’s approval, arrange for the services of, and oversee, custodians, depositories, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, other stockholder servicing agents, accountants, attorneys, underwriters, brokers and dealers, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and such other persons in any such other capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable. The Administrator shall make reports to the Board regarding its performance of the obligations hereunder and furnish advice and recommendations with respect to such other aspects of the business and affairs of the Fund as it shall determine to be desirable; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to require the Administrator to, and the Administrator shall not, in its capacity as Administrator, provide any advice or recommendation relating to the securities and other assets that the Fund should purchase, retain or sell or any other investment advisory services to the Fund. The Administrator shall be responsible for the financial and other records that the Fund is required to maintain and shall prepare all reports and other materials required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other regulatory authority, including, but not limited to, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and amendments to its registration statements (on Form N-2 or any successor form). In addition, the Administrator will assist the Fund in determining and publishing the Fund’s net asset value, overseeing the preparation and filing of the Fund’s tax returns, and the printing and dissemination of reports to stockholders of the Fund, and generally overseeing the payment of the Fund’s expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Fund by others. Additionally, the Administrator will, for the Fund, determine the monthly pricing of the portfolio investments, including securities that are fair valued, and the computation of the net asset value and the net income of the Fund in accordance with the Prospectus, resolutions of the Fund’s Board, and the valuation procedures of the Fund as in effect from time to time. The Administrator may rely in good faith upon information prepared by or furnished to it or the Fund by any accounting or sub-accounting agent, and broker, dealer, sub-adviser or pricing or valuation service, or other usual or customary source of financial, accounting, or valuation information, and the Administrator shall not be responsible for any loss occasioned by or resulting directly or indirectly from such reliance.
(c) Sub-Administrators. The Administrator may engage one or more administrators (each, a “Sub-Administrator”) to act as sub-administrators to provide the Fund certain administrative services set forth in Section 1(b) of this Agreement, all as shall be set forth in a written contract (each, a “Sub-Administration Agreement”) to which the Administrator shall be a party.
2. | Records. |
The Administrator agrees to maintain and keep all books, accounts and other records of the Fund that relate to activities performed by the Administrator hereunder and, if required by any applicable statutes, rules and regulations, including without limitation, the 1940 Act, will maintain and keep such books, accounts and records in accordance with such statutes, rules and regulations. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Administrator agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund shall at all times remain the property of the Fund, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the termination of this Agreement or otherwise on written request. The Administrator further agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act will be preserved for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act unless any such records are earlier surrendered as provided above. Records shall be surrendered in usable machine-readable form. The Administrator shall have the right to retain copies of such records subject to observance of its confidentiality obligations under this Agreement.
2
3. | Confidentiality. |
The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto, including all “nonpublic personal information,” as defined under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (Public law 106-102, 113 Stat. 1138), shall be used by the other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party, without the prior consent of such providing party, except that such confidential information may be disclosed to an affiliate or agent of the disclosing party to be used for the sole purpose of providing the services set forth herein. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is requested by or required to be disclosed to any governmental or regulatory authority, including in connection with any required regulatory filings or examinations, by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund hereby consents and authorizes the Administrator and its affiliates to use and disclose confidential information relating to the Fund in connection with (a) the preparation of performance information relating to the Fund and (b) in connection with any contemplated sale of the outstanding equity or assets of the Adviser (defined below), Administrator, or any person who may be deemed to “control” either of the Adviser or the Administrator, in each case within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
4. | Compensation; Allocation of Costs and Expenses. |
(a) Reimbursement. The Administrator shall pay all of its own expenses incurred in performing its obligations under this Agreement, but shall not be responsible for paying any expenses of the Fund. The Administrator will make available, without expense to the Fund, the services of such of its (or its affiliates’) directors, officers, and employees as may duly be elected managers or officers of the Fund, subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations imposed by law. The Administrator will pay the compensation of such of its (or its affiliates’) directors, officers, and employees as may duly be elected managers or officers of the Fund. The Administrator will not be required to pay any expenses of the Fund other than those specifically allocated to it in this Agreement. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator will not be required to pay:
(i) the actual cost of goods and services used for the Fund and obtained by the Administrator from entities not affiliated with the Fund, which is reasonably allocated to the Fund on the basis of assets, revenues, time records or other method conforming with generally accepted accounting principles;
(ii) all fees, costs and expenses associated with the engagement of a Sub-Administrator, if any; and
(iii) costs associated with (a) the monitoring and preparation of regulatory reporting, including registration statements and amendments thereto, prospectus supplements, and tax reporting, (b) the coordination and oversight of service provider activities and the direct cost of such contractual matters related thereto and (c) the preparation of all financial statements and the coordination and oversight of audits, regulatory inquiries, certifications and sub-certifications.
3
(b) Allocation of Costs and Expenses. The Fund will bear all costs and expenses that are incurred in its operation and transactions and not specifically assumed by the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), pursuant to that certain Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2022, by and between the Fund and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”).
(c) Compensation. For the services to be rendered and the facilities to be furnished by the Administrator as provided for in this Agreement, the Fund will compensate the Administrator as the Fund and the Administrator may from time to time agree, as set out on Exhibit B, as it may be amended from time to time.).
5. | Limitation on Indemnification. |
The Administrator, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members, and any other person or entity affiliated with any of them shall not be liable to the Fund for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrator in connection with the performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as administrator for the Fund, and the Fund shall indemnify, defend and protect the Administrator (and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members, and any other person or entity affiliated with the Administrator) (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), and hold them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs, demands, charges, claims and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Fund or its security holders) arising out of any actions or omissions or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Administrator’s duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as administrator for the Fund. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 5 to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, any liability to the Fund or its security holders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject by reason of fraud, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Administrator’s duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Administrator’s duties and obligations under this Agreement (to the extent applicable, as the same shall be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder).
6. | Activities of the Administrator. |
The services of the Administrator to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Administrator and each other person providing services as arranged by the Administrator is free to render services to others. It is understood that managers, officers, employees and stockholders of the Fund are or may become interested in the Administrator and its affiliates, as directors, officers, members, managers, employees, partners, stockholders or otherwise, and that the Administrator and directors, officers, members, managers, employees, partners and stockholders of the Administrator and its affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Fund as officers, directors, stockholders or otherwise.
4
7. | Duration and Termination of this Agreement. |
(a) This Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date hereof and thereafter continue automatically for successive annual periods.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Board, or by the Administrator, upon 90 days’ written notice to the other party or by vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act).
(c) This Agreement may not be assigned by a party without the consent of the other party. The provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the Administrator shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement.
8. | Amendments of this Agreement. |
This Agreement may be amended pursuant to a written instrument by mutual consent of the parties hereto.
9. | Entire Agreement; Governing Law. |
This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, if any. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
10. | Notices. |
All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service (with signature required), by facsimile, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at their respective principal executive office addresses.
11. | Miscellaneous. |
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors.
5
12. | Counterparts. |
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts by the parties hereto, each of which shall constitute an original counterpart, and all of which, together, shall constitute one Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.
MASSMUTUAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS SUBSIDIARY LLC | ||
By: | /s/ James Cochrane | |
Name: | James Cochrane | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
BARINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Nazemi | |
Title: | Managing Director |
Exhibit A
Fund Accounting Functions
The Administrator shall have the following responsibilities pursuant to Section 1(b) of this Agreement:
1. Maintain the books and records of the Fund pursuant to applicable rules of the Investment Company Act of 1940, including the following:
(a) Journals containing an itemized daily record in detail of all purchases and sales of securities, including private equity investments, all receipts and disbursements of cash and all other debits and credits, as required;
(b) General and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all asset, liability, reserve, capital, income and expense accounts as required;
(c) A monthly trial balance of all ledger accounts as required.
2. Monthly pricing of all portfolio investments incorporating general private equity pricing principles or other methods as may be approved by the Fund’s managers from time to time.
3. Daily posting of all income and expense accruals and reconciliation of general ledger balances and total shares outstanding.
4. Computation of the monthly net asset value as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange on the last business day of each calendar month on which the Exchange is open for business.
5. Reporting of the monthly net asset value and dividend distributions, when calculated, to the Fund’s transfer agent, the Fund and others as requested.
6. Calculation of dividends and capital gain distributions.
7. Routine monitoring of the Fund’s investments and providing prompt notice of any violations of the diversification requirements, investment restrictions or investment policies.
8. Calculation of yields and returns pursuant to SEC formulas, and any other performance calculations as required, and providing Fund prices and performance numbers to industry reporting services.
9. Routine monitoring of the Fund’s investments and providing prompt notice of any violations of the diversification requirements, investment restrictions or investment policies.
10. Preparing reports on expense limitations and net asset value analysis, as requested.
11. Maintain historical records of the Fund net asset values and dividend distributions.
12. Preparing Blue Sky filings.
13. Preparing audited annual and unaudited semi-annual reports including statement of investments, financial statements and footnotes.
14. Producing documents and responding to inquiries during SEC, IRS or other governmental audits, as required.
15. Providing the portfolio managers with cash availability based on security settlements, shareholder activity, maturities, and income collections for the Fund on each business day.
Exhibit B
Compensation
Entity | Fee |
MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC | 0.00% |
Exhibit (k)(4)
AMENDMENT TO SUB-ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
This amendment, dated October 4, 2022 (this “Amendment”), is made to the Sub-Administration Agreement, dated and effective as of December 7, 2021, by and between State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) and Barings LLC (successor in interest to MML Investment Advisers, LLC) (the “Administrator”), pursuant to which State Street acts as sub-administrator with respect to Barings Access Pine Point Fund (formerly known as MassMutual Access Pine Point Fund) and MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC (as may be amended from time to time, the “Fund Sub-Administration Agreement”).
WHEREAS, the Administrator and State Street wish to amend the Fund Sub-Administration Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Amendment. Schedule B to the Fund Sub-Administration Agreement (List of Services) is hereby amended by inserting a new Schedule B-VIII (N-PORT Services) and Schedule B-IX (Liquidity Risk Measurement Services) immediately following Schedule B-VII (CFTC Services) therein, in each case as annexed hereto. |
2. | Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed by and governed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules. |
3. | Counterparts. This Amendment may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. |
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first written above.
BARINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | Managing Director |
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Murphy | |
Name: | Kevin Murphy | |
Title: | Managing Director |
SCHEDULE B-VIII
Fund Administration Form N-PORT (the “Form N-PORT Services”) and Form N-CEN (the “Form N-CEN Services”) Support Services (collectively, the “Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN Support Services”), Liquidity Risk Measurement Services and Quarterly Portfolio of Investments Services (collectively, with the Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN Support Services, and for purposes of this Schedule B-VIII, the “Services”)
I. Services.
(a) | Standard N-PORT and N-CEN Reporting Solution (Data and Filing): |
• | Subject to the receipt of all required data, documentation, assumptions, information and assistance from the Administrator (including from any third parties with whom the Administrator will need to coordinate in order to produce such data, documentation, and information), the Sub-Administrator will use required data, documentation, assumptions, information and assistance from the Administrator, the Sub-Administrator’s internal systems and, in the case of Funds not administered by the Sub-Administrator or its affiliates, third party administrators or other data providers, including but not limited to Third Party Data (as defined below) (collectively, the “Required Data”) to perform necessary data aggregations (including any applicable aggregation of risk metrics) and calculations and prepare, as applicable: (i) a monthly draft Form N-PORT standard template for each Fund listed on Annex 1 for review and approval by the Administrator and (ii) annual updates of Form N-CEN for each Fund listed on Annex 1 for review and approval by the Administrator. |
• | The Administrator acknowledges and agrees that it will be responsible for reviewing and approving each such draft N-PORT template and N-CEN update. |
• | Following review and final approval by the Administrator of each such draft Form N-PORT template and N-CEN update, and at the direction of and on behalf of the Administrator, the Sub-Administrator will (i) produce an .XML formatted file of the completed Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN and maintain a record thereof in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) when required, electronically submit such filing to the SEC. |
The Form N-PORT Services will be provided to each Fund set forth in the attached Annex 1, which shall be executed by the Sub-Administrator and the Administrator(s). The Form N-CEN Services will be provided to the Funds as set forth in the attached Annex 1. Annex 1 may be updated from time to time upon the written request of the Administrator and by virtue of an updated Annex 1 that is signed by both parties.
(b) | Quarterly Portfolio of Investments Services: |
• | Subject to the receipt of all Required Data, and as a component of the Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN Support Services, the Sub-Administrator will use such Required Data from the Administrator, the Sub-Administrator’s internal systems and other data providers to prepare a draft portfolio of investments (the “Portfolio of Investments”), compliant with GAAP, as of the Funds’ first and third fiscal quarter-ends. |
• | Following review and final approval by the Administrator of each such draft Portfolio of Investments, and at the direction of and on behalf of the Administrator, the Sub-Administrator will attach each Portfolio of Investments to the first and third fiscal quarter-end N-PORT filing that is submitted electronically to the SEC. |
(c) Liquidity Risk Measurement Services:
The Sub-Administrator will provide the following liquidity risk measurement services (“Liquidity Risk Measurement Services”) to the Administrator on behalf of the Funds:
• | As applicable, the Sub-Administrator will provide the Administrator on behalf of each Fund with Liquidity Risk Measurement Services that will provide calculation of security level exposure, characteristics, liquidity analytics, including days to liquidate, liquidity scores, fixed income cost to liquidate, stress testing and redemption flow analysis. Liquidity analytics will be calculated daily, weekly, or monthly (as per written agreement between the Sub-Administrator and Administrator) and, as applicable, aggregated monthly for purposes of inclusion in the Sub-Administrator’s standard N-PORT filing template. Services also will include the Sub-Administrator’s standard liquidity Fund profile report and online access to the Sub-Administrator’s dynamic risk reporting tools via my.statestreet.com which enable the Administrator to analyze and generate risk reporting. |
The Liquidity Risk Measurement Services will be provided to the Administrator on behalf of each Fund as set forth in the attached Annex 1, which shall be executed by the Administrator and the Sub-Administrator. Annex 1 may be updated from time to time upon the written request of the Administrator and by virtue of an updated Annex 1 that is signed by both parties.
II. Administrator Duties, Representations and Covenants in Connection with the Services.
The provision of the Services to the Administrator by the Sub-Administrator is subject to the following terms and conditions:
1. The parties acknowledge and agree on the following matters:
The Services depend, directly or indirectly, on: (i) Required Data and (ii) information concerning the Funds or their affiliates or any pooled vehicle, security or other investment or portfolio regarding which a Fund or its affiliates provide services or is otherwise associated (“Fund Entities”) that is generated or aggregated by the Sub-Administrator or its affiliates in connection with services performed on behalf of the Administrator, a Fund or otherwise prepared by the Sub-Administrator (“State Street Data,” together with Required Data and Third Party Data (as defined below), “Services-Related Data”). The Sub-Administrator’s obligations, responsibilities and liabilities with respect to any State Street Data used in connection with other services received by the Administrator or a Fund shall be as provided in such respective other agreements between the Sub-Administrator or its affiliates and the Administrator relating to such other services (e.g., administration and/or custody services, etc.) from which the State Street Data is derived or sourced (“Other Fund Agreements”). Nothing in this Agreement or any service schedule(s) shall limit or modify the Sub-Administrator’s or its affiliates’ obligations to the Administrator or a Fund under the Other Fund Agreements.
In connection with the provision of the Services by the Sub-Administrator, the Administrator acknowledges and agrees that it will be responsible for providing the Sub-Administrator with any information requested by the Sub-Administrator, including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) Arranging for the regular provision of all Required Data (including State Street Data, where applicable) and related information to the Sub-Administrator, in formats compatible with Sub-Administrator-provided data templates including, without limitation, Required Data and the information and assumptions required by the Sub-Administrator in connection with a Fund reporting profile and onboarding checklist, as it, or the information or assumptions required, may be revised at any time by the Sub-Administrator, in its discretion (collectively, the “Onboarding Checklist”) and such other forms and templates as may be used by the Sub-Administrator for such purposes from time to time, for all Funds with respect to which services are provided under this Agreement, including but not limited to those to be reported on Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN (as determined by the Administrator), including, without limitation, arranging for the provision of data from the Administrator, a Fund, its or their affiliates, third party administrators, prime brokers, custodians, and other relevant parties. If and to the extent that Required Data is already accessible to the Sub-Administrator (or any of its affiliates) in its capacity as administrator to one or more Funds, the Sub-Administrator and the Administrator will agree on the scope of the information to be extracted from the Sub-Administrator’s or any of its affiliate’s systems for purposes of the Sub-Administrator’s provision of the Services, subject to the discretion of the Sub-Administrator, and the Sub-Administrator is hereby expressly authorized to use any such information as reasonably necessary in connection with providing the Services hereunder; and
(B) Providing all required information and assumptions not otherwise included in Fund data and assumptions provided pursuant to Section 1(A) above, including but not limited to the Required Data, as may be required in order for the Sub-Administrator to provide the Services.
The following are examples of certain types of information that the Administrator is likely to be required to provide with respect to each Fund pursuant to Sections 1(A) and 1(B) above, and the Administrator hereby acknowledges and understands that the following categories of information are merely illustrative examples, are by no means an exhaustive list of all such required information, and are subject to change as a result of any amendments to Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN or any changes in requirements relating to the provision of Liquidity Risk Measurement Services:
• | SEC filing classification of the Funds (i.e., small or large filer); |
• | Identification of any data sourced from third parties; |
• | Identification of any securities reported as Miscellaneous; and |
• | Any Explanatory Notes included in N-PORT Section E. |
2. The Administrator acknowledges that it has provided to the Sub-Administrator all material assumptions used by the Administrator or that are expected to be used by the Administrator with respect to each Fund in connection with the completion of Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN and the provision of the Services, and that it has approved all material assumptions used by the Sub-Administrator in the provision of the Services prior to the first use of the Services. The Administrator will also be responsible for timely notifying the Sub-Administrator of any changes in any such material assumptions previously notified to the Sub-Administrator by the Administrator or otherwise previously approved by the Administrator in connection with the Sub-Administrator’s provision of the Services. The Administrator acknowledges that the completion of Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN and the provision of the Services, and the data required thereby, requires the use of material assumptions in connection with many different categories of information and data, and the use and/or reporting thereof, including, but not limited to the following:
• | Investment classification of positions; |
• | Assumptions necessary in converting data extracts; |
• | General operational and process assumptions used by the Sub-Administrator in performing the Services; and |
• | Assumptions specific to each Fund. |
The Administrator hereby acknowledges and understands that the foregoing categories of information that may involve the use of material assumptions are merely illustrative examples of certain subject matter areas in relation to which the Administrator (and/or the Sub-Administrator on its behalf in connection with the Services) may rely on various material assumptions, and are by no means an exhaustive list of all such subject matter areas.
3. The Administrator acknowledges and agrees on the following matters:
(A) The Administrator has independently reviewed the Services (including, without limitation, the assumptions, market data, securities prices, securities valuations, tests and calculations used in the Services), and the Administrator has determined that the Services are suitable for its purposes. None of the Sub-Administrator or its affiliates, nor their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents or service providers (collectively, including the Sub-Administrator, “State Street Parties”) make any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to the Services or otherwise.
(B) The Administrator assumes full responsibility for complying with all securities, tax, commodities and other laws, rules and regulations applicable to it or the Funds. The Sub-Administrator is not providing, and the Services do not constitute, legal, tax, investment, or regulatory advice, or accounting or auditing services advice. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties to this Agreement, the Services are of general application and the Sub-Administrator is not providing any customization, guidance, or recommendations. Where the Administrator uses Services to comply with any law, regulation, agreement, or other Administrator or Fund obligation, the Sub- Administrator makes no representation that any Service complies with such law, regulation, agreement, or other obligation, and the Sub-Administrator has no obligation of compliance with respect thereto.
(C) The Administrator may use the Services and any reports, charts, graphs, data, analyses and other results generated by the Sub-Administrator in connection with the Services and provided by the Sub-Administrator to the Administrator (“Materials”) (a) for the internal business purpose of the Administrator or the applicable Fund relating to the applicable Service or (b) for submission to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as required, of a Form N-PORT template and a Form N-CEN update, including any Portfolio of Investments, if applicable. The Administrator may also redistribute the Materials, or an excerpted portion thereof, to the applicable Fund and its investment managers, investment advisers, agents, clients, investors or participants, as applicable, that have a reasonable interest in the Materials in connection with their relationship with the Fund (each a “Permitted Person”); provided, however, (i) the Administrator and/or Fund may not charge a fee, profit, or otherwise benefit from the redistribution of Materials to Permitted Persons, (ii) data provided by third party sources such as but not limited to market or index data (“Third Party Data”) contained in the Materials may not be redistributed other than Third Party Data that is embedded in the calculations presented in the Materials and not otherwise identifiable as Third Party Data, except to the extent the Administrator has separate license rights with respect to the use of such Third Party Data, or (iii) the Administrator may not use the Services or Materials in any way to compete or enable any third party to compete with the Sub-Administrator. No Permitted Person shall have any further rights of use or redistribution with respect to, or any ownership rights in, the Materials or any excerpted portion thereof.
Except as expressly provided in this Section 3(C), the Administrator, any of its affiliates, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, investment managers, investment advisers, agents or any other third party, including any client of, or investor or participant in a Fund or any Fund Entity or any Permitted Persons (collectively, including the Administrator, “Administrator Parties”), may not directly or indirectly, sell, rent, lease, license or sublicense, transmit, transfer, distribute or redistribute, disclose display, or provide, or otherwise make available or permit access to, all or any part of the Services or the Materials (including any State Street Data or Third Party Data contained therein, except with respect to Third Party Data to the extent the Administrator has separate license rights with respect to the use of such Third Party Data). Without limitation, Administrator Parties shall not themselves nor permit any other person to in whole or in part (i) modify, enhance, create derivative works, reverse engineer, decompile, decompose or disassemble the Services or the Materials; (ii) make copies of the Services, the Materials or portions thereof; (iii) secure any source code used in the Services, or attempt to use any portions of the Services in any form other than machine readable object code; (iv) commercially exploit or otherwise use the Services or the Materials for the benefit of any third party in a service bureau or software-as-a-service environment (or similar structure), or otherwise use the Services or the Materials to perform services for any third party, including for, to, or with consultants and independent contractors; or (v) attempt any of the foregoing or otherwise use the Services or the Materials for any purpose other than as expressly authorized under this Agreement.
(D) The Administrator shall limit the access and use of the Services and the Materials by any Administrator Parties to a need-to-know basis and, in connection with its obligations under this Agreement, the Administrator shall be responsible and liable for all acts and omissions of any Administrator Parties.
(E) The Services, the Materials and all confidential information of the Sub-Administrator (as confidential information is defined in the Agreement and other than Third Party Data and Required Data), are the sole property of the Sub-Administrator. The Administrator has no rights or interests with respect to all or any part of the Services, the Materials or the Sub-Administrator’s confidential information, other than its use and redistribution rights expressly set forth in Section 3(C) herein. The Administrator automatically and irrevocably assigns to the Sub-Administrator any right, title or interest that it has, or may be deemed to have, in the Services, the Materials or the Sub- Administrator’s confidential information, including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, any Administrator Party feedback, ideas, concepts, comments, suggestions, techniques or know-how shared with the Sub-Administrator (collectively, “Feedback”) and the State Street Parties shall be entitled to incorporate any Feedback in the Services or the Materials or to otherwise use such Feedback for its own commercial benefit without obligation to compensate the Administrator or any Fund.
(F) The Sub-Administrator may rely on Services-Related Data used in connection with the Services without independent verification. Services-Related Data used in the Services may not be available or may contain errors, and the Services may not be complete or accurate as a result.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
ANNEX I
BARINGS LLC
Further to the Amendment to Sub-Administration Agreement dated as of _____________, 2022 between Barings LLC (the “Administrator”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Sub-Administrator”), the Administrator and the Sub-Administrator mutually agree to update this Annex 1 by adding/removing Funds as applicable:
Liquidity Risk Measurement Services | |
BARINGS LLC | FREQUENCY |
Barings Access Pine Point Fund | monthly |
MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC | monthly |
Form N-PORT Services and Quarterly | Service Type |
Portfolio of Investments Services | |
BARINGS LLC |
Standard N- PORT and N- CEN Reporting Solution (Data and Filing) |
Barings Access Pine Point Fund | monthly |
MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC | monthly |
Form N-CEN Services |
BARINGS LLC |
Information Classification: Limited Access
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by their authorized representatives, have executed this Annex 1 as of the last signature date set forth below.
BARINGS LLC | STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | |||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | By: | /s/ Kevin Murphy | |
Name: Mina Pacheco Nazemi | Name: | |||
Title: Managing Director | Title: | |||
Address: 300 S. Tryon Street, Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Address: | |||
Date: October 4, 2022 | Date: |
Exhibit (k)(6)
AMENDMENT TO SUB-ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
This amendment, dated October 4, 2022 (this “Amendment”), is made to the Sub-Administration Agreement, dated and effective as of December 21, 2021, by and between State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) and Barings LLC (successor in interest to MML Investment Advisers, LLC) (the “Administrator”), pursuant to which State Street acts as sub-administrator with respect to MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC (as may be amended from time to time, the “Subsidiary Sub-Administration Agreement”).
WHEREAS, the Administrator and State Street wish to amend the Subsidiary Sub-Administration Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Amendment. Schedule B to the Subsidiary Sub-Administration Agreement (List of Services) is hereby amended by inserting a new Schedule B-VIII (N-PORT Services) and Schedule B-IX (Liquidity Risk Measurement Services) immediately following Schedule B-VII (CFTC Services) therein, in each case as annexed hereto. |
2. | Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed by and governed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules. |
3. | Counterparts. This Amendment may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. |
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first written above.
BARINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Title: | Managing Director |
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Murphy | |
Name: | Kevin Murphy | |
Title: | Managing Director |
SCHEDULE B-VIII
Fund Administration Form N-PORT (the “Form N-PORT Services”) and Form N-CEN (the “Form N-CEN Services”) Support Services (collectively, the “Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN Support Services”), Liquidity Risk Measurement Services and Quarterly Portfolio of Investments Services (collectively, with the Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN Support Services, and for purposes of this Schedule B-VIII, the “Services”)
I. Services.
(a) | Standard N-PORT and N-CEN Reporting Solution (Data and Filing): |
• | Subject to the receipt of all required data, documentation, assumptions, information and assistance from the Administrator (including from any third parties with whom the Administrator will need to coordinate in order to produce such data, documentation, and information), the Sub-Administrator will use required data, documentation, assumptions, information and assistance from the Administrator, the Sub-Administrator’s internal systems and, in the case of Funds not administered by the Sub-Administrator or its affiliates, third party administrators or other data providers, including but not limited to Third Party Data (as defined below) (collectively, the “Required Data”) to perform necessary data aggregations (including any applicable aggregation of risk metrics) and calculations and prepare, as applicable: (i) a monthly draft Form N-PORT standard template for each Fund listed on Annex 1 for review and approval by the Administrator and (ii) annual updates of Form N-CEN for each Fund listed on Annex 1 for review and approval by the Administrator. |
• | The Administrator acknowledges and agrees that it will be responsible for reviewing and approving each such draft N-PORT template and N-CEN update. |
• | Following review and final approval by the Administrator of each such draft Form N-PORT template and N-CEN update, and at the direction of and on behalf of the Administrator, the Sub-Administrator will (i) produce an .XML formatted file of the completed Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN and maintain a record thereof in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) when required, electronically submit such filing to the SEC. |
The Form N-PORT Services will be provided to each Fund set forth in the attached Annex 1, which shall be executed by the Sub-Administrator and the Administrator(s). The Form N-CEN Services will be provided to the Funds as set forth in the attached Annex 1. Annex 1 may be updated from time to time upon the written request of the Administrator and by virtue of an updated Annex 1 that is signed by both parties.
(b) | Quarterly Portfolio of Investments Services: |
• | Subject to the receipt of all Required Data, and as a component of the Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN Support Services, the Sub-Administrator will use such Required Data from the Administrator, the Sub-Administrator’s internal systems and other data providers to prepare a draft portfolio of investments (the “Portfolio of Investments”), compliant with GAAP, as of the Funds’ first and third fiscal quarter-ends. |
• | Following review and final approval by the Administrator of each such draft Portfolio of Investments, and at the direction of and on behalf of the Administrator, the Sub-Administrator will attach each Portfolio of Investments to the first and third fiscal quarter-end N-PORT filing that is submitted electronically to the SEC. |
(c) Liquidity Risk Measurement Services:
The Sub-Administrator will provide the following liquidity risk measurement services (“Liquidity Risk Measurement Services”) to the Administrator on behalf of the Funds:
• | As applicable, the Sub-Administrator will provide the Administrator on behalf of the Fund with Liquidity Risk Measurement Services that will provide calculation of security level exposure, characteristics, liquidity analytics, including days to liquidate, liquidity scores, fixed income cost to liquidate, stress testing and redemption flow analysis. Liquidity analytics will be calculated daily, weekly, or monthly (as per written agreement between the Sub-Administrator and Administrator) and, as applicable, aggregated monthly for purposes of inclusion in the Sub-Administrator’s standard N-PORT filing template. Services also will include the Sub-Administrator’s standard liquidity Fund profile report and online access to the Sub-Administrator’s dynamic risk reporting tools via my.statestreet.com which enable the Administrator to analyze and generate risk reporting. |
The Liquidity Risk Measurement Services will be provided to the Administrator on behalf of each Fund as set forth in the attached Annex 1, which shall be executed by the Administrator and the Sub-Administrator. Annex 1 may be updated from time to time upon the written request of the Administrator and by virtue of an updated Annex 1 that is signed by both parties.
II. Administrator Duties, Representations and Covenants in Connection with the Services.
The provision of the Services to the Administrator by the Sub-Administrator is subject to the following terms and conditions:
1. The parties acknowledge and agree on the following matters:
The Services depend, directly or indirectly, on: (i) Required Data and (ii) information concerning the Funds or their affiliates or any pooled vehicle, security or other investment or portfolio regarding which a Fund or its affiliates provide services or is otherwise associated (“Fund Entities”) that is generated or aggregated by the Sub-Administrator or its affiliates in connection with services performed on behalf of the Administrator, a Fund or otherwise prepared by the Sub-Administrator (“State Street Data,” together with Required Data and Third Party Data (as defined below), “Services-Related Data”). The Sub-Administrator’s obligations, responsibilities and liabilities with respect to any State Street Data used in connection with other services received by the Administrator or a Fund shall be as provided in such respective other agreements between the Sub-Administrator or its affiliates and the Administrator relating to such other services (e.g., administration and/or custody services, etc.) from which the State Street Data is derived or sourced (“Other Fund Agreements”). Nothing in this Agreement or any service schedule(s) shall limit or modify the Sub-Administrator’s or its affiliates’ obligations to the Administrator or a Fund under the Other Fund Agreements.
In connection with the provision of the Services by the Sub-Administrator, the Administrator acknowledges and agrees that it will be responsible for providing the Sub-Administrator with any information requested by the Sub-Administrator, including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) Arranging for the regular provision of all Required Data (including State Street Data, where applicable) and related information to the Sub-Administrator, in formats compatible with Sub-Administrator-provided data templates including, without limitation, Required Data and the information and assumptions required by the Sub-Administrator in connection with a Fund reporting profile and onboarding checklist, as it, or the information or assumptions required, may be revised at any time by the Sub-Administrator, in its discretion (collectively, the “Onboarding Checklist”) and such other forms and templates as may be used by the Sub-Administrator for such purposes from time to time, for all Funds with respect to which services are provided under this Agreement, including but not limited to those to be reported on Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN (as determined by the Administrator), including, without limitation, arranging for the provision of data from the Administrator, a Fund, its or their affiliates, third party administrators, prime brokers, custodians, and other relevant parties. If and to the extent that Required Data is already accessible to the Sub-Administrator (or any of its affiliates) in its capacity as administrator to one or more Funds, the Sub-Administrator and the Administrator will agree on the scope of the information to be extracted from the Sub-Administrator’s or any of its affiliate’s systems for purposes of the Sub-Administrator’s provision of the Services, subject to the discretion of the Sub-Administrator, and the Sub-Administrator is hereby expressly authorized to use any such information as reasonably necessary in connection with providing the Services hereunder; and
(B) Providing all required information and assumptions not otherwise included in Fund data and assumptions provided pursuant to Section 1(A) above, including but not limited to the Required Data, as may be required in order for the Sub-Administrator to provide the Services.
The following are examples of certain types of information that the Administrator is likely to be required to provide with respect to each Fund pursuant to Sections 1(A) and 1(B) above, and the Administrator hereby acknowledges and understands that the following categories of information are merely illustrative examples, are by no means an exhaustive list of all such required information, and are subject to change as a result of any amendments to Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN or any changes in requirements relating to the provision of Liquidity Risk Measurement Services:
• | SEC filing classification of the Funds (i.e., small or large filer); |
• | Identification of any data sourced from third parties; |
• | Identification of any securities reported as Miscellaneous; and |
• | Any Explanatory Notes included in N-PORT Section E. |
2. The Administrator acknowledges that it has provided to the Sub-Administrator all material assumptions used by the Administrator or that are expected to be used by the Administrator with respect to each Fund in connection with the completion of Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN and the provision of the Services, and that it has approved all material assumptions used by the Sub-Administrator in the provision of the Services prior to the first use of the Services. The Administrator will also be responsible for timely notifying the Sub-Administrator of any changes in any such material assumptions previously notified to the Sub-Administrator by the Administrator or otherwise previously approved by the Administrator in connection with the Sub-Administrator’s provision of the Services. The Administrator acknowledges that the completion of Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN and the provision of the Services, and the data required thereby, requires the use of material assumptions in connection with many different categories of information and data, and the use and/or reporting thereof, including, but not limited to the following:
• | Investment classification of positions; |
• | Assumptions necessary in converting data extracts; |
• | General operational and process assumptions used by the Sub-Administrator in performing the Services; and |
• | Assumptions specific to each Fund. |
The Administrator hereby acknowledges and understands that the foregoing categories of information that may involve the use of material assumptions are merely illustrative examples of certain subject matter areas in relation to which the Administrator (and/or the Sub-Administrator on its behalf in connection with the Services) may rely on various material assumptions, and are by no means an exhaustive list of all such subject matter areas.
3. The Administrator acknowledges and agrees on the following matters:
(A) The Administrator has independently reviewed the Services (including, without limitation, the assumptions, market data, securities prices, securities valuations, tests and calculations used in the Services), and the Administrator has determined that the Services are suitable for its purposes. None of the Sub-Administrator or its affiliates, nor their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents or service providers (collectively, including the Sub-Administrator, “State Street Parties”) make any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to the Services or otherwise.
(B)The Administrator assumes full responsibility for complying with all securities, tax, commodities and other laws, rules and regulations applicable to it or the Funds. The Sub-Administrator is not providing, and the Services do not constitute, legal, tax, investment, or regulatory advice, or accounting or auditing services advice. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties to this Agreement, the Services are of general application and the Sub-Administrator is not providing any customization, guidance, or recommendations. Where the Administrator uses Services to comply with any law, regulation, agreement, or other Administrator or Fund obligation, the Sub-Administrator makes no representation that any Service complies with such law, regulation, agreement, or other obligation, and the Sub-Administrator has no obligation of compliance with respect thereto.
(C) The Administrator may use the Services and any reports, charts, graphs, data, analyses and other results generated by the Sub-Administrator in connection with the Services and provided by the Sub-Administrator to the Administrator (“Materials”) (a) for the internal business purpose of the Administrator or the applicable Fund relating to the applicable Service or (b) for submission to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as required, of a Form N-PORT template and a Form N-CEN update, including any Portfolio of Investments, if applicable. The Administrator may also redistribute the Materials, or an excerpted portion thereof, to the applicable Fund and its investment managers, investment advisers, agents, clients, investors or participants, as applicable, that have a reasonable interest in the Materials in connection with their relationship with the Fund (each a “Permitted Person”); provided, however, (i) the Administrator and/or Fund may not charge a fee, profit, or otherwise benefit from the redistribution of Materials to Permitted Persons, (ii) data provided by third party sources such as but not limited to market or index data (“Third Party Data”) contained in the Materials may not be redistributed other than Third Party Data that is embedded in the calculations presented in the Materials and not otherwise identifiable as Third Party Data, except to the extent the Administrator has separate license rights with respect to the use of such Third Party Data, or (iii) the Administrator may not use the Services or Materials in any way to compete or enable any third party to compete with the Sub-Administrator. No Permitted Person shall have any further rights of use or redistribution with respect to, or any ownership rights in, the Materials or any excerpted portion thereof.
Except as expressly provided in this Section 3(C), the Administrator, any of its affiliates, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, investment managers, investment advisers, agents or any other third party, including any client of, or investor or participant in a Fund or any Fund Entity or any Permitted Persons (collectively, including the Administrator, “Administrator Parties”), may not directly or indirectly, sell, rent, lease, license or sublicense, transmit, transfer, distribute or redistribute, disclose display, or provide, or otherwise make available or permit access to, all or any part of the Services or the Materials (including any State Street Data or Third Party Data contained therein, except with respect to Third Party Data to the extent the Administrator has separate license rights with respect to the use of such Third Party Data). Without limitation, Administrator Parties shall not themselves nor permit any other person to in whole or in part (i) modify, enhance, create derivative works, reverse engineer, decompile, decompose or disassemble the Services or the Materials; (ii) make copies of the Services, the Materials or portions thereof; (iii) secure any source code used in the Services, or attempt to use any portions of the Services in any form other than machine readable object code; (iv) commercially exploit or otherwise use the Services or the Materials for the benefit of any third party in a service bureau or software-as-a-service environment (or similar structure), or otherwise use the Services or the Materials to perform services for any third party, including for, to, or with consultants and independent contractors; or (v) attempt any of the foregoing or otherwise use the Services or the Materials for any purpose other than as expressly authorized under this Agreement.
(D) The Administrator shall limit the access and use of the Services and the Materials by any Administrator Parties to a need-to-know basis and, in connection with its obligations under this Agreement, the Administrator shall be responsible and liable for all acts and omissions of any Administrator Parties.
(E) The Services, the Materials and all confidential information of the Sub-Administrator (as confidential information is defined in the Agreement and other than Third Party Data and Required Data), are the sole property of the Sub-Administrator. The Administrator has no rights or interests with respect to all or any part of the Services, the Materials or the Sub-Administrator’s confidential information, other than its use and redistribution rights expressly set forth in Section 3(C) herein. The Administrator automatically and irrevocably assigns to the Sub-Administrator any right, title or interest that it has, or may be deemed to have, in the Services, the Materials or the Sub-Administrator’s confidential information, including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, any Administrator Party feedback, ideas, concepts, comments, suggestions, techniques or know-how shared with the Sub-Administrator (collectively, “Feedback”) and the State Street Parties shall be entitled to incorporate any Feedback in the Services or the Materials or to otherwise use such Feedback for its own commercial benefit without obligation to compensate the Administrator or any Fund.
(F) The Sub-Administrator may rely on Services-Related Data used in connection with the Services without independent verification. Services-Related Data used in the Services may not be available or may contain errors, and the Services may not be complete or accurate as a result.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
ANNEX I
BARINGS LLC
Further to the Amendment to Sub-Administration Agreement dated as of _____________, 2022 between Barings LLC (the “Administrator”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Sub-Administrator”), the Administrator and the Sub-Administrator mutually agree to update this Annex 1 by adding/removing Funds as applicable:
Liquidity Risk Measurement Services | |
BARINGS LLC | FREQUENCY |
MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC | monthly |
Form N-PORT Services and Quarterly Portfolio of Investments Services | Service Type |
BARINGS LLC | Standard
N- PORT and N- CEN Reporting Solution (Data and Filing) |
MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC | monthly |
Form N-CEN Services |
BARINGS LLC |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by their authorized representatives, have executed this Annex 1 as of the last signature date set forth below.
BARINGS LLC | STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | |||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | By: | /s/ Kevin Murphy | |
Name: | Mina Pacheco Nazemi | Name: | ||
Title: | Managing Director | Title: | ||
Address: | 300
S. Tryon Street, Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Address: | ||
Date: | October 4, 2022 | Date: |
Exhibit (k)(7)
NOVATION AGREEMENT
This NOVATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of September 27, 2022 by and among MML Investment Advisers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Outgoing Administrator”), Barings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Incoming Administrator”), and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a bank and trust company organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Sub-Administrator” or “State Street”) (each, a “Party”).
WHEREAS, the Outgoing Administrator and State Street are parties to the Sub-Administration Agreement, dated and effective as of December 7, 2021, pursuant to which State Street acts as sub-administrator with respect to Barings Access Pine Point Fund (formerly known as MassMutual Access Pine Point Fund) and MassMutual Private Equity Funds LLC (collectively, with any side letters and fee schedules in place as of the date of this Agreement, the “Fund Sub-Administration Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Outgoing Administrator and State Street are also parties to that certain Sub-Administration Agreement, dated and effective as of December 21, 2021, pursuant to which State Street acts as sub-administrator with respect to MassMutual Private Equity Funds Subsidiary LLC (collectively, with any side letters and fee schedules in place as of the date of this Agreement, the “Subsidiary Sub-Administration Agreement” and, together with the Fund Sub-Administration Agreement, the “Sub-Administration Agreements”);
WHEREAS, the Outgoing Administrator and the Incoming Administrator desire to effect a novation of each Sub-Administration Agreement such that: (i) the Incoming Administrator is substituted for the Outgoing Administrator as a party to each Sub-Administration Agreement; (ii) the Incoming Administrator assumes all of the rights, benefits, duties and obligations of the Outgoing Administrator under each Sub-Administration Agreement; and (iii) the Outgoing Administrator is released from its obligations under each Sub-Administration Agreement; and
WHEREAS, State Street desires to accept the novation of each Sub-Administration Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Novation and Acceptance. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein: |
a. | State Street and the Outgoing Administrator hereby effect the novation of each Sub-Administration Agreement to substitute the Outgoing Administrator with the Incoming Administrator as a party to each Sub-Administration Agreement (each, a “Novation”); |
b. | State Street hereby consents to and accepts each Novation and releases the Outgoing Administrator from all of its duties and obligations under each Sub-Administration Agreement; and |
c. | The Incoming Administrator hereby accepts each Novation and assumes all rights, benefits, duties and obligations of the Outgoing Administrator under each Sub-Administration Agreement. |
2. | Term. Each Novation shall become effective as of the date hereof and shall extend for so long as the applicable Sub-Administration Agreement is in effect. |
3. | Amendment of the Sub-Administration Agreements. The Parties agree that neither Sub-Administration Agreement shall be amended as a result of the applicable Novation, save that on and from the date hereof all references in each Sub-Administration Agreement to the Outgoing Administrator shall be replaced with and be interpreted as references to the Incoming Administrator. |
4. | Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of each Party hereto and their respective successors and assigns. |
5. | Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed by and governed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules. |
6. | Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. |
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Novation Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
MML INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Douglas R. Steele | |
Name: | Douglas R. Steele | |
Title: | Vice President | |
BARINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Nazemi | |
Name: | Mina Nazemi | |
Title: | President | |
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Murphy | |
Name: | Kevin Murphy | |
Title: | Managing Director |
Exhibit (k)(9)
AMENDMENT TO TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
This amendment, dated September 27, 2022, is made to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement by and between Barings Access Pine Point Fund (formerly known as MassMutual Access Pine Point Fund) (the “Fund”), and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street” or the “Transfer Agent”), dated as of December 7, 2021 (as may be amended and/or supplemented from time to time, the “Transfer Agency Agreement”). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Transfer Agency Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Transfer Agent wish to amend the Transfer Agency Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Section 14.13 of the Transfer Agency Agreement is amended in its entirety and replaced with the following: |
14.13 Notices. Any notice instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder will be in writing and may be sent by hand, facsimile transmission, email, or overnight delivery by any recognized delivery service, to the parties at the following address or such other address as may be notified by any party from time to time:
(a) If to Transfer Agent, to:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Transfer Agency
Attention: Compliance
One Heritage Drive Building
1 Heritage Drive
Mail Stop OHD0100
North Quincy MA 02171
With a copy to:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Legal Division – Global Services Americas
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
(b) If to Fund, to:
Barings
Access Pine Point Fund
300 S. Tryon Street, Suite 2500
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Attention: President of the Fund
Email: Mina.Nazemi@barings.com
With a copy to:
Same address as above
Attention: Secretary of the Fund
Email: Ashlee.Steinnerd@barings.com
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first written above.
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND | ||
By: | /s/ James Cochrane | |
Name: | James Cochrane | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Murphy | |
Name: | Kevin Murphy | |
Title: | Managing Director |
Exhibit (k)(12)
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
This EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is between Barings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”), and Barings Access Pine Point Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), effective as of the 27th day of September, 2022.
WHEREAS, the Fund is a closed-end management investment company registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, the Adviser is an investment adviser registered with the SEC as such under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has appointed the Adviser as its investment adviser and the Adviser has agreed to act in such capacity upon the terms set forth in the Investment Advisory Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, the Fund and the Adviser hereby agree as follows and this agreement can only be terminated by mutual consent of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and the Adviser:
1. | The Adviser agrees to cap the fees and expenses of the Fund (including organizational and offering expenses, but excluding extraordinary legal and other expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, interest expense, expenses related to borrowings, securities lending, leverage, taxes, and brokerage, short sale dividend and loan expense, or other non-recurring or unusual expenses such as shareholder meeting expenses, as applicable (collectively, the “Excluded Expenses”)) through January 7, 2024, to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Expense Reimbursement would otherwise exceed 2.50%, 2.75%, 3.25%, and 3.25% for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 shares, respectively. |
2. | The Adviser shall be entitled to recoup in later periods expenses that the Adviser has paid or otherwise borne (whether through reduction of its advisory fee or otherwise) to the extent that the expenses for the Fund (including organizational and offering expenses, but excluding Excluded Expenses) after such recoupment do not exceed the lower of (i) the annual expense limitation rate in effect at the time of the actual waiver/reimbursement and (ii) the annual expense limitation rate in effect at the time of the recoupment; provided that the Adviser shall not be permitted to recoup any such fees or expenses beyond three years from the end of the month in which such fee was reduced or such expense was reimbursed. |
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and the Adviser have caused this Agreement to be executed on the 27th day of September, 2022.
BARINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Mina Pacheco Nazemi, Managing Director |
BARINGS ACCESS PINE POINT FUND | ||
By: | /s/ Mina Pacheco Nazemi | |
Mina Pacheco Nazemi, President |
Exhibit (l)(2)
December 16, 2022
Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund
1295 State Street
Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Re: Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Barings Access Pine Point Fund (f/k/a MassMutual Access Pine Point Fund), a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Trust Instrument, except that reference herein to any document shall mean such document as in effect on the date hereof.
We have examined originals or copies of the following documents:
(a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust, which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Secretary of State”) on May 24, 2021, as amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust of the Trust, which was filed with the Secretary of State on December 13, 2021, as amended and restated by the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust of the Trust, which was filed with the Secretary of State on September 28, 2022, as amended and restated by the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust of the Trust, which was filed with the Secretary of State on December 16, 2022 (as so amended and restated, the “Certificate of Trust”);
(b) The Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of May 24, 2021, as amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated as of December 13, 2021, made by the trustees named therein, as further amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, effective as of September 27, 2022, as amended and restated by the Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, effective as of December 16, 2022 (as amended and restated the “Trust Instrument”);
(c) The Second Amended and Restated By-laws of the Trust adopted December 16, 2022 (the “By-laws”);
To Baring Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund
December 16, 2022
Page 2
(d) Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about December 16, 2022;
(e) A certificate of the Secretary of the Trust with respect to certain matters including with respect to the Board’s approval of the issuance of the Shares, dated on or about the date hereof; and
(f) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated December 15, 2022, obtained from the Secretary of State.
We have not reviewed any documents other than the foregoing documents for purposes of rendering our opinions as expressed herein. In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the foregoing documents) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into any document reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision of any such other document that bears upon or is inconsistent with our opinions as expressed herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own but have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust Instrument and the By-Laws constitute the entire agreement among the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, including with respect to the creation, operation and termination of the Trust, and that the Trust Instrument, the By-laws and the Certificate of Trust are in full force and effect and will not be amended in a manner material to the opinions expressed herein, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due organization, due establishment or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of the Trust and of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its organization, establishment or formation, (iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the payment by each person to whom a Share has been or is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the “Shareholders”) for such Share, in accordance with the Trust Instrument and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, (vii) that the Shares are issued and sold to the Shareholders in accordance with the Trust Instrument and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and (viii) that any amendment or restatement of any document reviewed by us has been accomplished in accordance with, and was permitted by, the relevant provisions of said document prior to its amendment or restatement from time to time. We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.
To Baring Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund
December 16, 2022
Page 3
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder which are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Trust is validly existing in good standing as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801, et. seq.
2. The Shares of the Trust have been duly authorized and, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable beneficial interests in the Trust.
This opinion may be relied upon by you in connection with the matters set forth herein, including in connection with the delivery of your legal opinion relating to the Shares.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statements. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours, | |
JWP/MMK
Exhibit (n)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-256560 on Form N-2 of our report dated May 27, 2022, relating to the consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights of Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (formerly known as MassMutual Access Pine Point Fund) appearing in the Annual Report on Form N-CSR of MassMutual Access Pine Point Fund for the period from January 7, 2022 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 2022, and to the references to us under the headings "Financial Highlights" and "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Legal Counsel" in the Prospectus and "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Legal Counsel" and "Financial Statements" in the Statement of Additional Information, which are part of such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, MA
December 16, 2022
Exhibit (r)(1)
Global Code of Ethics Policy
Key Points
• | All Barings Associates are required to abide by these rules as a condition of their employment. Failure to abide by these rules could lead to dismissal. |
• | All Barings Associates are Access Persons. |
• | If Associates do not comply with these rules they may be required to cancel or reverse any transaction in breach of these rules and any profit realised donated to a charity of Barings choosing. Any loss will be borne by the Associate. |
• | If an Associate is prevented from dealing by this Policy they may not seek to get someone else to deal for them. |
• | Access Persons’ personal securities transactions are subject to certain rules and regulations including pre-clearance and reporting obligations depending on the security in question. Before Access Persons buy or sell an investment they must check to see if the investment requires prior approval. |
• | Personal securities transactions subject to this Code must be held for a minimum of 30 calendar days unless noted otherwise. |
• | Accounts over which an Access Person exercises Investment Control or that he or she has a Beneficial Interest in are subject to the requirements of the Code including accounts of spouses and other Immediate Family members. |
• | Access Persons are not allowed to invest in certain fixed income securities and derivative transactions as described further in the Code. |
• | Access Persons must never knowingly use information concerning the investment intentions of Barings or its Clients for personal gain or in a manner detrimental to the interests of Barings or its Clients. |
• | Access Persons should avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest whenever possible. Exceptions to this Code must be approved by the Relevant CCO (or his/her designee). |
Introduction / Policy Statement
The Global Code of Ethics Policy (“Code” or “Policy”) (i) establishes standards of business conduct related to personal securities transactions, holdings and related accounts (“personal trading”) that reflect the fiduciary duty of Barings to its Clients; (ii) establishes policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and prevent activities that are or could be perceived as violating a fiduciary duty, breaching confidentiality obligations, or creating a conflict of interest; (iii) requires those subject to the Code to comply with the securities laws and regulations governing the conduct of Barings Associates.
For purposes of this Code, all Barings Associates are considered Access Persons. Certain other Access Persons are defined within Schedule D: Definitions. All Access Persons are required to acknowledge receipt of this Code and any amendments thereto in writing or electronically. Any person having questions as to the meaning or applicability of the Code should contact the Relevant Chief Compliance Officer (“Relevant CCO”) or his or her designee.
Capitalized terms used in the Code that are not otherwise defined, have the meanings contained in Schedule D: Definitions.
Requirements
PART ONE: STANDARD OF CONDUCT AND PERSONAL TRADING RESTRICTIONS
Article I: General Policies
A. Standard of Conduct
The principles that govern an Access Person’s personal trading and the standard of conduct include:
• | The affirmative duty of care, loyalty, honesty, and good faith to act in the best interests of Clients; The requirement that all personal trading be in compliance with the Code; |
• | The fundamental expectation that an Access Person should not use their position for personal benefit at the expense of a Client or in any way that would create a conflict of interest with a Client; and |
• | The requirement to comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 1 - |
The Code does not attempt to identify all possible Conflicts of Interest. Literal compliance with the specific provisions of the Code will not excuse Access Persons from personal trading or other conduct that is illegal and/or violates Barings’ fiduciary duty to its Clients.
B. General Prohibitions
In connection with the purchase, sale or disposition of a Security, an Access Person may not directly or indirectly:
• | Knowingly use information concerning the investment intentions of or influence the investment decision making process of Barings or its Clients for personal gain or in a manner detrimental to the interests of Barings or its Clients; |
• | Employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud Barings or its Clients; |
• | Make any untrue statement of a material fact to Barings or its Clients; |
• | Omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make any statement made to Barings or its Clients not misleading; |
• | Engage in any act, practice, or course of business that operates or would operate as fraud, deceit, or breach of trust upon, or by, Barings, or its Clients; or |
• | Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to Barings, or its Clients. |
C. Confidentiality of Client Transactions
Until or unless disclosed publicly, all information concerning Securities Being Considered for Purchase or Sale will be kept confidential. Any disclosure outside of Barings should only be made as necessary in connection with affecting the transaction and pursuant to relevant Barings policies and procedures regarding the transaction.
Article II: Specific Policies for Access Persons
The following are specific policies that govern the personal trading of Access Persons. Unless otherwise subject to the Code by virtue of being an Associate of Barings, Trustees and Directors are only required to comply with the General Policies for Trustees and Directors section of the Code.
It is important to note that these policies not only govern the personal trading of Access Persons, but also apply to the personal trading done by Immediate Family members of such Access Persons and in any account where an Access Person or Immediate Family member has a Beneficial Interest or Investment Control (e.g. individuals living in the same household).
A. Access Persons Requirements
1. Use of PTA
Access Persons must use PTA for all reporting and pre-clearance purposes unless otherwise noted below. PTA is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for reporting needs, including certifications and disclosures. Each Access Person designated to utilize PTA is provided with a link to the PTA module by the Compliance Department. PTA can only be accessed through Barings’ systems and not through a regular internet portal, due to security measures.
Access Persons that are unable to report or pre-clear through PTA (e.g., not a designated user of PTA or otherwise unable to submit through PTA through remote access) should contact their relevant Compliance Department for assistance. Please be mindful that assistance with pre-clearance requests and reporting needs may be limited or delayed when made on days or during hours when the Access Person’s local Barings office is closed.
2. Reporting and Certifications
a. Initial Reportable Accounts and Holdings Report and Certifications
In addition to disclosing all Reportable Accounts, each new Access Person must file an Initial Holdings Report disclosing the following for each Reportable Security in which they have direct or indirect Beneficial Interest and/or Investment Control:
• | The name and type of Security; |
• | The exchange ticker symbol, ISIN, CUSIP number or relevant security identifier (as applicable); |
• | The number of shares or principal amount; |
• | The name of brokers or other service providers of Reportable Accounts; and |
• | Submission date. |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 2 - |
Access Persons must submit an Initial Holdings Report with a certification that they (i) have read and understand the Code; (ii) are subject to and will comply with its requirements; and (iii) have reported all Reportable Securities holdings and Reportable Accounts. The Initial Holdings Report must be submitted by a date prescribed by the relevant Compliance Department but no later than 10 calendar days from becoming an Access Person. Information must be current as of a date no more than 45 calendar days prior to becoming an Access Person.
Personal trading is restricted until this report is filed.
b. Quarterly Transaction Report and Certification
Access Persons must file a quarterly report (“Quarterly Transaction Report”) certifying that they have reported all Reportable Security transactions in which they had a Beneficial Interest or Investment Control during the quarter. The Quarterly Transaction Report must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter. This report is required even if there are no transactions in Reportable Securities during the quarter.
Specifically the Quarterly Transaction Report must disclose the following:
• | The transaction dates (i.e. trade dates including any gifts received during the quarter); |
• | The name and type of Security; |
• | The exchange ticker symbol, ISIN, CUSIP number, or relevant security identifier (as applicable); |
• | The number of shares, units or principal amount held; |
• | The interest rate and maturity date (if applicable); |
• | The nature of the transaction (e.g., purchase, sale, or other type of acquisition or disposition); |
• | The transaction price; |
• | The name of brokers or other service providers of Reportable Accounts; and |
• | Submission date. |
While only required annually, Access Persons may also want to consider providing adjustments to their holdings as a result of an Automatic Investment Plan activity, or other transaction exempt from pre-clearance but subject to reporting under the Code on a quarterly basis in an effort to make his or her annual holdings reporting easier.
c. Annual Holdings Report and Certification
Access Persons must file an annual report (“Annual Holdings Report”) certifying that they have reported all Reportable Securities holdings and Reportable Accounts and disclosed the following:
• | The name and type of Security; |
• | The exchange ticker symbol, ISIN, CUSIP number, or relevant security identifier (as applicable); |
• | The number of shares, units or principal amount held; |
• | The name of brokers or other service providers of Reportable Accounts; |
• | Adjustments to Securities due to an Automatic Investment Plan, Involuntary Purchase or Sale, Gift Receipt, or other transaction exempt from pre-clearance but subject to reporting under the Code; and |
• | Submission date. |
The Annual Holdings Report must be submitted no later than the date falling 30 calendar days after Barings’ fiscal year-end, which is December 31st. The information contained in the Annual Holdings Report must be current as of a date no more than 45 calendar days prior to the date the report was submitted. This report is required even if there are no Reportable Securities currently held in any accounts.
d. Exemptions from Initial Holdings Report, Quarterly Transaction Report and Annual Holdings Report
All Reportable Security transactions and holdings must be reported except for those listed as exempt from reporting on Schedules A and B of this Code or where the Relevant CCO or his or her designee has otherwise granted an exemption to this requirement.
e. Periodic Code Certifications
As amendments to the Code occur and or as requested by the Relevant CCO or his or her designee, Access Persons must submit a certification that they (i) have read and understand the Code; and (ii) are subject to and will comply with its requirements.
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 3 - |
3. Reportable Accounts
a. Reportable Account Statements and Duplicate Confirmations
Access Persons must arrange for copies of confirmations of all Reportable Securities transactions and periodic Reportable Account statements to be sent by brokers or other service providers directly to their relevant Compliance Department in a timely manner. Reportable Account statements must be submitted on at least a quarterly basis and must be delivered within a timely manner after the end of each quarter.
If an Access Person’s broker or service provider is unwilling or unable to provide statements by the deadlines noted above, the Access Person should contact the relevant Compliance Department to receive an exception to the reporting deadline. If an Access Person’s broker or service provider is unwilling or unable to send confirmations and statements directly to the Access Person’s relevant Compliance Department, it is the responsibility of the Access Person to ensure that his or her relevant Compliance Department receives copies of all such documentation within the prescribed deadlines.
b. Requirement for Approved and Select Brokers – For U.S. based Access Persons only
U.S. based Access Persons ONLY hired after November 1, 2009 can only conduct personal trading with brokers offering electronic data feeds who have also been approved by the Compliance Department (“Select Brokers”) (This requirement does not apply to Non-U.S. based Access Persons in Europe or Asia). The Compliance Department will make arrangements for the delivery of confirmations and holdings directly to PTA on the Access Person’s behalf when the Reportable Account is held with a Select Broker. The current list of Select Brokers, which is subject to change from time to time, can be found on the PTA homepage.
Upon hire, U.S. based Access Persons have 90 calendar days to transfer a Reportable Account to a Select Broker. If a U.S. based Access Person’s hire date was prior to November 1, 2009, his or her Reportable Accounts can continue to be maintained with broker-dealers who have been approved by the Compliance Department (“Approved Brokers”), a list which also includes Select Brokers. However, any newly established Reportable Account is subject to the Select Broker requirement.
The following types of Reportable Accounts do not require the use of Approved or Select Brokers:
• | U.S. 401(k) Plans or non-U.S. equivalent; |
• | U.S. 403(b) Plans or non-U.S. equivalent; |
• | U.S. 529 College Savings Plans or non-U.S. equivalent; |
• | Direct-hold accounts or accounts where positions are held in certificate form; |
• | Accounts in which the Access Person has Beneficial Interest but no direct or indirect Investment Control (a “Managed Account”); |
• | Accounts held with a Registered Investment Company’s transfer agent; and |
• | Accounts held with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”) or MML Investors Services. |
c. Establishing New Reportable Accounts
Newly established Reportable Accounts must be disclosed promptly in PTA and always prior to the execution of any pre-clearable transaction.
4. Personal Trading Restrictions and Procedures
a. Requirement to Pre-clear Transactions
No Access Person can purchase or sell any Reportable Security in which he or she has, or as a result of such transaction will establish, Beneficial Interest or Investment Control without obtaining pre-clearance as prescribed below.
All Reportable Security transactions must be pre-cleared prior to execution using PTA (or through another process prescribed by the relevant Compliance Department) except for those listed as exempt from pre-clearance on Schedules A and B of this Code or where the Relevant CCO or his or her designee has otherwise granted an exemption to this requirement. Pre-clearance requests can only be entered into PTA on business days designated by the Access Person’s relevant entity and are valid through the end of the business day during which they were submitted (until 11:59 p.m. local time). Requests entered outside of these designated days will automatically be denied. Special arrangements will need to be made with the Compliance Department for foreign market transactions.
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 4 - |
Pre-clearance of private investment funds (including those advised or sub-advised by Barings), Limited Offerings, or Initial Public Offerings follow a special approval process and are not handled in PTA. Access Persons must contact the relevant Compliance Department to request pre-clearance of such Securities.
The approval of a pre-clearance request does not supplant an Access Person’s obligation to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Code.
b. Restricted Issuers and Securities
No Access Person can trade in a Security or Issuer currently included on the Restricted List maintained in PTA.
Access Persons are prohibited from trading in Restricted Fixed Income Instruments. Please refer to Schedule B of this Code for more information.
Although Open-End Investment Companies are not subject to the pre-clearance requirement, there may be times when the Compliance Department restricts trading in a Reportable Fund (e.g. MassMutual Advantage Funds). The Compliance Department will communicate periods during which a Reportable Fund would be restricted using Barings’ intranet site or other similar means of communication.
c. Limited Offerings, Initial Public Offerings, Initial Coin Offerings and Co-Investments
Limited Offerings of Securities, Initial Public Offerings and Initial Coin Offerings:
Access Persons are prohibited from investing in any Initial Public Offering of Securities, Initial Coin Offerings or any other type of Limited Offering (whether public or private) absent written approval from the Relevant CCO or his or her designee.
Pre-clearance requests for such offerings must be submitted manually to the Relevant Compliance Department using a form obtained from the Relevant Compliance Department. If approved, the approved request will remain in effect for 90 calendar days. Any subsequent purchases or dispositions, including any changes made to the intended purchase or sale amount, require additional approval.
Co-Investments:
Pre-clearance requests related to the purchase or disposal of interests in unregistered or unauthorized Funds, given the nature of such investments and the potential conflicts associated therewith, may also be subject to other policies (e.g. for U.S. based Access Persons, Barings LLC’s Employee Co-Investment Policy. Requests for such investments must be initiated by contacting the Relevant Compliance Department, and will be granted on a case by case basis under the Code and in accordance with the relevant local policy.
d. Open Orders
Access Persons are prohibited from transacting in a Reportable Security subject to pre clearance related to any security where on that same day (i) the security is being considered for purchase and sale for a Client Account, (ii) there exists an actual Open Order related to the security for a Client Account or (iii) the security was actually purchased or sold for a Client Account earlier that same day.
e. “Blackout” Period
Access Persons are subject to an additional “blackout” period whereby they cannot purchase or sell any Reportable Security that is subject to pre-clearance in a Reportable Account within the number of calendar days noted below before or after the purchase or sale of the same security for any Client managed by Barings. Any profits realized or losses avoided with respect to such purchase or sale can be subject to disgorgement. Access Persons will not be deemed to have violated this requirement if the transaction involved a Security exempt from the pre-clearance requirement, meets the Large Cap/De Minimis provisions noted below, OR if the transaction occurred in the calendar day period prior to or in the calendar day period after a trade by a Client account in the same security as long as the Compliance Department can reasonably determine that the Access Person did not know and had no reason to know that the trade of a Client account was being considered.
The “Blackout” Periods are as follows:
• | Access Persons located in Taiwan – 7 calendar days |
• | Access Persons located in all other jurisdictions – 5 calendar days |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 5 - |
f. Large Cap/ De Minimis Provision
An Access Person that requests pre-clearance for a transaction that would otherwise be denied solely because (i) the Security is Being Considered for Purchase or Sale or (ii) the Security is contemporaneously trading in a Client account, may receive approval from the Compliance Department provided that:
• | The issuer of the Security has a market capitalization exceeding U.S. $3 billion (or the equivalent in another currency) (“Large Cap Security”); and |
• | The aggregate amount of such Access Person’s transactions across all of his or her Reportable Accounts in the Large Cap Security does not exceed: |
○ | For equity securities: 10,000 shares within any consecutive 5 calendar day period |
○ | For fixed income Securities: U.S. $100,000 principal amount (or the equivalent in another currency) within any consecutive 5 calendar day period. |
Such transactions will be subject to all other provisions of the Code.
g. Special Order Types
Access Persons are permitted to enter into limit/stop orders (please see below for specific jurisdictional requirements). Pre-clearance approval must be obtained in PTA on the date that the original order is entered into with the broker. When requesting pre-clearance, Access Persons must identify the proposed transaction as a limit/stop order and indicate the limit/stop price of the transaction. If the pre-clearance request is not identified as a limit/stop order, it will be treated as a market order and any approval received will only be valid for that day. Limit/stop order approvals in all jurisdictions except Taiwan must be executed within 5 calendar days of the pre-clearance request. Access Persons may choose any term or expiration for the limit/stop order that is less than or equal to 5 days. If an Access Person wishes to amend the terms of the limit/stop order after receiving approval, he or she must enter a new pre-clearance request identifying the new terms of the proposed transaction. After 5 calendar days an unexecuted limit/stop order must be resubmitted for pre-clearance. Any cancellation of a limit/stop order must be submitted for pre-clearance.
Limit/stop order approvals in Taiwan must be executed on the same day as the pre-clearance request.
The execution of a transaction originally pre-cleared as a limit/stop order must be reported on the next Quarterly Transaction Report.
For the avoidance of doubt, no Access Person can execute a Good Till Cancel market order.
h. Short Sales and Derivatives
Access Persons are permitted to engage in short sales and derivative transactions (e.g. futures and options) on exchange traded funds, indexes or currencies. Access Persons may also enter into derivative transactions on commodities and Direct Obligations of the Government of the United States. Such transactions are exempt from the pre-clearance requirement, but are required to be reported. See Schedule B for more detail. Short selling activity or any other form of derivative trading is prohibited.
i. Ban on Short Term Trading
Access Persons, in all jurisdictions except Japan, may not sell a Reportable Security or affect the equivalent (e.g. close out a derivative position) within 30 calendar days of last purchase, or buy a Reportable Security or affect the equivalent within 30 calendar days of last sale. For Access Persons located in Japan, the ban on short term trading is 180 days. Share lots will be accounted for by utilizing the last-in-first-out (“LIFO”) method. This restriction does not apply to Reportable Securities and/or Reportable Accounts (i.e. managed accounts approved by Compliance) exempt from pre-clearance.
Access Persons should note that there may be other holding period restrictions that might apply to personal securities transactions. See Section 16 Insider Short Swing Profit Prohibition and Excessive Trading and Market Timing sections below.
Certain Access Persons subject to Barings remuneration policies may be subject to additional restrictions. Please see the relevant remuneration policies for these additional requirements.
j. Section 16 Insider Short Swing Profit Prohibition
Access Persons who are “insiders” under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act are subject to a short swing profit prohibition that requires any profit realized from the purchase and subsequent sale or sale and subsequent re-purchase of a Security they are an insider to within a period of less than six months to be refunded to the issuer.
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 6 - |
k. Excessive Trading and Market Timing
Access Persons are strongly discouraged from engaging in excessive trading of Reportable Securities and should expect additional scrutiny when the volume of personal trading is high. The Compliance Department monitors personal trading and pre-clearance volume and can place restrictions and/or recommend disciplinary action if there appears to be a pattern of excessive and/or questionable trading. This restriction only applies to Reportable Securities that require pre-clearance.
Please note that Access Persons that invest in an Open-End Investment Company advised or sub-advised by Barings or participate in MassMutual’s 401(k) Plan, are subject to the market timing and excessive trading policies established by those entities.
l. Gifts of Securities
With regard to a Gift of Securities given or received by an Access Person, the gift itself does not have to be pre-cleared e.g. giving to a charitable fund. However, the transaction(s) must be reported on the next Quarterly Transaction Report following the date of the gift. A subsequent sale of the Security will be subject to pre-clearance if the Access Person has a Beneficial Interest in the Security and/or Investment Control over the account in which the Security is held.
m. Investment Clubs
Access Person are prohibited from participating in investment clubs (i.e., a group of individuals who pool their assets and make joint decisions on how to invest).
n. Duty to Disclose Conflicts
Prior to making any recommendation that Barings buy or sell any Security of an issuer for any Client, any individual making such recommendation is required to disclose to the Compliance Department and their management if they (i) have Beneficial Interest or Investment Control of any Securities of the recommended issuer and whether such Beneficial Interest or Investment Control represents a material interest in such issuer (e.g. owning more than 5% of the total outstanding voting shares of such issuer); or (ii) have a real or perceived Conflict of Interest in connection with the Security.
This requirement does not apply to Securities traded or held by Private Investment Funds managed directly or indirectly by Barings to the extent that an individual making a buy or sell recommendation may be deemed to have a Beneficial Interest or Investment Control of any such Security solely by reason of such individual having invested in such fund or being entitled directly or indirectly to receive part of the performance fee or allocation paid by any such fund.
PART TWO: RELEVANT CCO RESPONSIBILITIES
Article I: Relevant CCO
A. Appointment
Each Barings entity that has adopted this Policy has designated a Relevant CCO who will have the authority and responsibility to administer this Code. Additionally, the Relevant CCO can designate persons to act on his or her behalf including handling, without limitation, pre-clearance requests, reviewing transaction and holding reports submitted by Access Persons and granting exceptions to the Code as appropriate.
B. Primary Responsibilities
The Relevant CCO or his or her designee must be familiar with investment compliance practices and policies and report any material matter to the Chairman, President, CEO, General Counsel, and/or the relevant governance committee.
The Relevant CCO is responsible for:
• | Furnishing Access Persons with a copy of the Code and any amendments thereto, and periodically informing them of their duties and obligations there under; |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 7 - |
• | Developing policies and procedures designed to implement, maintain, and enforce the Code; |
• | Conducting periodic training to explain and reinforce the terms of the Code; |
• | Conducting periodic reviews of the reports required to be submitted by Access Persons under the Code, the scope and frequency of such review to be determined by the relevant CCO or his or her designee; |
• | Interpreting and answering questions regarding the Code, as they relate to laws and regulations; |
• | Overseeing the manner of disposition of any profits required to be disgorged in conformance with the Code and related guidelines; |
• | Maintaining confidential information regarding personal trading and holdings and only disclosing such information to persons with a clear need to know, as appropriate, including state and federal regulators; |
• | Reviewing this Code on a regular basis and recommending material amendments to Barings’ Chairman, President, CEO, General Counsel, and/or the committee at the relevant entity responsible for oversight of such matters, as appropriate; and |
• | Granting and documenting exceptions or exemptions on an individual or a class basis, to any of the provisions of the Code, provided that such exceptions or exemptions are consistent with the principles of the Code, and the requirements of applicable laws and regulations. |
PART THREE: GENERAL INFORMATION
Article I: Liability for Losses
Barings and/or its Clients are not liable for any losses incurred or profits avoided resulting from the implementation or enforcement of the Code. The ability to purchase and sell Securities is limited by the Code and trading activity by Barings and/or its Clients can affect the timing of when a Security can be bought or sold by an Access Person.
Article II: Violations
A. Reporting of Violations
Actual or potential violations of the Code will be brought to the immediate attention of the Relevant CCO or his or her designee. It is a violation of the Code to deliberately fail to report a violation or withhold pertinent information.
Good faith reporting of suspected violations of the Code by others will not subject the reporting person to penalty or reprisal by Barings.
Associates may exercise their rights to directly contact any regulatory authority, government agency or entity, to report possible violations of law or make other disclosures under applicable whistleblower laws. Nothing in this policy is intended or should not be construed to restrict, discourage or interfere with communications or actions protected or required by state or federal laws or regulations. Associates do not need prior authorization of Barings or their management to make any such reports or disclosures and will not be retaliated against for making such reports or disclosures.
B. Penalties for Violations
Penalties for violating applicable relevant rules and regulations can be severe for both the Access Persons involved in such unlawful conduct and Barings. Access Persons can be subject to penalties even if they do not personally benefit from the violation. Penalties can include civil injunctions, disgorgement of profits made or losses avoided, jail sentences, or fines.
Any violation of the Code can also be subject to sanctions imposed by Barings as deemed appropriate by the Relevant CCO or his or her designee. Such sanctions can include but are not limited to: written warnings, fines, bans on personal trading, disgorgement of profits, personnel action (e.g., termination of employment) or referral to civil or criminal authorities. A schedule of sanctions is available upon request from the Compliance Department.
Sanctions for violation of the Code by either an Interested Trustee who is not an Access Person of Barings or a Disinterested Trustee of a Fund will be determined by the relevant CCO or his or her designee and the relevant Fund chief compliance officer.
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 8 - |
Article III: Amendments
Material amendments to the Code will be approved by the Relevant CCOs, Barings’ Governance Committee (or the equivalent committee at the relevant entity responsible for oversight of such matters). Material amendments to the Code will be reported to the relevant Board of Managers/Directors for review at the next meeting following such amendment.
The Funds and Business Development Company’s respective Boards of Trustees and Directors must approve any material amendments to the codes of ethics of the Fund and its investment adviser within six months of the adoption of the material amendments in accordance with the requirements of Rule 17j-1.
The Relevant CCO or his or her designee will provide each Access Person with a copy of any amendments to the Code.
Article IV: Hardship
In certain circumstances of hardship, an exception can be requested of the Relevant CCO or his or her designee with respect to otherwise prohibited transactions. In the event that an exception is granted, any profits realized or losses avoided on such transactions can be subject to disgorgement.
Conflict Resolution and Escalation Process
Associates should immediately report any issues they believe are a potential or actual breach of this Policy to their relevant business unit management and to the Relevant CCO. The Relevant CCO or designee will review the matter and determine whether the issue is an actual breach and whether to grant an exception, and/or the appropriate course of action. When making such determination, the Relevant CCO or designee may, as part of his/her review, discuss the matter with relevant business unit management, members of the Senior Leadership Team, governance committees or other parties (i.e. legal counsel, auditor, etc).
The Relevant Compliance Department can grant exceptions to any provision of this Policy so long as such exceptions are consistent with the purpose of the Policy and applicable law, are documented and such documentation is retained for the required retention period. Any questions regarding the applicability of this Policy should be directed to or the Access Person’s Relevant Compliance Department.
Schedule A
PRE-CLEARANCE/REPORTING EXEMPTIONS RELATED TO FUNDS AND OTHER COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT VEHICLES
(Definitions for italicized terms may be found in Schedule D: Definitions.)
Security/Transaction Type | Exempt From Pre-Clearance? | Exempt from Initial Holdings Report, Annual Holdings Report, and Quarterly Transaction Report? |
Money Market Funds (including those advised and sub-advised by Barings) | Yes | Yes |
Shares of an Open-End Investment Company3 that is not deemed to be a Reportable Fund | Yes3 | Yes3 |
Co-investments and carried interest relating to products sponsored or managed by the Company or an affiliate of the Company, where such investments are made or awarded as part of the set-up of the relevant product | Yes | Yes |
Awards made under the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan (including any re-balancing) | Yes | Yes |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 9 - |
Security/Transaction Type | Exempt From Pre-Clearance? | Exempt from Initial Holdings Report, Annual Holdings Report, and Quarterly Transaction Report? |
Reportable Fund that is an Open-End Investment Company (i.e. Premier, Series, BFT, or OFI Funds) | Yes | No4 |
Reportable Fund that is a Closed-End Investment Company | No | No |
Exchange-Traded Fund | Yes | No |
UCITS, Unit Trusts, Mutual Funds, Toshin Funds and OEICs authorized or registered for retail investors that meet the definition of an Open-End Investment Company | Yes | Yes |
SICAV, UCITS, Unit Trusts, OEICs and Authorized Non-UCITS Retail Schemes that DO NOT meet the definition of an Open-End Investment Company | No | No |
Closed-End Investment Company “Closed-End Fund” | No | No |
“Shadow Shares” of a Reportable Fund traded on the NYSE | No5 | Yes |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) | No | No |
Schedule B
PRE-CLEARANCE/REPORTING EXEMPTIONS
(Definitions for italicized terms may be found in Schedule D: Definitions.)
Securities or transaction types not included below are presumed to be subject to the pre-clearance and reporting requirements of this Policy.
Security/Transaction Type | Exempt From Pre-Clearance? | Exempt from Initial Holdings Report, Annual Holdings Report, and Quarterly Transaction Report? |
American Depositary Receipt (ADR) | No | No |
Bank Certificate of Deposit | Yes | Yes |
Bankers Acceptance | Yes | Yes |
Commercial Paper | Yes | Yes |
Crowdfunding | See Compliance Department as the investments can take different forms | No |
Repurchase Agreement | Yes | Yes |
Security traded by a Barings Private Investment Fund1 | Yes1 | Yes1 |
Spread bets relating to sports events or indices | Yes | Yes |
Spot FX, cash (including foreign currencies), cash equivalents (e.g..UK National Savings Schemes) and traveler’s checks | Yes | Yes |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 10 - |
Security/Transaction Type | Exempt From Pre-Clearance? | Exempt from Initial Holdings Report, Annual Holdings Report, and Quarterly Transaction Report? |
Cryptocurrencies | Yes | Yes |
Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) | No | No |
Dealings on LIFFE (London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange) where the investment relates to an index | Yes | No |
Securities traded in an Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”) 2 | Yes - Only upon pre-approval by the Compliance Department | Partially – Not reportable on Quarterly Transaction Report, but must be reported on the Initial Holdings Report and updated annually on the Annual Holdings Report. |
Life or general insurance policies including variable annuities and/or variable life insurance | Yes | Partially – Not reportable except those variable products that track a Reportable Fund advised/sub-advised by Barings or a member of the MassMutual family.4 |
Municipal Bond | Yes | No |
Exchange-Traded Fund | Yes | No |
Exchange-Traded Note (ETN) based on an ETF, index, currency, commodity or on a Direct Obligation of the Government of the United States | Yes | No |
Exchange-Traded Commodity | Yes | No |
Derivatives including Accelerated Return Notes (ARN) based on an ETF, index, currency, commodity or on a Direct Obligation of the Government of the United States | Yes | No |
Involuntary Purchase or Sale Transaction | Yes | No |
Gifting of Securities | Yes – However, any subsequent transaction must be pre-cleared if Access Person has Beneficial Interest and/or Investment Control in the account, including Donor Advised Funds etc. | No |
Granting of Stock or Stock Option | Yes – However, any subsequent transaction must be pre-cleared (e.g. stock option grant is exempt but exercise is not) | No |
Rights and Warrants | No | No |
Transactions for which you have No Direct or Indirect Control (e.g. transaction done in a “managed” account) | Yes - Only upon pre-approval of the Reportable Account by the Compliance Department | No |
Mortgage-backed Securities / Government Sponsored Entities (e.g. agency bonds including GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC, SLMA) | No | No |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 11 - |
Security/Transaction Type | Exempt From Pre-Clearance? | Exempt from Initial Holdings Report, Annual Holdings Report, and Quarterly Transaction Report? |
Sovereign Bonds issued by the following countries – United States, United Kingdom, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong | Yes | Yes |
Sovereign Bonds issued by any other country not mentioned above | No | No |
Premium Bonds, gilts (and other OECD government securities), savings certificates | Yes | Yes |
Hong Kong Government Bond Programme including iBond Series, Silver Bond Series and Exchange Fund Bill and Notes | Yes | Yes |
Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS), Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) | No | No |
1. | To the extent that an Access Person is deemed to have Beneficial Interest and/or Investment Control of Securities traded or held by a Barings Private Investment Fund solely by reason of having invested in the Barings Private Investment Fund or being entitled directly or indirectly to receive part of the performance fee or allocation paid by such Barings Private Investment Fund, the Access Person does not need to report the Barings Private Investment Fund’s trades and holdings. The Barings Private Investment Fund’s trades and holdings will be deemed incorporated into the reports submitted by the Access Person. A “Barings Private Investment Fund” is a fund managed directly or indirectly by Barings that is exempt from registration as an Investment Company under the 1940 Act. |
2. | Any transaction that overrides the preset schedule or allocation means the program no longer qualifies as an Automatic Investment Plan. |
3. | All Closed-end investment companies irrespective of who the manager is are not exempt from pre-clearance. Please refer to the definition of Closed-End Investment Company. |
4. | Holdings of Reportable Funds in the MassMutual 401(k) plan or any other Barings offered benefit plan or pension plan (including the Group Variable Universal Life (GVUL) product) do not need to be separately reported, unless directed by the Relevant CCO. Such holdings will be deemed incorporated into the reports submitted by Access Persons. However, Reportable Funds held in variable annuities or life insurance products must be reported. |
5. | Transactions in “Shadow Shares” of a Reportable Fund traded on the NYSE cannot be pre-cleared through PTA and therefore must be manually pre-cleared through the Compliance Department. |
Schedule C
REPORTABLE ACCOUNT EXEMPTIONS
(Definitions for italicized terms may be found in Schedule D: Definitions.)
Account types not included below are presumed to be Reportable, and transactions done within such accounts are presumed to be subject to the pre-clearance and reporting requirements of this Policy.
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 12 - |
Account Type | Are Transactions within the Account exempt from Pre-Clearance? | Is the Account, its holdings and transactions exempt from Initial Holdings Report, Annual Holdings Report, and Quarterly Transaction Report? | Is pre-approval required from the Compliance Department for the exemption? |
Mutual Fund And Retirement Accounts | |||
Barings Sponsored Retirement Plan accounts that only offer Reportable and Non-Reportable Fund investment Options | Yes | Yes | No |
Barings Sponsored Retirement Plan accounts that allow for investments in individual securities, closed end funds or other Reportable Securities subject to the preclearance requirements of the Code | No | No | N/A |
401(k) plans (or local equivalent) (excluding the MassMutual 401(k) or other pension account offered by a Barings entity related to your employment) which only offer non-Reportable Funds as investment choices (yours or your spouse’s account) | Yes | Yes | No |
UTMA or UGMA accounts (or local equivalent) for a minor child where someone other than you is the custodian | Yes | Yes | No |
529 Plans (or local equivalent) that can only invest in non-Reportable Funds (if the Plan can hold ETFs and/or Reportable Funds then it is subject to all the relevant reporting requirements of the Code) | Yes | Yes – only if the plan allows for investment in non-Reportable Funds | No |
SIPPs and other Retirement or Pension Accounts that only hold Open-End Investment Companies as defined by the Code that are not Reportable Funds | Yes | Yes | No |
SIPPs and other Retirement or Pension Accounts that hold Reportable Securities | No | No | N/A |
Other Accounts | |||
For all access persons employed by or associated with an entity outside the United States only - brokerage or other types of accounts which only hold Non-Reportable Funds and do not hold any Reportable Securities (Please note that if the Access Person chooses to purchase Reportable Securities in the future, then such account will be subject to both the pre-clearance and reporting requirements of the Code). For avoidance of doubt – individuals employed or associated with a US entity must report all brokerage accounts that can hold reportable securities, whether or not such accounts currently hold any Reportable Securities | Yes | Yes | No |
Cigna Choice Fund HSA Health Savings Account - DEVENIR Self-Directed Mutual Fund Program option or other former employer HSA’s that do not hold Reportable Securities | Yes | Yes | No |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 13 - |
Account Type | Are Transactions within the Account exempt from Pre-Clearance? | Is the Account, its holdings and transactions exempt from Initial Holdings Report, Annual Holdings Report, and Quarterly Transaction Report? | Is pre-approval required from the Compliance Department for the exemption? |
Cigna Choice Fund HSA Health Savings Account - TD Ameritrade Self-Directed Investment Program or other former employer has accounts that holds Reportable Securities | No | No | No |
Accounts setup solely for an employee stock option plan, dividend re-investment plan, or other direct investment programs | Yes | No | No |
Accounts where you’ve been given, but do not currently exercise, Power of Attorney
Note: account becomes reportable when the Power of Attorney is activated |
Yes | Yes | No |
Accounts where you’re listed as a future beneficiary or the registrant upon death of the account owner (“Transfer on Death” or TOD accounts).
Note: account becomes reportable when triggering event occurs. |
Yes | Yes | No |
Accounts of a Roommate not meeting the definition of Immediate Family | Yes | Yes | No |
Cash ISAs, Junior ISAs and Lifetime ISAs that does not currently hold or cannot hold Reportable Securities | Yes | Yes | No |
Accounts Requiring Pre-Approval For Exemption | |||
Accounts in which the Access Person has Beneficial Interest but no direct or indirect Investment Control (i.e. an account managed by an adviser or a trust being managed by an entity) | Yes | No | Yes |
Accounts in which the Access Person has direct or indirect Investment Control but no Beneficial Interest | Yes | No | Yes |
Accounts for which the Access Persons makes the investment asset class or strategy choice, but specific decisions are made by the manager (for example – Australian Superannuation Funds). | Yes | Yes | Yes |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 14 - |
Schedule D
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used in the Code (unless noted otherwise) are defined as follows:
1940 Act - The Investment Company Act of 1940. |
Access Person - An Access Person includes: |
1. Any Associate of Barings. |
2. Any director, trustee, officer or employee of a Fund or BDC or Barings (or of any company in a control relationship to the Fund or Barings) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of Securities, or who makes any recommendation with respect to such purchases or sales. |
3. Any other person as determined by the Relevant CCO as a result of such person’s relationship with a Fund, BDC or Barings who obtains information concerning recommendations made with regard to the purchase or sale of Securities by a Fund or BDC. Any director, officer or general partner of a principal underwriter to a Fund or BDC who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of Securities by a Fund or BDC for which the principal underwriter acts, or whose functions or duties in the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to a Fund or BDC regarding the purchase or sale of a Security. |
Advisers Act - The Investment Advisers Act of 1940. |
Associate - An Associate includes: (i) any employee of Barings; (ii) any person who provides investment advice on behalf of Barings and is subject to the supervision and control of Barings; (iii) any contractor, consultant or other temporary employee hired, engaged or performing services by or on behalf of Barings for a period of 30 days or more unless otherwise exempted by the Relevant CCO; or (iv) any other individual as the relevant CCO deems appropriate. |
Automatic Investment Plan - A program in which regular periodic transactions are made automatically in Securities in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. Automatic Investment Plans include automatic dividend reinvestment plans, stock purchase plans and payroll contributions into an employer-offered retirement/401(k) plan or equivalent in other jurisdictions. |
Barings - Barings LLC and each of its subsidiaries which may from time to time adopt this Code. |
Barings SIPP- Self-invested personal pension established to fund the employee retirement benefit plans for employees of Barings (U.K.) Limited. |
Being Considered for Purchase or Sale - A Security is deemed as “Being Considered for Purchase or Sale” when a recommendation has been conveyed between investment professionals or, with respect to the person making the recommendation, any time during which such person seriously considers making such a recommendation. |
Beneficial Interest - Any instance where an Access Person or any member of his or her Immediate Family can directly or indirectly derive a monetary/financial interest from the purchase, sale, disposition or ownership of a Security. |
An Access Person is considered to have a Beneficial Interest in Securities: (a) owned by the Access Person solely in his/her name or jointly with another; (b) owned through an account or investment vehicle for his/her benefit (e.g., IRA, trust, partnership, etc.); or (c) owned directly, indirectly or jointly by an Immediate Family member. |
Examples of indirect monetary/financial interests include but are not limited to: (a) interests in partnerships and trusts that hold Securities but does not include Securities held by a blind trust or by a trust established to fund employee retirement benefit plans such as 401(k) plans; (b) a performance-related fee received by the Access Person for providing investment advisory services; and (c) a person’s rights to acquire Securities through the exercise or conversion of any derivative instrument, whether or not presently exercisable. |
Business Development Company (“BDC”) - A company registered in compliance with Section 54 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. A BDC is an organization that invests in and helps small- and medium-size companies grow in the initial stages of their development. Many BDCs are set up similarly to closed-end investment funds and are typically public companies whose shares are traded on major stock exchanges |
Relevant CCO - The Chief Compliance Officer or equivalent of each Barings entity. |
Client - person or entity that has an investment advisory or investment sub-advisory services agreement with Barings. |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 15 - |
Closed-End Investment Company (“Closed-End Funds”) - An Investment Company as defined under the 1940 Act that does not issue or have outstanding redeemable securities. Closed-End Investment Companies typically issue a set number of shares and distribute such shares to investors in a public offering, similar to the way corporate Securities are issued and distributed. A Closed-End Investment Company’s capitalization is often fixed unless an additional public offering is made. After the initial public offering, shares are distributed and anyone who wants to buy or sell shares does so in the secondary market (either on an exchange or over the counter). Closed-End Investment Companies are also commonly known as “Closed-End Funds.” |
Compliance Department - The Access Person’s relevant Compliance Department. |
Direct Obligation of the Government of the United States - Any Security directly issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the United States. Examples of direct obligations include Cash Management Bills, Treasury Bills, Notes and Bonds, and those Treasury Securities designated by the U.S. Department of Treasury as eligible to participate in the STRIPS (Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities). Agency bonds, including Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA),Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) and Student Loan Mortgage Association (SLMA) bonds, are not Direct Obligations of the Government of the United States. |
Disinterested Trustee - A Trustee of a Registered Investment Company who is not an “interested person” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. |
Exchange-Traded Fund (“ETF”) - A type of Investment Company whose investment objective is generally to achieve the same return as a particular market index. An ETF primarily invests in the Securities of companies that are included in a given market index; investing in either all or a representative sample of the Securities included in the index. |
It should be noted that just because an ETF may trade on an exchange, it does not automatically meet this Policy’s definition of Exchange-Traded Fund. To meet this Policy’s definition of an Exchange-Traded Fund, the fund must be tied to an index. Access Persons should consult the fund’s prospectus and/or consult with Compliance with questions on determining how to classify a fund for purposes of pre-clearance and reporting requirements. |
Exchange-Traded Note (“ETN”) - A type of unsecured, unsubordinated debt security first issued by Barclays Bank PLC based on the performance of a market index minus applicable fees, with no period coupon payments distributed and no principal protections. Similar to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), ETNs are traded on a major exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during normal trading hours |
It should be noted that just because an ETN may trade on an exchange, it does not automatically meet this Policy’s definition of Exchange-Traded Note. To meet this Policy’s definition of an Exchange-Traded Note, the security must be tied to an index. Access Persons should consult the security’s prospectus and/or consult with Compliance with questions on determining how to classify a security for purposes of pre-clearance and reporting requirements. |
Fund or BDC - Any commingled investment vehicle, that has adopted the Code as its own to satisfy applicable regulatory requirements or for which the Relevant CCO deems this Code to be applicable. |
Gift of Securities- The transfer of Securities where there is no money or other benefit given/received in exchange (i) from you to another party; (ii) between members of an Access Person’s Immediate Family ; or (iii) to you over which you do not control the timing. |
Immediate Family – Individuals related by blood, marriage, adoption, domestic partnership (registered or unregistered) or civil union and whom live in the same household. Examples include any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, “significant other”, sibling, mother-, father-, son-, daughter-, brother or sister-in-law, or any person related by adoption who resides in the same household with the Access Person. The Relevant CCO, after reviewing all the pertinent facts and circumstances, may determine, if not prohibited by applicable law, that an indirect Beneficial Interest in or Investment Control of Securities held by a member of the Access Person’s Immediate Family does not exist or is too remote for purposes of the Code. |
Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) - Generally, an offering of Securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This also includes equivalent offerings elsewhere in the world. |
Interested Trustee - A Trustee of a Registered Investment Company who is an “interested person” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. |
Investment Control - Any instance where an Access Person, or an Immediate Family member exercises direct or indirect influence or control over the purchase, sale, disposition or ownership of a Security. |
Examples of Investment Control include, for example: (a) an account over which a Access Person exercises investment decision-making authority under a power of attorney or are a named trustee or (b) an account over which an Access Person exercises investment decision-making authority for a charitable entity (c) an account for any company, partnership or other entity controlled by you or by a member of your Immediate Family, or in which you or that person has a significant interest; |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 16 - |
Involuntary Purchase or Sale - Transactions that are outside of the Access Person’s control. This includes activities due to corporate reorganizations such as the acquisition or disposition of a Security through a stock dividend, dividend reinvestment, stock split, reverse stock split, merger, consolidation, spin-off, or other similar event generally applicable to all holders of the same class of securities. Receipt of securities as a gift or inheritance is also considered an Involuntary Purchase or Sale. This would also include a mandatory tender, any transactions executed by a broker to cover negative cash balances, a broker disposition of fractional shares, and debt maturities. |
Voluntary tenders and other non-mandatory corporate actions are NOT considered involuntary. |
Limited Offering - A Securities offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) or pursuant to Rule 504, Rule 505, or Rule 506 under the Securities Act of 1933, such as a hedge fund offering or a private placement, including such investments managed by Barings. This also includes equivalent offerings elsewhere in the world. |
No Direct or Indirect Control - Purchases, sales or dispositions of Securities over which an Access Person, or an Immediate Family Member, has no direct or indirect influence or control. |
Examples could include but are not limited to transactions in a (a) blind trust, (b) non-discretionary account, or (c) wrap account. |
OEIC - An open-ended investment company as formed under the Open-Ended Investment Company Regulations 2001 in the United Kingdom. See also Open-End Investment Company. |
Open-End Investment Company - An Investment Company as defined under the 1940 Act that is offering for sale or has outstanding any redeemable security, also known as a mutual fund. End Investment Company shall also include any similar type entity registered under the rules and regulations of a foreign jurisdiction provided that such entity: (a) issues shares that shareholders have the right to redeem on demand; (b) calculates net asset value on a daily basis in a manner consistent with the principles of section 2(a)(41) of the 1940 Act, and rule 2a-4 thereunder, as interpreted by the SEC and its staff; (c) issues and redeems shares at the net asset value that is next calculated after receipt of the relevant purchase or redemption order consistent with the forward pricing principles of rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act; and (d) there is no secondary market in shares of such entity. Examples can include without limitation AUTs, OEICs, UITs, SICAV and UCITS. |
It should be noted that shares of investment companies that are not analogous to Open-Ended Investment Companies because of the possibility of backwards pricing or otherwise are subject to all provisions applicable to Reportable Securities and will not be deemed to be shares of an Open-End Investment Company for purposes of the Code. |
Personal Trading Assistant (“PTA”) - The intranet-based personal securities trading module used by Barings to facilitate pre-clearance, accurate reporting, and oversight of personal trading. |
Registered Investment Company - An “investment company” registered with the SEC and as defined by Section 3(a) of the 1940 Act, and as regulated by the 1940 Act. Examples include, but are not limited to, Open-End Investment Companies (commonly known as mutual funds), Closed-End Investment Companies and unit investment trusts. |
Reportable Account - Any account in which an Access Person has Beneficial Interest or Investment Control and holds, or if the Access Person is associated with a U.S. entity, has the ability to hold, Reportable Securities. These include accounts carried in the Access Person’s name, either individually or jointly, or as a member of a partnership, by an Immediate Family Member, or other accounts in which an Access Person exercises investment discretion or control on behalf of another person or entity. |
Reportable Fund - |
1. Any Closed-End Investment Company. |
2. Any Open-End Investment Company for which Barings serves as an investment adviser (or sub-adviser) or whose investment adviser (or sub-adviser) or principal underwriter controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with Barings, as well as any “shadow shares” of said funds offered through the various compensation plans offered by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (e.g. MMLSeries Investment Fund and MML Series Investment Fund II, the MassMutual Premier Funds, MassMutual Advantage Funds, Barings Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund, Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund). A list of Reportable Funds is published from time to time by the Compliance Department and is always made available in PTA. |
3. Any Business Development Company for which Barings serves as an investment adviser. |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 17 - |
Reportable Security - Any Security as defined herein except those specifically identified as exempt from the initial holding report, annual holdings reports and quarterly transaction reports on Schedules A and B of this Code. |
Reportable Security Held Or To Be Acquired - A Reportable Security which, within the most recent 15 calendar days (i) is or has been held by a Fund or a Client or (ii) is being or has been considered for purchase and sale by a Fund or a Client and (iii) where such information has been conveyed to Trustees. This includes any option to purchase or sell, and any Security that is convertible into or exchangeable for, any Reportable Security that was so held or considered. The relevant CCO may amend this definition to the extent necessary to comply with Rules 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and 204A-1 under the Advisers Act. |
Restricted Fixed Income Instruments - Reportable Securities that include corporate bonds, notes, debentures, or loans; typically an investment that provides a return in the form of fixed periodic payments and the return of principal at maturity. Please refer to Schedule B of this Code for fixed income security types that may fall outside of this definition. |
SEC - U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. |
Security - A “security” as defined by Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 202(a)(18) of the Advisers Act, Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act or Section 92 of the Corporations Act. |
The definition of Security is regardless of domicile or registration status (i.e. the term Security includes private or unregistered securities as well as listed and publicly-traded securities, and both). |
Examples include but are not limited to any stock, treasury stock, security future, financial futures contract or option thereon, note, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre organization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, swap, or privilege on any “security” (including a certificate of deposit) or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or privileged entered into on a national securities exchange related to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security”, or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing. References to a Security in the Code shall include any warrant for, option in, or “security” or other instrument immediately convertible into or whose value is derived from that “security” and any instrument or right which is equivalent to that “security.” |
Trustee or Director - A trustee or director of a Fund or BDC. who is either an “interested person” or “disinterested person” of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. |
Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) (“UCITS”) - A European-regulated product, similar to a U.S.-registered mutual fund. UCITS funds must comply with investment restrictions that include limits on eligible assets, leverage and diversification, but provide investors the opportunity to invest in a wide variety of investment strategies. UCITS funds feature transparency, liquidity and a risk management framework. |
Schedule E
GENERAL POLICIES FOR TRUSTEES AND DIRECTORS
1. Standard of Conduct
The principles that govern Trustees’, Directorsand Certain Fund or Business Development Company (“BDC”) Officers’ (as determined by the relevant CCO or his or her designee) personal trading and standard of conduct include:
• | The affirmative duty of care, loyalty, honesty, and good faith to act in the best interests of the Fund or BDC; |
• | The requirement that all personal trading be in compliance with the Code and each Trustee’s, Director or Certain Fund or Company Officer’s fiduciary duty to the Fund or BDC; |
• | The fundamental expectation that a Trustee, Director or Certain Fund Officer should not take inappropriate advantage of his/her position; and |
• | The requirement to comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 18 - |
2. Requirements
a. Purchase or Sale of Reportable Securities
No Trustee, Director or Certain Fund Officer can purchase or sell any Reportable Security with the actual knowledge that it is Being Considered for Purchase or Sale by or on behalf of a Fund or BDC for which they act as a Trustee, Director or Certain Fund Officer.
b. Certificate of Compliance
Trustees, Directors and Certain Fund Officers are required to submit a written statement, within 30 calendar days after the end of each quarter, to the relevant CCO or his or her designee stating their compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code.
c. Holdings and Transaction Report Exemptions
With the exception of those Interested Trustees or Directors who are also Associates of Barings and therefore subject to all applicable reporting requirements of the Code, Disinterested and Interested Trustees or Directors and Certain Fund Officers are exempt from filing an Initial Holdings Report.
Disinterested and Interested Trustees or Directors and Certain Fund Officers are exempt from filing a Quarterly Transaction Report in accordance with the Reporting Obligations section, except if in the ordinary course of fulfilling official duties as a Trustee, Director or Certain Fund Officer he or she knew or should have known that during the 15 calendar days immediately before and after their transaction that such Security was a Reportable Security Held Or To Be Acquired by the Fund, BDC or its investment adviser.
Interested Trustees or Directors are required to complete an Annual Holdings Report in accordance with the Reporting Obligations section of the Code. However, Disinterested Trustees or Directors and Certain Fund Officers are exempt from completing the Annual Holdings Report.
d. Serving on Boards of Directors or Trustees
Trustees, Directors and Certain Fund Officers must notify Barings’ Legal Department and/or the chief compliance officer of the Fund or BDC of any service on or termination from a business or non-business board of directors or board of trustees.
3. Reports
The relevant Fund or BDC CCO is required to:
• | Prepare a quarterly report documenting any material violations during the previous quarter and any other significant information concerning the application of the Code and report such information to Barings’ Governance Committee (or the equivalent committee at the relevant entity responsible for oversight of such matters), the Trustees of each Fund or the Board of Directors of each BDC advised or sub-advised by Barings; |
• | Prepare a report, at least annually, summarizing any material exceptions or exemptions concerning personal trading made during the past year; listing any violations requiring significant remedial action; and identifying any recommended changes to the Code or the procedures there under. The report should include any violations that are material, any sanctions imposed to such material violations, and any significant Conflict of Interest that arose involving the personal investment policies of the organization, even if the conflicts have not resulted in a violation of the Code. This report is required to be submitted to Barings’ Governance Committee (or the equivalent committee at the relevant entity responsible for oversight of such matters) and the Board of Trustees of each Fund or Board of Directors of each BDC; and |
• | Annually certify, upon request, to each Fund’s Board of Trustees or Board of Directors of each BDC that policies and procedures are in place to reasonably prevent Access Persons from violating the Code. |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 19 - |
Books and Records Retained
The table below identifies each Record that is required to be retained as it relates to this Policy unless a different retention period is required by local regulations in the relevant jurisdiction. Records may be unique to the relevant jurisdiction or combined with records maintained by Barings LLC. In order for Barings to retain each of the following records, all business should be conducted by Barings Associates on a Barings approved corporate device and/or by using an approved and supported Barings platform (e.g. mail system, social media account, recording technology, storage medium, trading platform, Barings supported application, etc.):
Description/Requirement | Barings Record(s) | Creator | Owner | Retention Period | Source |
Access Persons are required to acknowledge receipt of the Code and any amendments thereto | Various Code of Ethics Acknowledgements | Access Person | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Exception request and Relevant CCO approval of exceptions | Personal Trading Exceptions | Access Person | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Barings Corporate Policy Requirement |
New Access Persons must file an Initial Holdings Report | Initial Holdings Report | Access Person | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Access Persons will arrange for copies of confirmations of all Reportable Securities transactions and periodic account statements to be sent by the Access Person’s broker(s) directly to Compliance | Personal Brokerage Statements & Transaction Confirmations in lieu of Holdings and Transaction Reports | Access Person’s Brokerage Firm | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
All Access Persons will submit a Quarterly Transaction Report and certify that the Quarterly Transaction Report lists all Reportable Security transactions | Quarterly Transactions Report and Certification | Access Person | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Access Persons must submit an Annual Holdings Report | Annual Holdings Report | Access Person | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Access Persons are required to certify to the list of their Reportable Accounts disclosed at this time, even if there are no Reportable Securities currently held in the accounts | Access Person Certification of Reportable Accounts | Access Person | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Trustees and Directors will submit a written statement to the Relevant CCO that he or she has complied with the applicable requirements of this Code | Trustee & Director Quarterly Transaction Certification or Waiver | Trustee or Director | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
The Relevant CCO will prepare a quarterly violation report as well as an annual material exception report | Relevant CCO Violation Reports | Compliance /Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 20 - |
Description/Requirement | Barings Record(s) | Creator | Owner | Retention Period | Source |
The Relevant CCO will annually certify, each Fund’s Board of Trustees and BDC’s Board of Directors, that Barings and each Fund or BDC it advises have adopted procedures | Quarterly Compliance Report to Fund Boards | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
A copy of the Code or any other Code which has been in effect during the most recent ten year period | Global Code of Ethics and Personal Securities Transactions Policy | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
A record of any Code violations | Code Violation Report | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Record of Sanction Memos sent to Access Persons | Sanction Memos | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
A list of all Access Persons currently or within the most recent ten year period who are or were required to make reports | Applicable Access Persons List | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
A record of the approval of, and rationale supporting, the acquisition of Initial Public Offerings, Limited Offerings and Co-Investments for at least eight years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted | Private Placement and IPO Participation Request Form, Co-Investment Request Form | Access Person | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Any material amendments to the Code will be reported to the relevant Board of Managers / Directors for review | Code of Ethics Policy Management Report | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
The Fund must approve any material changes to the codes of ethics of the Fund and its investment adviser | Trustee approvals of the Code | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Record of Pre-clearance Requests (including those received under the Employee Co-Investment Policy) | Pre-clearance Requests | Access Persons | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Barings Corporate Policy Requirement; |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 21 - |
Description/Requirement | Barings Record(s) | Creator | Owner | Retention Period | Source |
List of Reportable Funds | Reportable Funds List | MassMutual Corporate Compliance | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Barings Corporate Policy Requirement |
Code of Ethics Training Materials and supporting documentation | Code of Ethics Training Materials | Compliance Department | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Barings Corporate Policy Requirement |
Quarterly Client Certifications and Reporting | Officers and Client Quarterly Certifications | Applicable BDC, Fund or Trust Officers, Applicable Portfolio Managers | Compliance Department | 7 Years | Barings Corporate Policy Requirement; Rule 204A-1 of Advisors Act; Rule 17j-1 of 1940 Act |
Original Date of Policy: October 2004 (Barings LLC) October 2012 (Barings ex Advisers Limited, Barings Asset Management (Asia) Limited and Barings (U.K.) Limited) |
Last Review Date: June 2022 |
Last Revision Date: June 2022 |
External recipients should note that, given the proprietary nature of this document, Barings asks that it is not distributed to any other parties without our prior written consent and presume said document was provided for the external recipient’s internal review and consideration only. These policies and procedures may be subject to change and/or modified in whole or in part without prior notice. Policies and procedures are presumed to be general operating documents and as such, exceptions may be granted by the relevant Barings Chief Compliance Officer or designee.
Global Code of Ethics Policy | - 22 - |
Exhibit (r)(2)
Table of Contents
I. | Introduction | 3 | |
A. | Applicability | 4 | |
II. | General Standards of Business Conduct | 5 | |
A. | Conflicts of Interest | 5 | |
B. | Protecting Confidential Information | 5 | |
C. | Insider Trading | 5 | |
D. | Excess Trading | 6 | |
E. | Limitation on Trading SS&C Stock | 6 | |
III. | Gifts and Entertainment | 8 | |
IV. | Other Activities | 10 | |
A. | Improper Payments or Rebates | 10 | |
B. | Service on a Board of Directors/Outside Business Activities | 10 | |
C. | Political Contributions | 10 | |
V. | Reporting Requirements | 12 | |
A. | Covered Securities | 12 | |
B. | Initial Holdings and Accounts Reports | 12 | |
C. | Duplicate Statements/Electronic Feeds | 13 | |
D. | Quarterly Transaction Reports | 13 | |
E. | Annual Holdings Reports | 14 | |
VI. | Access Persons - Restrictions | 15 | |
A. | Trading Restrictions | 15 | |
B. | Account Restrictions | 15 | |
VII. | Investment Persons - Restrictions | 16 | |
A. | Trading Restrictions | 16 | |
B. | Account Restrictions | 16 | |
C. | Pre-Clearance | 17 | |
D. | Serving on a Board of Directors | 17 | |
VIII. | Sanctions | 18 | |
A. | Procedures | 18 | |
B. | Appeals Process | 18 | |
IX. | Compliance & Supervisory Procedures | 19 | |
A. | Prevention of Violations | 19 | |
B. | Detection of Violations | 19 | |
C. | Compliance Procedures | 19 | |
D. | Annual Reports | 19 | |
E. | Records | 20 | |
F. | Inspection | 20 | |
G. | Confidentiality | 20 | |
H. | The Ethics Committee | 20 | |
Appendix A - Broker/Dealers with Electronic Feeds | 22 | ||
Appendix B - Sub-Advisers to ALPS Advisors, Inc. | 23 | ||
Appendix C - Glossary of Defined Terms | 24 |
2
I. | Introduction |
This Code of Ethics (“Code”) has been adopted by various SS&C ALPS Entities, together and separately referred to as “SS&C ALPS”, including but not limited to:
• | ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) |
• | ALPS Advisors Inc. (“AAI”) |
• | Red Rocks Capital, LLC (“Red Rocks”) |
• | ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”) |
• | ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”) |
The Code is designed to comply with Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”) and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). By adopting and adhering to a code that meets the applicable requirements under the Advisers Act and 1940 Act, it is intended that ALPS employees who are deemed to be Access Persons and/or Investment Persons, will not also be subject to duplicative reporting requirements under various other codes for fund companies for which they may serve as an officer or are otherwise deemed to be an Access Person. However, all such persons should check with each company’s Compliance or Legal representatives to confirm their status.
SS&C ALPS and its employees are subject to certain laws, rules and regulations governing personal securities trading, conflicts of interest, treatment of client assets and information, generally prohibiting fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative conduct. The Code is designed to ensure compliance with these. The actual requirements of the Code may vary depending on the employee’s business role of respective subsidiary so care should be taken by each employee to understand how the Code applies to them.
Employees who are also registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) as a Registered Representative may have additional requirements and/or restrictions in addition to those described herein. Those Registered Representatives should consult their Written Supervisory Procedures for additional requirements.
SS&C ALPS and its employees are prohibited from engaging in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative conduct. The Code is designed to reinforce SS&C ALPS’ reputation for integrity by avoiding even the appearance of impropriety in the conduct of our business. This Code was developed to promote the highest standards of behavior and ensure compliance with applicable laws.
Employees are required to promptly report any known violations of the Code to the relevant entity’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO” as defined). This includes violations that come to your attention that may have been inadvertent and/or violations that other employees may have committed. The CCO (or a designee) will promptly investigate the matter and take action if needed. There will be no retribution against any employee for making such a report, and every effort will be made to protect the identity of the reporting employee. There may be additional provisions for reporting violations that are covered under applicable policies and employees should make themselves familiar with these policies or consult with the CCO.
Employees should be aware that they may be held personally liable for any improper or illegal acts committed during their course of employment, and that “ignorance of the law” is not a defense. SS&C ALPS employees are expected to read the Code carefully and observe and adhere to its guidance at all times. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Code may result in serious sanctions including, but not limited to: disgorgement of profits, termination, personal criminal or civil liability and referral to law enforcement agencies or other regulatory agencies. |
3
The provisions of the Code are not all-inclusive. Rather, they are intended as a guide for employees of SS&C ALPS in their conduct. In those situations where an employee may be uncertain as to the intent or purpose of the Code, they are advised to consult with the CCO. All questions arising in connection with personal securities trading should be resolved in favor of the Client, even at the expense of the interests of employees.
The CCO will periodically report to senior management/board of directors of SS&C ALPS and the respective fund boards where SS&C ALPS serves in the capacity of investment adviser and/or distributor to document compliance or non-compliance with this Code. Each employee is responsible for knowing their responsibilities under the Code.
A. Applicability
SS&C ALPS Employees
This Code is applicable to SS&C ALPS employees (“employee(s)”) as required by the applicable rules, regulations, or as determined by the CCO. This includes full-time, part-time, benefited and non-benefited, officers, directors, exempt and non-exempt personnel. Additionally, new employee’s offer letter will include a copy of the Code of Ethics and a statement advising the individual that they will be subject to the Code of Ethics if they accept the offer of employment. Employees with access to certain information (as described herein) may also be deemed to be “Access Persons” or “Investment Persons and be subject to additional restrictions, limitations, reporting requirements and other policies and procedures.
SS&C ALPS employees have an obligation to promptly notify the Administrator of the Code of Ethics if there is a change to their duties, responsibilities or title which affects their reporting status under the code.
Family Members and Related Parties
The Code applies to the Accounts of employee’s as specified, their spouse or domestic partner, minor children, immediate family members residing in the same household as the employee (e.g. adult children or parents living at home), and any relative, person or entity for whom the employee directs the investments or securities trading.
Contractors and Consultants
SS&C ALPS contractor/consultant/temporary employee contracts may include the Code as an addendum, and each contractor/consultant/temporary employee may be required to sign an acknowledgement that they have read the Code and will abide by it. Certain sections might not be applicable.
4
II. | General Standards of Business Conduct |
SS&C ALPS employees are subject to and expected to abide by the Code including, but not limited to, the General Standards of Business Conduct and all reporting requirements outlined herein.
A. Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest is a situation where our personal loyalties or interests may be at odds with those of SS&C ALPS, its subsidiaries, or its clients or where our position at SS&C ALPS affords us improper personal benefits. When determining whether or not a conflict exists, make sure to consider not only your own activities, but also those of your family members and related parties.
Employees may not act on behalf of SS&C ALPS or its clients in any Securities Transaction or other transfer or receipt of property, services or benefits involving other persons or organizations where such employee may have any financial or another interest without prior approval from the CCO.
B. Protecting Confidential Information
Employees may receive information about SS&C ALPS, its Clients and other parties that, for various reasons, should be treated as confidential. Employees have an obligation to safeguard personal client or fellow employee personal information and material non-public information regarding SS&C ALPS and its Clients. Accordingly, employees may not disclose current portfolio holdings, Fund Transactions, Securities Transactions proxy vote or corporate action made or contemplated, personal client or fellow employee personal information or any other non-public information to anyone outside of SS&C ALPS, without approval from the CCO or the Ethics Committee. SS&C ALPS employees are expected to strictly comply with measures necessary to preserve the confidentiality of the information. Refer to applicable SS&C ALPS and SS&C policies for additional information.
C. Insider Trading
The misuse of Material Nonpublic Information, or inside information, constitutes fraud under the securities laws of the United States and many other countries. Anyone aware of Material Nonpublic Information (or inside information) may not trade in, recommend, or in some cases refrain from selling those securities whether directly, through a third party, for a personal account, SS&C ALPS or the account of any SS&C ALPS’ Client.
No employee may cause SS&C ALPS or a Client to take action, or to fail to take action, for personal benefit, rather than to benefit SS&C ALPS or such Client. For example, a person would violate this Code by causing a Client to purchase securities owned by the Access Person for the purpose of supporting or increasing the price of that security or by causing a Client to refrain from selling securities in an attempt to protect a personal investment, such as an option on that security.
As a general rule, we should consider all information we learn about our clients, proprietary products, SS&C or other companies in the course of our employment to be material nonpublic information unless it has been fully disclosed to the public.
In addition, employees must not engage in tipping. Tipping occurs when one individual (the tipper) passes Material Nonpublic information to another (the tippee) under circumstances that suggest the tipper was trying to help the tippee make a profit or avoid a loss in exchange for some benefit to the tipper. The benefit does not have to be pecuniary and could result from a family or personal relationship. In this situation, both the tipper and the tippee may be liable, and this liability may extend to everyone to whom the tippee discloses the information.
5
Employees may not engage in “front running,” that is, the purchase or sale of securities for their own accounts on the basis of their knowledge of a Fund’s Transactions or planned Transactions.
Trading activity will be monitored by the Administrator of the Code of Ethics for Access and Investment persons as described.
D. Excess Trading
While active personal trading may not in and of itself raise issues under applicable laws and regulations, we believe that a very high volume of personal trading can be time consuming and can increase the possibility of actual or apparent conflicts with portfolio transactions. Accordingly, an unusually high level of personal trading activity (as determined by SS&C ALPS based on the facts and circumstances) is strongly discouraged. A pattern of excessive trading may lead to the taking of appropriate corrective or restrictive action under the Code.
E. Limitation on Trading SS&C Stock
In addition to Insider Trading restrictions, some SS&C stock transactions are prohibited altogether as described below.
Prohibited SS&C Stock Transactions
Short sales.
Employees may never engage in a short sale of SS&C’s securities. A short sale is a sale of securities the seller does not own or, if owned, is not delivered against the sale within 20 days (a short sale against the box). Short sales of SS&C’s securities show the seller’s expectation that the securities will decline in value. Therefore, these sales signal to the market that the seller has no confidence in SS&C or its short-term prospects. In addition, short sales may reduce the seller’s incentive to improve SS&C’s performance. For these reasons, short sales of SS&C securities are not permitted.
Option trades
Employees may not take part in certain option trades that are more profitable as SS&C stock declines in value. Employees may not:
• | Purchase a put option on SS&C securities |
• | Write a call option on SS&C securities |
Hedging transactions
Employees must not enter into hedging transactions, as these transactions may permit the employee to continue to own SS&C securities without the full risks and rewards of ownership. When that occurs, the employee may no longer have the same objectives as other SS&C stockholders. For that reason, employees must not enter into prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds or other similar hedging or monetization transactions involving SS&C stock.
Margin accounts and pledges
Holding or pledging SS&C securities as collateral in margin accounts are not permitted.
Blackout Period
Certain employees may be restricted from buying or selling shares of SS&C during specified blackout periods or required to pre-clear transactions of SS&C shares. If either or both restrictions apply, employees will be contacted directly by SS&C regarding the restrictions and when blackout periods occur.
Pre-Clearances
Certain employees may be subject to the pre-clearance requirements as outlined in the SS&C Securities Transactions Policy. These employees will be notified by SS&C regarding their reporting obligations.
6
Permitted SS&C Stock Transactions
The prohibitions set forth above do not apply to the following (each, a “Permitted Transaction”):
• | for SS&C stock options or equity awards that would otherwise expire, exercises of such options and awards and the surrender of shares to SS&C in payment of the exercise price or in satisfaction of any tax withholding obligations (in each case in a manner permitted by the applicable equity award agreement); provided, however, that the securities so acquired may not be sold (either outright or in connection with a “cashless” exercise transaction through a broker) while the director or employee is aware of material non-public information or during a Blackout Period; and |
• | bona fide gifts, unless the person making the gift has reason to believe that the recipient intends to sell the securities while the director or employee is aware of material non-public information or during a Blackout Period. |
7
III. | Gifts and Entertainment |
Gifts or Entertainment may create an actual or apparent conflict of interest, which could affect (or appear to affect) the recipients’ independent business judgment. Therefore, SS&C ALPS has established reasonable limits and procedures relating to the giving and receiving of Gifts and Entertainment.
SS&C ALPS employees are required to follow the standards below regarding the acceptance or giving of gifts and entertainment with respect to all Business Partners. Every circumstance where gifts or entertainment may be given or received may not be listed below however, employees are expected to avoid any gifts or entertainment that:
• | Could create an apparent or actual conflict, |
• | Is excessive or would reflect unfavorably on ALPS or its Clients, or |
• | Would be inappropriate or disreputable nature. |
A Gift is anything of value that is given with the intent to foster a legitimate business relationship. Gifts can include merchandise such as wine, gift baskets, or tickets if the giver does not attend.
Entertainment is a meeting, meal or other activity where both you and the business partner are present and have the opportunity to discuss business or any participant’s employer bears the cost. It does not include events that have been organized by SS&C ALPS directly, such as receptions following an industry gathering or multi-client entertainment. If the Business Partner will not be present for the event it will be considered a gift.
A Business Partner, for the purpose of this Code, includes all current Clients and vendors with which ALPS Holdings conducts business, any potential clients or vendors with whom SS&C ALPS could engage in business with, any registered broker/dealers, and any firms under contract to do business with ALPS Holdings or our subsidiaries.
The Value of any Gifts or Entertainment given or received must be the greater of cost or market value. If the cost or market value is not easily determined an employee can estimate the approximate value or request further guidance from the CCO or designee.
All Disclosures of applicable gifts or entertainment must be disclosed via the Gifts Request Form found on SchwabCT.com. Unless otherwise indicated, this should be done on a quarterly basis along with regular quarterly Code requirements. Some Gifts or Entertainment may require prior approval
All Approvals, unless otherwise indicated, must come from the appropriate CCO or designee. Due to the nature of gift-giving and the impromptu nature of some Entertainment, approval for SS&C ALPS employees accepting such items may often be after the fact. However, to the extent feasible, any required approvals should be obtained before accepting Gifts or Entertainment. If a gift request is not approved and returning or rejecting the item would negatively affect the business relationship the gift should be turned over to the CCO. The gift will then be donated to a charity of the Ethics Committee’s choosing.
8
Gifts to be Given/Received by SS&C ALPS Employees | Approval/Disclosure Required |
Cash or Cash Equivalent | Prohibited from giving or receiving |
Gifts received from the same Business Partner which would aggregate less than $100/twelve months | Quarterly disclosure required, no approval required |
Gifts received from the same Business Partner which would aggregate equal/more than $100/twelve months | Approval required, Quarterly disclosure required, strictly prohibited for FINRA registered reps |
Promotional gifts such as those that bear a logo valued less than $50 | Quarterly disclosure not required, approval not required |
Gifts given to or received by a wide group of recipients (e.g. gift basket to a department) that are reasonable in nature | Quarterly disclosure not required, approval not required |
Gifts given on behalf of ALPS Holdings or its subsidiaries (from an ALPS budget) | Indication of who received the gift must be included via regular expense reports, gifts must be reasonable in nature |
Gifts of any value given or received by Investment Persons (as defined in Glossary) to or from a broker/dealer | Must be pre-cleared with their immediate supervisor and the CCO (or designee) |
Entertainment provided by and for SS&C ALPS employees | Approval/Disclosure Required |
Entertainment provided on behalf of ALPS or its subsidiaries (from an ALPS budget) valued at $500 or less per person per event | Indication of who was present must be included via expense reports |
Entertainment provided to an ALPS employee, other than an Investment Person, at $500 or less per person per event *
*Entertainment provided to an Investment Person at $250 or less per person per event from anyone other than a broker/dealer |
Quarterly disclosure required (excluding entertainment of de minimis value - below approx. $50), no approval required |
Entertainment provided on behalf of ALPS or its subsidiaries (from an ALPS budget) valued at equal/more than $500 per person per event | Typically not allowed, Approval required, Indication of who was present must be included via expense reports |
Entertainment provided to an ALPS employee at equal/more than $500 per person per event | Typically not allowed, Approval required, Quarterly disclosure required |
Attendance and participation at industry sponsored events | No approval required, no disclosure required |
Entertainment of any value given or received by Investment Persons (as defined on page 5) to or from a broker/dealer | Must be pre-cleared with their immediate supervisor and the CCO (or designee) |
9
IV. | Other Activities |
A. Improper Payments or Rebates
Associates must not offer or receive gratuities, bribes, kickbacks, or improper rebates from public officials, officials of foreign governments, competitors or suppliers.
Pursuant to the Foreign Corruption Practices Act (“FCPA”), employees are prohibited from making or offering to make any payment to or for the benefit of any Foreign Official if the purpose of such payment is to improperly influence or induce that Foreign Official to obtain or retain business for the company (a so-called bribe or kickback). All payments, whether large or small, are prohibited if they are, in essence, bribes or kickbacks, including:
• | cash payments |
• | gifts |
• | entertainment |
• | services |
• | amenities |
If an employee is unsure about whether they are being asked to make an improper payment, they should not make the payment. Employees must promptly report to the CCO any request made by a Foreign Official for a payment that would be prohibited under the guidelines set above and any other actions taken to induce such a payment. If you have any questions or need any guidance, please contact the CCO.
B. Service on a Board of Directors/Outside Business Activities
SS&C ALPS employees are required to comply with the following provisions:
• | Employees are to avoid any business activity, outside employment or professional service that competes with SS&C ALPS or conflicts with the interests of SS&C ALPS or its Clients. |
• | An employee is required to obtain the approval from the CCO, or designee, prior to becoming an employee, director, officer, partner, sole proprietor of a “for profit” organization, or otherwise compensated by an entity outside of SS&C ALPS. The request for approval should disclose the name of the organization, the nature of the business, whether any conflicts of interest could reasonably result from the association, whether fees, income or other compensation will be earned and whether there are any relationships between the organization and SS&C ALPS. |
• | Employees may not accept any personal fiduciary appointments such as administrator, executor or trustee other than those arising from family or other close personal relationships. |
• | Employees may not use ALPS resources, including computers, software, proprietary information, letterhead and other property in connection with any employment or other activity outside SS&C ALPS. |
• | Employees must disclose a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict with SS&C ALPS or Clients and discuss how to control the risk. |
When completing the quarterly Code requirements, employees may be asked to disclose all outside affiliations. Any director/trustee positions with public companies or companies with the potential to become public are prohibited without prior written approval of the CCO or designee.
C. Political Contributions
All political activities of employees must be kept separate from employment and expenses may not be charged to SS&C ALPS. Employees may not use ALPS facilities for political campaign purposes.
10
Any employees who are deemed Covered Associates are required to comply with the provisions under Rule 206(4)-5 of the Advisers Act as well as the Political Contributions Policy within AAI’s Compliance Program. Spouses and household family members of each Covered Associate are also subject to the provisions under Rule 206(4)-5 and this Political Contribution Policy, including pre-approval and reporting requirements.
Covered Associates are prohibited from making political contributions on behalf of AAI or individually in their capacity as a covered associate unless their contribution is within the de minimis exception. The de minimis exception permits contributions according to the following guidelines:
• | Up to $350 per candidate per election cycle, to incumbents or candidates for whom they are eligible to vote |
• | Up to $150 per candidate per election cycle, to other incumbents or candidates |
Covered Associates will be required to obtain a pre-approval for all political contributions, including but not limited to those noted above.
On a quarterly basis, the CCO, or designee, will request a reporting of political contributions during the previous quarter by all Covered Associates. The reporting should include contributions by spouses, household family members and all contributions by other parties (lawyers, affiliated companies, acquaintances, etc.) directed by the Covered Associate. The report should include the individual or election committee receiving the contribution, the office for which the individual is running, the current elected office held, if any, the dollar amount of the contribution or value of the donated item and whether or not the Covered Associate is eligible to vote for the candidate. The Covered Associate report must be completed within 30 days of each quarter end so that if an inadvertent political contribution (of $350.00 or less) has been made to an official for whom the Covered Associate is not entitled to vote, the contributor may be required to request the return of the contribution in order to avoid the two year compensation ban against AAI.
11
V. | Reporting Requirements |
Access Persons and Investment Persons (“Person” or “Persons”), as defined in the subsequent sections, are subject to the following Initial, Quarterly and Annual Reporting requirements unless specifically exempted by Rule 204A-1 or 17j-1. Such Persons are required to disclose any account in which securities transactions can be effected and in which the Person has a beneficial interest (as further defined in Appendix C).
A. Covered Securities
All Covered Securities are subject to the reporting requirements of the Code. Covered Securities will include all Securities as well as all Proprietary Products, any equivalents in local non-US jurisdictions, single stock futures, and both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulated futures. For purposes of the Code, Securities shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act. This definition of Security includes, but is not limited to:
• | Any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, |
• | Any put, call, straddle, option or privilege on any Security or on any group or index of Securities, |
• | Any put, call, straddle, option or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, |
• | Any exchange-traded vehicle (including, but not limited to, closed-end mutual funds, exchange-traded notes and exchange-traded funds), |
• | Any commodity contracts as defined in Section 2(a)(1)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act. Including but not limited to futures contracts on equity indices, |
• | Any derivative of a Security |
The following securities/assets are exempt from the reporting requirements:
• | Transactions made in an account where the employee, pursuant to a valid legal instrument, has given full investment discretion to an unaffiliated/unrelated third party |
• | Direct Obligations of any government of the United States; |
• | Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; |
• | Investments in dividend reinvestment plans; |
• | Variable and fixed insurance products; |
• | Non Proprietary Product open-end mutual funds; |
• | Qualified tuition programs pursuant to Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code; |
• | Cryptocurrency assets/accounts; and |
• | Accounts that are strictly limited to any of the above transactions. |
B. Initial Holdings and Accounts Reports
Within ten (10) calendar days of being designated as, or determined to be, an Access Person or Investment Person (which may be upon hire), each Person must disclose all broker, dealer or bank accounts in which any Covered Securities are held, including any Managed Accounts.
In addition, all Persons must provide a statement of all Covered Securities holdings, and the information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of the person becoming an Access or Investment Person.
12
More specifically, each such Person must provide the following information:
• | The title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the employee had any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership when the person became an employee; |
• | The name of any financial institution with whom the employee maintained an account in which any securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the employee as of the date the person became an employee; and |
• | The date the report is submitted by the employee. |
C. Duplicate Statements/Electronic Feeds
All new employees and any new account(s) opened by existing employees after April 1, 2015 shall be limited to the financial institutions listed in Appendix A – Broker/Dealers with Electronic Feeds of the Code.
If an account is held with a financial institution that does not supply electronic feeds to SS&C ALPS, new employees who are deemed an Access or Investment Person will have 30 calendar days to close or transfer the existing account and are asked to only open an account with a firm listed in Appendix A of the Code.
Existing employees hired prior to April 1, 2015, who are deemed an Access or Investment Person, with existing accounts can maintain those accounts and continue satisfying their quarterly reporting requirements in the system as they have in the past. However, existing employees will only be allowed to open any new accounts with financial institutions listed in Appendix A of the Code.
D. Quarterly Transaction Reports
Each Access and Investment Person is required to submit quarterly his/her Quarterly Securities Report within thirty (30) calendar days of each calendar quarter end. If no transactions were executed or if transactions were exempt from reporting, this should be noted on the quarterly report.
Specific information to be provided includes:
i. | With respect to any Securities Transaction during the quarter in a Covered Security in which any employee had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership: |
• | The date of the transaction, the title, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount of each Security involved; |
• | The nature of the transaction, (i.e., purchase, sale, or other type of acquisition or disposition); |
• | The price of the Security at which the transaction was effected; |
• | The name of the financial institution with or through which transaction was effected; and |
• | The date that the report is submitted by the employee. |
ii. | With respect to any account established by the Access or Investment Person in which any securities were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Person: |
• | The name of the financial institution with whom the employee established the account; |
• | The date the account was established; and |
• | The date the report is submitted by the employee. |
13
Exceptions
i. | Automatic Investment Plans – Transactions need not be reported in the Quarterly Securities Report but holdings in Covered Securities are subject to the annual holdings reporting requirement discussed in the subsequent section. |
ii. | Managed Accounts – Securities Transactions in accounts in which the Person has no direct or indirect influence or control are not required to be reported. Persons that have Managed Accounts managed by an immediate family member are not exempt and still subject to the requirements under this Section V. |
iii. | Other “No Knowledge” Transactions – This includes Securities Transactions in which the Person has no knowledge of the transaction before it is completed (i.e., Securities Transactions effected for Persons by a trustee of a blind trust or automated adviser without the Person’s input or approval). |
E. Annual Holdings Reports
Each Access and Investment Person is required to submit annually (i.e., once each and every calendar year) a list of applicable holdings, which is current as of a date no more than forty five (45) calendar days before the report is submitted. In addition, each employee is required to certify annually that they has reviewed and understands the provisions of the Code.
Specific information to be provided includes:
• | The title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the employee had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership; |
• | The name of any financial institution with whom the employee maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the employee; and |
• | The date that the report is submitted by the employee. |
14
VI. | Access Persons - Restrictions |
A. Trading Restrictions
Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) - Access Persons are prohibited from acquiring securities through an allocation by the underwriter of an initial public offering (“IPO”). Exceptions may be made with prior written disclosure to and written approval from the CCO, whereby an Access Person could acquire shares in an IPO of his/her employer.
Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) – Access persons are prohibited in participating in ICOs or any similar offerings of tokens. Exceptions may be made with prior written disclosure to and written approval from the CCO.
Limited or Private Offerings - Access Persons are prohibited from purchasing securities in a private offering unless the purchase is approved in writing by the CCO. Private placements include certain co-operative investments in real estate, commingled investment vehicles such as hedge funds, and investments in family owned businesses. Time-shares and cooperative investments in real estate used as a primary or secondary residence are not considered to be private placements.
Investment Clubs - Access Persons are prohibited from participating in investment clubs unless such membership is approved in writing by the CCO. An investment club is any group of people who pool their money to make joint or group investments.
Short-Term Trading - Access Persons are prohibited from the purchase and sale or sale and purchase of the same Proprietary Products within a sixty (60) calendar day holding period (ALPS is the investment Adviser).
Blackout Period – Blackout periods may be determined and established by the CCO. Any such periods will be communicated to all affected persons as necessary.
B. Account Restrictions
Managed Accounts – Access Persons are restricted from establishing an external Managed Account (also referred to as a discretionary account) with any adviser that conducts business with ALPS Advisors, Inc. See Appendix B for a list of advisers that work with AAI.
15
VII. | Investment Persons - Restrictions |
A. Trading Restrictions
Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) - Investment Persons are prohibited from acquiring securities through an allocation by the underwriter of an initial public offering (“IPO”). Exceptions may be made with prior written disclosure to and written approval from the CCO, whereby an Investment Person could acquire shares in an IPO of his/her employer.
Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) – Investment persons are prohibited in participating in ICOs or any similar offerings of tokens. Exceptions may be made with prior written disclosure to and written approval from the CCO.
Limited or Private Offerings - Investment Persons are prohibited from purchasing securities in a private offering unless the purchase is approved in writing by the CCO. Private placements include certain co-operative investments in real estate, commingled investment vehicles such as hedge funds, and investments in family owned businesses. Time-shares and cooperative investments in real estate used as a primary or secondary residence are not considered to be private placements.
Investment Clubs - Investment Persons are prohibited from participating in investment clubs unless such membership is approved in writing by the CCO. An investment club is any group of people who pool their money to make joint or group investments.
Options - Investment Persons are not prohibited from buying or selling options on Covered Securities, however all other trading restrictions such as limitations on short-term and excess trading and pre-clearance apply to Investment Persons buying, selling or exercising options.
Short-Term Trading - Investment Persons are prohibited from the purchase and sale or sale and purchase of the same Covered Securities within thirty (30) calendar days. In addition, all Proprietary Products are subject to a sixty (60) calendar day holding period (ALPS is the investment Adviser). Non-Proprietary exchange-traded funds are not subject to this requirement.
Blackout Period – Blackout periods may be determined and established by the CCO. Any such periods will be communicated to all affected persons as necessary.
Shorting of Securities - Investment Persons are not prohibited from the practice of short selling securities, however all other trading restrictions such as limitations on short-term and excess trading and pre-clearance apply to Investment Persons shorting of securities.
Restricted List - Investment Persons of Red Rocks Capital, LLC (“Red Rocks”) may not purchase or sell any security that Red Rocks holds or is being considered for purchase or sale by the Red Rocks Research Department for any account in which they have any beneficial interest. The list of Restricted Securities (the “Restricted List”) includes the Red Rocks Listed Private EquitySM Universe of securities and their subsidiaries.
B. Account Restrictions
Managed Accounts – Investment Persons are restricted from establishing an external Managed Account (also referred to as a discretionary account) with any adviser that conducts business with AAI. See Appendix B for a list of advisers that work with AAI. See Appendix B for a list of advisers that work with AAI.
16
C. Pre-Clearance
Unless the investment transaction is exempted from pre-clearance requirements all Investment Persons must request and receive pre-clearance prior to engaging in the purchase or sale of a Covered Security.
Pre-clearance approval is only good until midnight local time of the day after approval is obtained. “Good-till-Cancelled” orders are not permitted. “Limit” orders must receive pre-clearance every day the order is open.
As there could be many reasons for pre-clearance being granted or denied, Investment Persons should not infer from the pre-clearance response anything regarding the security for which pre-clearance was requested.
Exempted Securities/Transactions
Pre-clearance by Investment Persons is not required for the following transactions:
• | Transactions that meet the de minimis exception (defined below); |
• | Transactions made in an account where the employee, pursuant to a valid legal instrument, has given full investment discretion to an unaffiliated/unrelated third party; |
• | Purchases or sales of direct obligations of the government of the United States or other sovereign government or supra-national agency, high quality short-term debt instruments, bankers acceptances, certificates of deposit (“CDs”), commercial paper, repurchase agreements; |
• | Automatic investments in programs where the investment decisions are non-discretionary after the initial selections by the account owner (although the initial selection requires pre-clearance); |
• | Investments in dividend reinvestment plans; |
• | Exercised rights, warrants or tender offers; |
• | General obligation municipal bonds; |
• | Transactions in Employee Stock Ownership Programs (“ESOPs”); |
• | Securities received via a gift or inheritance |
• | Transactions in cryptocurrencies; and |
• | Non-Proprietary Product open-end mutual funds. |
De Minimis Exception
A De Minimis transaction is a personal trade that meets the following conditions: (a) less than $25,000; and (b) is made with no knowledge that a Client Fund have purchased or sold the Covered Security, or the Client Fund or its investment adviser considered purchasing or selling the Covered Security.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, transactions that fall under the de minimis exception should not be so frequent and repetitive in nature that in totality the transactions appear to be improperly avoiding the intent of the de minimis exception. The CCO may require an Investment Person to pre-clear transactions regardless of if the transaction falls under the de minimis exception should the CCO deem reasonable and appropriate. Further, transactions effected pursuant to the de minimis exception remain subject to reporting requirements of the Code.
D. Serving on a Board of Directors
Investment Personnel may not serve on the board of directors of a publicly traded company without prior written authorization from the Ethics Committee. No such service shall be approved without a finding by the Ethics Committee that the board service would be consistent with the interests of Clients.
If board service is authorized by the Ethics Committee, in some instances, it may be required that the Investment Personnel serving as a Director may be isolated from making investment decisions with respect to the company involved through the use of information barriers, firewalls, or other procedures.
17
VIII. | Sanctions |
A. Procedures
Upon discovering a violation of this Code by an employee, family member, or related party sanctions as deemed appropriate may be imposed. Including, but not limited to, the following:
A written warning with a copy provided to the employee’s direct report;
• | Monetary fines and/or disgorgement of profits when an employee profits on the trading of a security deemed to be in violation of the Code; |
• | Suspension of the employment; |
• | Termination of the employment; or |
• | Referral to the SEC or other civil regulatory authorities determined by ALPS. |
Violations and proposed sanctions will be documented by the Administrator of the Code of Ethics and will be submitted to the CCO for review and approval. In some cases, the Code of Ethics Committee may assist in determining the materiality of the violation and appropriate sanctions. Records of all reviews are the responsibility of and will be maintained by the Administrator of the Code of Ethics.
In determining the materiality of the violation, among other considerations, the CCO may review:
• | Indications of fraud, neglect or indifference to Code of Ethics provisions; |
• | Evidence of violation of law, policy or guideline; |
• | Frequency of repeat violations; |
• | Level of influence of the violator; and |
• | Any mitigating circumstances that may exist. |
In assessing the appropriate penalties, other factors considered may include:
• | The extent of harm (actual or potential) to client interests; |
• | The extent of personal benefit or profit; |
• | Prior record of the violator; |
• | The degree to which there is a personal benefit or perceived benefit from unique knowledge obtained through employment with ALPS; |
• | The level of accurate, honest and timely cooperation from the violator; and |
• | Any mitigating circumstances that may exist. |
B. Appeals Process
If an employee decides to appeal a sanction, they should contact the Administrator of the Code of Ethics who will refer the issue to the CCO for review and consideration. Any appeals submitted by an employee will be kept along with records of the violation and actions taken.
18
IX. | Compliance & Supervisory Procedures |
The CCO, or designee, is responsible for implementing supervisory and compliance review procedures. Supervisory procedures can be divided into two classifications: prevention of violations and detection of violations. Compliance review procedures include preparation of special and annual reports, record maintenance and review, and confidentiality preservation.
A. Prevention of Violations
To prevent violations of the Rules, the CCO or designee should, in addition to enforcing the procedures outlined in the Rules:
1. | Review and update the procedures as necessary, at least once annually, including but not limited to a review of the Code by the CCO, the Code of Ethics Committee and/or counsel; |
2. | Answer questions regarding the Code; |
3. | Request from all persons upon commencement of services, and annually thereafter, any applicable forms and reports as required by the procedures; |
4. | Identify all Access Persons and Investment Persons, and notify them of their responsibilities and reporting requirements; |
5. | With such assistance from the Human Resources Department as may be appropriate, maintain a continuing education program consisting of the following: |
• | Orienting employees who are new to ALPS and the Rules; and |
• | Continually educating employees by distributing applicable materials and offering training to employees on at least an annual basis. |
B. Detection of Violations
To detect violations of these procedures, the CCO, or designee, should, in addition to enforcing the policies, implement procedures to review holding and transaction reports, forms and statements relative to applicable restrictions, as provided under the Code.
C. Compliance Procedures
Reports of Potential Deviations or Violations
Upon learning of a potential deviation from or violation of the policies, the CCO shall either present the information at the next regular meeting of the Code of Ethics Committee or conduct a special meeting. The Code of Ethics Committee shall thereafter take such action as it deems appropriate (see Penalty Guidelines).
D. Annual Reports
The CCO shall prepare a written report to the Code of Ethics Committee and Senior Management at least annually. The written report shall include any certification required by Rule 17j-1. This report shall set forth the following information:
• | Copies of the Code, as revised, including a summary of any changes made since the last report; |
• | Identification of any material issues including material violations requiring significant remedial action since the last report; |
• | Identification of any immaterial violations as deemed appropriate by the CCO; |
• | Identification of any material conflicts arising since the last report; and |
• | Recommendations, if any, regarding changes in existing restrictions or procedures based upon experience under these Rules, evolving industry practices, or developments in applicable laws or regulations. |
19
E. Records
ALPS shall maintain the following records:
• | A copy of this Code and any amendment thereof which is or at any time within the past five years has been in effect; |
• | A record of any violation of this Code, or any amendment thereof, and any action taken as a result of such violation; |
• | Files for personal securities account statements, all reports and other forms submitted by employees pursuant to these Rules and any other pertinent information; |
• | A list of all persons who are, or have been, required to submit reports pursuant to this Code; |
• | A list of persons who are, or within the last five years have been responsible for, reviewing transaction and holdings reports; and |
• | A copy of each report produced pursuant to this Code. |
F. Inspection
The records and reports maintained by SS&C ALPS pursuant to the Rules shall at all times be available for inspection, without prior notice, by any member of the Code of Ethics Committee.
G. Confidentiality
All procedures, reports and records monitored, prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code shall be considered confidential and proprietary to ALPS 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 to members of the Code of Ethics Committee or as requested.
H. The Code of Ethics Committee
The purpose of this section is to describe the Code of Ethics Committee. The Code Of Ethics Committee was created to provide an effective mechanism for monitoring compliance with the standards and procedures contained in the Rules and to take appropriate action at such times as violations or potential violations are discovered.
Membership
The Committee consists of the Chief Compliance Officer(s) of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., and ALPS Advisors, Inc., the Human Resources Director of SS&C ALPS, the President(s) of ALPS Fund Services, Inc., ALPS Advisors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. and ALPS Distributors, Inc., SS&C ALPS General Counsel.
The CCO currently serves as the Chairperson of the Committee, where the role of CCO for covered legal entities is held by multiple individuals, they shall service as Co-Chairpersons of the Committee. The composition of the Committee may be changed from time-to-time and the Committee may seek input of other employees concerning matters related to this Code as they deem appropriate.
The Committee may also appoint a non-voting Administrator of the Code and/or Secretary, responsible for day to day implementation and oversight of the Code and the Committee.
Committee Meetings
The Committee shall meet approximately every six months, or as often as necessary, to review operation of this Code and to consider technical deviations from operational procedures, inadvertent oversights or any other potential violation of the Rules. Deviations alternatively may be addressed by including them in the employee’s personnel records maintained by SS&C ALPS. Committee meetings are primarily intended for consideration of the general operation of the compliance procedures as well as for substantive or serious departures from the standards and procedures in the Rules.
20
Other persons may attend a Committee meeting, at the discretion of the Committee, as the Committee shall deem appropriate. Any individual whose conduct has given rise to the meeting may also be called upon, but shall not have the right, to appear before the Committee. It is not required that minutes of Committee meetings be maintained; in lieu of minutes the Committee may issue a report describing any action taken. The report shall be included in the confidential file maintained by the CCO with respect to the particular employee whose conduct has been the subject of the meeting.
If a Committee member has committed, or is the subject of, a violation, they shall not be considered a voting member of the Committee or be involved in the review or decisions of the Committee with respect to his or her activities, or sanctions.
Special Discretion
The Committee shall have the authority by unanimous action to exempt any person or class of persons or transaction or class of transactions from all or a portion of the Rules provided that:
• | The Committee determines, on advice of counsel, that the particular application of all or a portion of the Code is not legally required; |
• | The Committee determines that the likelihood of any abuse of the Code by such exempted person(s) or as a result of such exempted transaction is remote; |
• | The terms or conditions upon which any such exemption is granted is evidenced in writing; and |
• | The exempted person(s) agrees to execute and deliver to the CCO, at least annually, a signed Acknowledgment Form, which Acknowledgment shall, by operation of this provision, describe such exemptions and the terms and conditions upon which it was granted. |
The Committee shall also have the authority by unanimous action to impose such additional requirements or restrictions as it, in its sole discretion, determines appropriate or necessary, as outlined in the Sanctions Guidelines.
Any exemption, and any additional requirement or restriction, may be withdrawn by the Committee at any time (such withdrawal action is not required to be unanimous).
21
Appendix A – Approved Broker/Dealers with Electronic Feeds
• | Ameriprise |
• | Charles Schwab |
• | Chase Investment Services |
• | Edward Jones |
• | E*Trade |
• | Fidelity |
• | Goldman Sachs |
• | Interactive Brokers |
• | JP Morgan |
• | Merrill Lynch |
• | Morgan Stanley |
• | OptionsXpress |
• | Raymond James |
• | RBC Capital Markets |
• | Stifel Nicolaus |
• | TD Ameritrade |
• | UBS |
• | Vanguard |
• | Wells Fargo |
Updated: September 1, 2021
22
Appendix B - Sub-Advisers to ALPS Advisors, Inc.
• | Aristotle Capital Management, LLC |
• | Clough Capital Partners, LP |
• | CoreCommodity Management, LLC |
• | Congress Asset Management Company |
• | Fiduciary Management, Inc. |
• | GSI Capital Advisors, LLC |
• | Kotak Mahindra (UK) Limited |
• | Morningstar Investment Management LLC |
• | Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC |
• | Pzena Investment Management, LLC |
• | Red Rocks Capital, LLC |
• | RiverFront Investment Group, LLC |
• | RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC |
• | Smith Capital Investors, LLC |
• | Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP |
• | TCW Investment Management Company |
• | Weatherbie Capital, LLC |
Updated: September 1, 2021
23
Appendix C - Glossary of Defined Terms
Access Person - Any Director, Trustee, Officer, Partner, Investment Person, or Employee of ALPS Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries, who:
• | has access to non-public information regarding any Clients’ Transactions, or non-public information regarding the portfolio holdings of any fund(s) of a Client or any SS&C ALPS fund(s) or fund(s) of a subsidiary; |
• | is involved in making Securities Transactions recommendations to Clients, or has access to such recommendations that are non-public; |
• | in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding a Fund’s Transactions or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to a Fund’s Transactions; |
• | obtains information regarding a Fund’s Transactions or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to a Fund’s Transactions; or |
• | any other person designated by the CCO or the Ethics Committee has having access to non-public information. |
Account - Any accounts in which Securities (as defined below) transactions can be effected including:
• | any accounts held by any employee; |
• | accounts of the employee’s immediate family members (any relative by blood or marriage) living in the employee’s household or is financially dependent; |
• | accounts held by any other related individual over whose account the employee has discretionary control; |
• | any other account where the employee has discretionary control and materially contributes; and |
• | any account in which the employee has a direct or indirect beneficial interest, such as trusts and custodial accounts or other accounts in which the employee has a beneficial interest or exercises investment discretion. |
Administrator of the Code of Ethics – Designee(s) by the Chief Compliance Officer tasked with assisting in the oversight of SS&C ALPS’ Code of Ethics and all applicable restrictions and requirements.
Automatic Investment Plan - A program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined scheduled and allocation. An Automatic Investment Plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.
Beneficial Ownership - For purposes of the Code, “Beneficial Ownership” shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be in Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) in determining whether a person is subject to the provisions of Section 16 under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations there under.
Generally speaking, beneficial ownership encompasses those situations where the beneficial owner has the right to enjoy some economic benefits which are substantially equivalent to ownership regardless of who is the registered owner. This would include, but is not limited to:
• | securities which a person holds for his or her own benefit either in bearer form, registered in his or her own name or otherwise, regardless of whether the securities are owned individually or jointly; |
• | securities held in the name of a member of his or her immediate family sharing the same household; |
• | securities held by a trustee, executor, administrator, custodian or broker; |
• | securities owned by a general partnership of which the person is a member or a limited partnership of which such person is a general partner; |
• | securities held by a corporation which can be regarded as a personal holding company of a person; and |
• | securities recently purchased by a person and awaiting transfer into his or her name. |
24
Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) - The CCO refers as appropriate to Matthew Sutula, so designated as CCO by AAI, and Stephen Kyllo, CCO of ADI, APSD and AFS, or the designated Administrator of the Code of Ethics. The CCO may designate additional individuals, where appropriate, to operate in the capacity of the CCO as outlined in this Code of Ethics.
Covered Associate – Any employee that is required to comply with the provisions under Rule 206(4)-5 of the Advisers Act as well as the Political Contributions Policy within AAI’s Compliance Program. A person is generally considered to be a covered associate for these purposes:
• | if they are a President, managing director, VP in charge of a business unit and any other employee who performs a policy-making function of ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”); |
• | if they are an employee who solicits a government entity for AAI and such employee’s direct or indirect supervisor; |
• | a political action committee controlled by AAI or by any of AAI’s covered associates; or |
• | any other AAI employee so designated by the CCO of AAI. |
Covered Securities – For purposes of the Code, “Covered Securities” will include all Securities (as defined below) as well as all Proprietary Products (as defined below) or any equivalents in non-US jurisdictions, single stock futures or swap, security based swap and security futures products regulated by both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).
Employee – Employees of ALPS Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including directors, officers, partners of AAI (or other persons occupying similar status), any temporary worker, contractor, or independent contractor as designated by the CCO or the Ethics Committee.
Financial Institution – Any broker, dealer, trust company, registered or unregistered pooled investment or trading account, record keeper, bank, transfer agent or other financial firm holding and/or allowing securities transactions in Covered Securities.
Foreign Official – the term “Foreign Official” includes:
• | government officials; |
• | political party leaders; |
• | candidates for office; |
• | employees of state-owned enterprises (such as state-owned banks or pension plans); and |
• | relatives or agents of a Foreign Official if a payment is made to such relative or agent of a Foreign Official with the knowledge or intent that it ultimately would benefit the Foreign Official. |
Fund Transactions – For purposes of the Code, “Fund Transactions” refers to any transactions of a fund itself. It does not include “Securities Transactions” of an employee (Securities Transactions are defined below).
Investment Persons – “Investment Person” shall mean any Access Person (within ALPS) who makes investment decisions for AAI or Clients, who provides investment related information or advice to portfolio managers, or helps to execute and/or implement a portfolio manager’s decisions. This typically includes for example, portfolio managers, portfolio assistants, traders, and securities analysts.
Managed Account – An account where:
• | The employee has a direct or indirect beneficial interest; and |
• | The employee does not exercise discretionary control or influence over the selection or transaction of Covered Securities. |
25
Material Nonpublic Non-public Information – Any information that has not been publicly disseminated, or that was obtained legitimately while acting in a role of trust or confidence of an issuer or that was obtained wrongfully from an issuer or such person acting in a role of trust or confidence that a reasonable investor would consider important in making a decision to buy, hold or sell a company’s securities. Regardless of whether it is positive or negative, historical or forward looking, any information that a reasonable investor could expect to affect a company’s stock price. Material Nonpublic Non-public Information could include, but is not limited to:
• | projections of future earnings or losses; |
• | news of a possible merger, acquisition or tender offer; |
• | significant new products or services or delays in new product or service introduction or development; |
• | plans to raise additional capital through stock sales or otherwise; |
• | the gain or loss of a significant customer, partner or supplier; |
• | discoveries, or grants or allowances or disallowances of patents; |
• | changes in management; |
• | news of a significant sale of assets; |
• | impending bankruptcy or financial liquidity problems; or |
• | changes in dividend policies or the declaration of a stock split. |
Portfolio Securities – Securities held by accounts (whether registered or private) managed or serviced by SS&C ALPS.
Proprietary Products – Any funds (open-end, closed-end, Exchange-Traded Funds) where SS&C ALPS is the investment adviser. A list will be made available to employees on a quarterly basis.
Registered Representative – The term “Registered Representative” as used within this Code, refers to an employee who holds a securities license, and is actively registered, with FINRA.
Restricted Accounts – Employees are restricted from establishing external managed accounts (also referred to as a discretionary account) with any adviser that conducts business with AAI. A managed account is defined as an investment account that is owned by an individual investor but is managed by a hired professional money manager. Investment in a hedge fund is not deemed to be managed account. See Appendix B for a list of advisers that work with AAI.
Securities – For purposes of the Code, “Security” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act. This definition of “Security” includes, but is not limited to: any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, any put, call, straddle, option or privilege on any Security or on any group or index of Securities, or any put, call, straddle, option or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, any exchange-traded vehicle (including, but not limited to, closed-end mutual funds, exchange-traded notes and exchange-traded funds). Further, for the purpose of the Code, “Security” shall include any commodity contracts as defined in Section 2(a)(1)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act. This definition includes but is not limited to futures contracts on equity indices. For purposes of the Code, any derivative of a “Security” shall also be considered a Security.
“Security” shall not include direct obligations of the government of the United States or any other sovereign country or supra-national agency, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, variable and fixed insurance products.
Securities Transactions – The term “Securities Transactions” as used within this Code typically refers to the purchase and/or sale of Securities, (as defined herein), by an employee. Securities Transactions shall include any gift of Covered Securities that is given or received by the employee, including any inheritance received that includes Covered Securities.
26
Exhibit (t)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each Undersigned Trustee and Officer of Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (the “Fund”), does hereby severally constitute and appoint Jill Dinerman, Ashlee Steinnerd, Alexandra Pacini, Brian D. McCabe and Yana D. Guss and each of them individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys and agents.
Such attorneys and agents shall have full power of substitution and resubstitution and to take any and all action and execute any and all instruments on the Undersigned’s behalf as a Trustee or Officer of the Fund that said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or appropriate to enable the Fund to comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder. This power of attorney applies to the Registration Statement of the Fund on Form N-2, any and all subsequent Post-Effective Amendments to such Registration Statement, any and all supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, any subsequent Registration Statements for the same offering which may be filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), any and all agreements, filings, documents, registrations, notices, and other instruments required or permitted to be filed pursuant to the Federal Securities Laws (as that term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)), and the rules thereunder, the Commodities Exchange Act, as amended, and/or any rules or regulations passed or adopted by the National Futures Association (“NFA”), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), and/or any other self-regulatory organization (each, an “SRO”) to whose authority the Fund is subject, and any and all agreements, filings, documents, registrations, notices, and other instruments required or permitted to be filed to comply with the statutes, rules, regulations, or laws of any state or jurisdiction, including those required to qualify to do business in any such state or jurisdiction (collectively, the “Securities and Commodities Laws”). It specifically authorizes such attorneys and agents to sign the Undersigned’s name on his or her behalf as a Trustee or Officer to the Registration Statements and to any instruments or documents filed or to be filed with the Commission under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act in connection with such Registration Statements, including any and all amendments to such statements, documents, or instruments. It further authorizes such attorneys and agents to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other agreements, documents, and other instruments in connection therewith, with the appropriate regulatory body including, but not limited to, the Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the NFA, FINRA, and any SRO, and/or the securities regulators or other agency or regulatory body of the appropriate states and territories.
The Undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked in a signed writing delivered to the attorneys-in-fact.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Undersigned has set his or her hand as of this 16th day of December, 2022.
/s/ Mina Nazemi | President | |
Mina Nazemi | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
/s/ James Cochrane | Chief Financial Officer | |
James Cochrane | (Principal Financial Officer) | |
/s/ Thomas W. Okel | Chairperson and Trustee | |
Thomas W. Okel | ||
/s/ Mark F. Mulhern | Trustee | |
Mark F. Mulhern | ||
/s/ Jill Olmstead | Trustee | |
Jill Olmstead | ||
/s/ Jill Dinerman | Trustee and Chief Legal Officer | |
Jill Dinerman |