INTRODUCTION
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2
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I.
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THE FIRM AND ITS ACCESS PERSONS
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2 |
II.
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VIOLATIONS OF COMPLIANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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3 |
PERSONAL TRADING & INVESTMENTS
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5
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III.
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PERSONAL ACCOUNTS - DEFINITION AND REPORTING
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5
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IV.
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DESIGNATED BROKER POLICY
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6
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V.
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PERSONAL TRADING POLICIES
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8
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VI.
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PRE-CLEARANCE AND HOLDING PERIOD REQUIREMENTS
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9
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VII.
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OTHER RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS
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11
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VIII.
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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
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12
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INFORMATION SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
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13
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IX.
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INSIDE INFORMATION
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13
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X.
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RESTRICTED LIST
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16
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XI.
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RUMORS
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19
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OTHER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
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20
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XII.
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GIFTS, ENTERTAINMENT & QUESTIONABLE PAYMENTS
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20
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XIII.
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ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES
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24
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XIV.
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OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES & PERSONAL CONFLICTS
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25
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XV.
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POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
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27
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XVI.
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ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION
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30
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APPENDIX A: SUMMARY OF GIFTS & ENTERTAINMENT POLICY
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31
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I.
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THE FIRM AND ITS ACCESS PERSONS
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A.
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Access Persons
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II.
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VIOLATIONS OF COMPLIANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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A.
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Policy
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B.
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General Guidelines
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C.
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Reporting of Actual or Suspected Violations
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(a)
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confidentially reporting to, communicating with, contacting or responding to an inquiry (including a subpoena)
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(b)
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cooperating with, providing relevant information to or otherwise participating or assisting in an investigation conducted by: (i) any federal, state or local governmental or regulatory body or official(s) or self-regulatory
organization regarding a possible violation of any state or federal laws or regulations that has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur, including, but not limited to, the Department of Justice, the SEC, and any other equivalent
office of a federal or state agency or Inspector General; or (ii) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board or any other governmental authority with responsibility for the administration of labor or
employment laws regarding a possible violation of such laws.
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(c)
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disclosing Firm trade secrets:
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(i)
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in confidence and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, including as specified in subparagraph (a) above;
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(ii)
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to a lawyer in connection with any lawsuit brought in retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law; and
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(iii)
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in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.
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(d)
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disclosing Firm trade secrets in any lawsuit brought in retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law so long as court filings that include documents containing trade secrets are filed under seal and trade secrets are not
disclosed except as may be provided by court order.
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(a)
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(i) you have the right not be retaliated against for reporting, either internally to the Firm or to any governmental agency or entity or self-regulatory organization (including, for example, the SEC), information that you reasonably
believe relates to a possible violation of law, including the securities laws, and (ii) it is unlawful to retaliate against anyone who has reported potential misconduct either internally or to any governmental agency or entity, or
self-regulatory organization. Retaliatory conduct includes discharge, demotion, suspension, threats, harassment and any other manner of discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment because of any lawful act you may have
performed; and
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(b)
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the Firm may not require you to withdraw reports or filings alleging possible violations of federal, state or local law or regulation, or offer you any kind of inducement, including payment, to do so.
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III.
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PERSONAL ACCOUNTS - DEFINITION AND REPORTING
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A.
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Definition
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(i)
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trusts; for which the Access Person acts as trustee, executor or custodian;
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(ii)
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accounts of or for the benefit of the Access Person’s spouse, domestic partner, or minor children or any other person living in the Access Person’s home;
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(iii)
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accounts of or for the benefit of a person who receives material financial support from the Access Person; and
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(iv)
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accounts of or for the benefit of a relative living with the Access Person.
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B.
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Exempt Accounts
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C.
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Reporting
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IV.
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DESIGNATED BROKER POLICY
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A.
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Definition
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Charles Schwab
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Chase Investment Services Corp.
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JPMorgan Invest, LLC
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JPMorgan Private Bank
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JPMorgan Securities LLC
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Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
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E*TRADE
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Fidelity Investments
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Bank of America Merrill Lynch
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Interactive Brokers LLC
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B.
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Exemptions
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1.
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Long-Standing Relationship – the Access Person has a long-standing relationship (as determined by the CCO) with a broker. The Access Person must submit a statement of the Personal Account’s nature and relationship executed by such broker.
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2.
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Spousal Conflict – the
Access Person’s Personal Account(s) is already subject to designated broker rules of a spouse’s employer. The Access Person must provide the Compliance Department with a contact at the spouse’s employer.
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3.
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Managed Account – the
Access Person does not maintain investment control or participate in the investment decision-making pursuant to an investment management agreement. The Access Person must provide the Compliance Department with either a copy of the
advisory agreement or a Managed Account Letter, available upon request by the Compliance Department, executed by the advisor.
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C.
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Reporting
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V.
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PERSONAL TRADING POLICIES
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A.
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Active Trading
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B.
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Inappropriate Use of Information
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C.
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Confidential Treatment
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VI.
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PRE-CLEARANCE AND HOLDING PERIOD REQUIREMENTS
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A.
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Pre-Clearance Requirement
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Publicly Traded Securities: Prior to placing any order in a Personal Account, Access Persons are required to pre-clear every proposed trade by submitting a request via PTCC. Access Persons may not affect any personal transaction unless pre-clearance
approval is received from PTCC or the Compliance Department. Pre-clearance approval is valid only until the end of the calendar day that the approval is granted.
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Private Investments:
For the purposes of this policy, “Private Investments” shall include investments in privately held companies, tax shelter programs and unaffiliated “Private Funds”. Private Funds are unregistered shares/interests in limited
partnerships, companies and trusts that rely on exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Access Persons are required to pre-clear Private Investments by submitting to the Compliance Department a Private Placement
Request via PTCC. Additionally, all Private Investments must be approved by the employee’s manager.
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HPS Private Funds:
Investments in HPS Private Funds will be limited to those Access Persons who are directly engaged in providing investment advisory or other material services to the HPS Private Fund.
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HPS Investment Companies: Subject to certain requirements, Access Persons are permitted to buy
and/or sell securities of HPS Corporate Lending Fund (the “BDC”). An Access Person’s ability buy and/or sell securities of the BDC is contingent upon (a) the opening of a trading window for a period of time that is determined by the
BDC’s CCO, in consultation with the Adviser’s CCO and/or General Counsel, (“Open Window Period”) or (b) requesting and obtaining explicit permission to buy and/or sell securities of the BDC from the BDC’s CCO, Adviser’s CCO, and
Adviser’s Counsel during a closed trading window. An Open Window Period will generally occur after the end of each calendar quarter and at least 24 hours after the public release of the BDC’s 10-Qs or 10-Ks. An Access Person’s sale
of BDC securities will only be permitted as part of the BDC’s quarterly repurchase offers under the share repurchase program in accordance with the requirements of Rule 13e-4 promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
and the Investment Company Act of 1940. An Access Person’s purchase of Company shares will only be permissible during an Open Window Period that is
determined by the CCOs and General Counsel; under normal circumstances, an Open Window Period shall be limited to fixed period after the release of quarterly, public filings.
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It is the responsibility of each Access Person to submit a request via PTCC prior to purchasing and/or selling any securities of the BDC. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of Access Persons seeking to buy and/or sell
securities of the BDC to notify the Company’s CCO and Adviser’s CCO if they, during an Open Window Period, maintain any material-non-public information at the BDC level (e.g., plans to execute a deal that is material to the BDC’s
portfolio, a portfolio company that is material to the BDC’s portfolio planning to file for bankruptcy, or strategic corporate actions pertaining to the BDC).
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B.
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60-Day Holding Period Requirement for Securities Positions
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C.
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Fully Exempt Instruments
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1.
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Direct obligations of the United States Government including U.S. Treasuries, U.S. Savings Bonds, Ginnie Maes 5;
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2.
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Direct obligations of U.S. Government Sponsored Entities including mortgage backed securities of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae;
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3.
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Direct obligations of U.S. municipalities including state-issued revenue and general obligation bonds;
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4.
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Bankers’ Acceptances and Bank Certificates of Deposit;
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5.
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High quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements and commercial paper; or shares issued by money market funds;
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6.
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Shares issued by registered open-end investment companies (mutual funds) and shares issued by unit investments trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more mutual funds, including those sub-advised by HPS;
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7.
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Commodities futures contracts and currency instruments; and
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8.
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Cryptocurrency.
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D.
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Broadly-Traded Indices
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VII.
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OTHER RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS
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A.
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Pre-Trade and Post-Trade Blackout
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B.
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Restricted Transactions and Instruments
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Participation in any securities underwriting including initial or secondary offerings;
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Foreign currency derivatives unless used for hedging purposes;
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“Market timing” aimed at capturing valuation disparities in open-end mutual funds;
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Purchasing rights on the open market (although Access Persons may exercise rights if they receive rights as part of a rights offering); and
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Short sales (unless hedging of an existing position).
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VIII.
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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
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A.
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Initial Disclosure and Affirmation Form
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B.
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Regular Disclosure Forms and Certifications
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IX.
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INSIDE INFORMATION
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A.
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Policy & Guidance
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Trading by an insider while in possession of MNPI;
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Trading by a non-insider while in possession of MNPI, where the information was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider’s duty to keep it confidential;
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Trading by a non-insider who obtained MNPI through unlawful means such as computer hacking; and
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Communicating MNPI to others in breach of a fiduciary duty.
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Transactions such as contests for corporate control, refinancings, tender offers, recapitalizations, leveraged buy-outs, acquisitions, mergers, restructurings or purchases or sales of assets;
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Transactions by an issuer relating to its own securities, including share repurchase programs and derivatives;
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Private offerings of securities by private or public entities, including plans to offer securities, cancellations of planned offerings and changes in the timing or terms of the offerings; and
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Advance information regarding dividend or earnings announcements; asset write-downs or write-offs; additions to reserves for bad debts or contingent liabilities; expansion or
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curtailment of company or major division operations; merger or joint venture announcements; new product/service announcements; discovery or research developments; criminal, civil and government investigations and indictments; pending
labor disputes; debt service or liquidity problems; bankruptcy or insolvency; tender offers and stock repurchase plans; and recapitalization plans.
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B.
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Handling of Inside Information
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C.
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Rumors
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D.
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Safeguarding Inside Information
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E.
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Proprietary Information
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X.
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RESTRICTED LIST
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A.
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Policy
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B.
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Compliance Notification
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C.
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Restricted List Maintenance
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HPS receives MNPI regarding a publicly traded company, including, without limitation, knowledge of a potential take-private, funding need, transaction, etc.;
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HPS receives information regarding either a public or private company that a proposed financing will “take-out” the company’s existing capital structure;
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HPS declares that it will access “private-side” information about a public company via FinDox, Debtdomain, Intralinks, SyndTrak, or a similar database;
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HPS agrees to be bound by a standstill provision contained in a Non-Disclosure Agreement; or
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An investment professional has been added to the Board of Directors (including Board Observer status).
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Completion of the transaction by HPS and acknowledgement that HPS is no longer in possession of MNPI. Typically, a press release or some other form of supporting documentation must be provided to HPS Compliance;
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Completion of the transaction without participation by HPS and acknowledgement that HPS is no longer in possession of MNPI; or
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Either (i) HPS informing the company, sponsor or advisor that HPS is no longer pursuing the opportunity and HPS is no longer in possession of MNPI, or (ii) the company, sponsor or advisor informing HPS that the transaction is not
being pursued, and the MNPI received by HPS has subsequently become dated or stale as determined by the Compliance Department.
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D.
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Restriction Types
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E.
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Exceptions
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XI.
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RUMORS
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XII.
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GIFTS, ENTERTAINMENT & QUESTIONABLE PAYMENTS
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A.
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Policy
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B.
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Government Officials, Union Officials, and ERISA Clients
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C.
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Gifts Guidance
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The gift is given on an occasion when gifts are customary (e.g., birthday, major holiday, promotion, retirement) and is under $100 (or foreign currency equivalent) in value;
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Promotional items with a value of less than $100 (or foreign currency equivalent);
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Perishable items (e.g., fruit baskets) as long as they are not extravagant and they are shared among other members of the business group or Firm; or
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Any other gift that is pre-approved by Compliance in writing.
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Over $100 (or foreign currency equivalent) in value;
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Solicited or received in the context of a thank you for providing a service;
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Cash or cash equivalents including gift cards;
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Delivered in installments; or
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Any gift of any type or any value t o or from a Government Official, Union Official, or ERISA Client/Representative unless otherwise pre-cleared and approved by the Compliance Department;
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Discounts not available to the general public or to all Access Persons under a plan negotiated by the Firm;
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Bequests or legacies; and
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Tickets for sporting events, concerts, or other employee personal use where the host is not present or tickets for friends or family members of Access Persons (i.e., a “gift” as described above). Access Persons may not generally
accept tickets even if they fully reimburse the party providing the tickets.
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D.
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Pre-Approval and Reporting Requirements
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E.
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Exceptions
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F.
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Charitable Contributions
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G.
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Questionable Payments
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XIII.
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ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES
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XIV.
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OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES & PERSONAL CONFLICTS
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A.
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Outside Business Activities
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B.
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Litigation and Personal Investigations
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C.
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Personal Relationships
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●
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Work in the financial industry (e.g., bank, hedge fund, private equity fund, asset manager, or any other related financial institution);
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●
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A political figure/officer or works for a government agency; or
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●
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A senior officer or part of senior management of a publicly traded company.
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D.
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Personal Finances
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XV.
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POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
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A.
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Policy
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B.
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Personal Political Contributions
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C.
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Firm Political Contributions
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D.
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Information About Contributions and Activities Shared Outside of the Firm
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XVI.
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ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION
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Affect prices of goods or services (price fixing);
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Reduce competition in a competitive bidding process (bid rigging);
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Divide up customers or markets;
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Limit availability of products or services; or
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Refuse to deal with a specific business counterparty.
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Summary of Gifts & Entertainment Policy
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Mandatory Pre-clearance Requirement
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Pre-clearance is required for all gifts, meals, and/or entertainment, regardless of value, given to or received from:
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● Government Officials
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Ex: State/Local/Foreign Officials; Employees and Representatives of Public Pension Plans/Sovereign Wealth Funds
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● Union Officials
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Ex: Employees and Representatives of Taft-Hartley Plans
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● ERISA Clients
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Ex: Employees and Representatives of Corporate Pension Plans
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Gifts (host is not present)
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Receiving Gifts: Generally permitted if the
value is below US$100 and the item is received on a customary occasion (e.g., major holiday, birthday, etc.).
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Providing Gifts: Generally permitted if the
value is less than US$100 and the item is provided on a customary occasion (e.g. major holiday, birthday, etc.) or a promotional item*.
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Pre-clearance: (i) Any item over $100 in value; and (ii) the mandatory pre-clearance requirement above.
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Pre-clearance: (i) Any item over $100 in value; and (ii) the mandatory pre-clearance requirement above.
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Reporting: All gifts within 30 days of the quarter end from receipt (except for promotional items* with a value of less than US$100). |
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Reporting: All gifts within 30 days of the quarter end from provision (except for promotional items* with a value of less than US$100).
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Entertainment (host is present)
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Receiving Entertainment: Generally permitted so long as the event is business-related and the cost is reasonable and customary.
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Providing Entertainment: Generally
permitted so long as the event is business-related and the cost is
reasonable and customary (and in line with the HPS T&E Policy).
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||
●
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Pre-clearance: None, except for: (i) travel and/or accommodations; and, (ii) the mandatory pre-clearance requirement above. |
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Pre-clearance: None; except for the mandatory pre-clearance requirement above. |
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Reporting: Any entertainment with a value of greater than US$100, within 30 days of the quarter end from receipt. |
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Reporting: All entertainment (meals, drinks, etc.), within 30 days of the quarter end from provision, except for: (i) breakfasts < US$75; (ii) lunches < US$100; and (iii) dinners/drinks < US$150 (per person, excl. tax/tip). |