INVESTMENT COMPANY BOND
|
Item 1.
|
||||||
Principal Address: 8117 Preston Road, Suite 440
|
||||||
Dallas, Texas 75225 | ||||||
Item 2.
|
Bond Period: from 12:01 a.m. on
|
to 12:01 a.m. on
|
||||
Standard Time.
|
(MONTH, DAY, YEAR)
|
(MONTH, DAY, YEAR)
|
||||
Item 3.
|
|
|||||
Provided however, that if specific limits, are shown below as applicable to any specified COVERAGE, such specific limits shall apply to the coverage provided by such COVERAGES and are in lieu of, and not in addition to, the above bond Limit of Liability. If “Not Covered” is inserted below beside any specified COVERAGE, the coverage provided by such COVERAGE is deleted from this bond.
|
COVERAGES
|
Limit of Liability
|
Deductible
|
||||
I.
|
Employee
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
II.
|
Premises
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
III.
|
Transit
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
IV.
|
Forgery or Alteration
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
V.
|
Securities
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
VI.
|
Counterfeit Currency
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
VII.
|
Computer Systems Fraudulent Entry
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
VIII.
|
Voice Initiated Transaction
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
IX.
|
Telefacsimile Transfer Fraud
|
$ 1,000,000
|
$10,000
|
|||
X.
|
Uncollectible Items of Deposit
|
$ 25,000
|
$ 1,000
|
|||
XI.
|
Audit Expense
|
$ 25,000
|
$ 1,000
|
|||
XII.
|
Stop Payment
|
$ 25,000
|
$ 1,000
|
|||
XIII.
|
Unauthorized Signatures
|
$ 25,000
|
$ 1,000
|
|||
Optional Coverages:
|
||||||
$
|
$
|
|||||
$
|
$
|
|||||
$
|
$
|
No Deductible shall apply to any loss under COVERAGE I. sustained by any “Investment Company”.
|
||||||||||
Item 4.
|
The Coverages provided by this Bond are also subject to the terms of the following riders issued herewith:
F-6002; F-6016; F-6018; F-5267; F-6050; HG00H00901
|
|||||||||
Item 5.
|
||||||||||
This bond will not be valid unless countersigned by our duly authorized representative.
|
||||||||||
Countersigned by
|
||||||||||
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
© 2006, The Hartford
|
Page 1 of 12
|
|
c.
|
in the custody of a “Transportation Company” while being transported in a conveyance which is not an armored motor vehicle provided, except, that covered “Property” transported in this manner is limited to the following:
|
|
1.
|
written records,
|
|
2.
|
securities issued in registered form or negotiable instruments not payable to bearer, which are not endorsed or are restrictively endorsed.
|
|
a.
|
“Forgery” or fraudulent material alteration of any bills of exchange, checks, drafts, acceptances, certificates of deposits, promissory notes, money orders, orders upon public treasuries, letters of credit or receipts for the withdrawal of “Property”, or
|
|
b.
|
transferring, delivering or paying any funds or other “Property”, or establishing any credit or giving any value in good faith, and in the ordinary course of business on written instructions or applications directed to the INSURED authorizing or acknowledging the transfer, payment, delivery or receipt of funds or other “Property”, which instructions or applications purport to bear the handwritten signature of: (1) any “Customer” of the INSURED, or (2) any shareholder or subscriber to shares of an “Investment Company”, or (3) any banking institution, stockbroker or “Employee” but which instructions or applications either bear a “Forgery” or a fraudulent material alteration without the knowledge and consent of such “Customer”, shareholder, subscriber to shares, banking institution, stockbroker, or “Employee.”
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 2 of 12
|
|
a.
|
acquired, accepted or received, sold, delivered, given value, extended credit, or assumed liability upon any original “Securities, documents or other written instruments” which:
|
|
b.
|
guaranteed in writing or witnessed signatures upon transfers, assignments, bills of sale, powers of attorney, guarantees, endorsements or other obligations in connection with any “Securities, documents or other written instruments” which pass or purport to pass title to them.
|
|
a.
|
received at the INSURED’S offices by those “Employees” of the INSURED authorized to receive the “Voice Initiated Transaction”, and
|
|
b.
|
made by a person purporting to be a “Customer”, and
|
|
c.
|
made by such person for the purpose of causing the INSURED or “Customer” to suffer a loss or making an improper personal financial gain for such person or any other person, and
|
|
d.
|
initiated pursuant to a preexisting written agreement between the “Customer” and the INSURED.
|
|
(1)
|
purports and reasonably appears to have originated from
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 3 of 12
|
|
(2)
|
such instruction contains a valid test code which proves to have been used by a person who was not authorized to use it and,
|
(3)
|
contains the name of a person authorized to initiate such transfer; and
|
|
(a)
|
for having either complied with or failed to comply with any written notice of any “Customer” or any authorized representative of such “Customer” to stop payment of any check or draft made or drawn by such “Customer” or any authorized representative of such “Customer” or
|
|
(b)
|
for having refused to pay any check or draft made or drawn by any “Customer” or any authorized representative of such “Customer”.
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 4 of 12
|
A.
|
OTHER COMPANIES INSURED UNDER THIS BOND
|
|
(1)
|
The total liability of the UNDERWRITER under this bond for loss or losses sustained by one or more or all INSUREDS under the Bond shall not exceed the limit for which the UNDERWRITER would be liable if all losses were sustained by only one of them.
|
|
(2)
|
The first named INSURED shall be deemed to be the sole agent of all of the other INSUREDS hereunder for all purposes under this bond, including but not limited to giving or receiving any notice or proof required to be given herein and for the purpose of effecting or accepting amendments to or termination of this bond. The UNDERWRITER shall give each “Investment Company” a copy of this bond and any amendment hereto, a copy of each formal filing of claim by any other named INSURED and the terms of the settlement of each claim prior to the execution of such settlement.
|
|
(3)
|
The UNDERWRITER bears no responsibility under this Bond for the proper application of any payment made to the first named INSURED.
|
|
(4)
|
For the purposes of the bond, knowledge possessed or discovery made by any partner, director, trustee, officer or supervisory “Employee” of any INSURED constitutes knowledge or discovery by all the INSUREDS.
|
|
(5)
|
If the first named INSURED for any reason, ceases to be covered under this bond, then the INSURED next named shall henceforth be considered as the first named INSURED for the purposes mentioned in (2) above.
|
B.
|
NOTICE TO UNDERWRITER OF MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR OTHER ACQUISITIONS
|
|
i.
|
gives the UNDERWRITER written notice of the proposed consolidation, merger, purchase or acquisition of assets or liabilities prior to the proposed effective date of such action, and
|
|
ii.
|
obtains the written consent of the UNDERWRITER to extend the coverage provided by this bond in whole or in part to such additional exposure, and
|
|
iii.
|
upon obtaining such consent pays an additional premium to the UNDERWRITER.
|
|
(1)
|
the names of the transferors and transferees (or if the voting securities are registered in another name the names of the beneficial owners),
|
|
(2)
|
the total number of voting securities owned by the transferors and the transferees (or the beneficial owners), both immediately before and after the date of the transfer, and
|
|
(3)
|
the total number of outstanding voting securities.
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 5 of 12
|
|
B.
|
“Counterfeit” means an imitation of an actual and valid original which is intended to deceive and be taken as the original.
|
|
C.
|
“Custodian” means the institution designated by an “Investment Company” to have possession and control of its assets.
|
|
D.
|
“Customer” means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, or LLC which is a shareholder or subscriber of the INSURED.
|
|
E.
|
“Employee” means:
|
|
(1)
|
a corporate officer of the INSURED;
|
|
(2)
|
a natural person while in the regular service of the INSURED at any of the INSURED’S offices and who is compensated directly by the INSURED through its payroll system and subject to the United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-2 or equivalent income reporting of other countries, and whom the INSURED has the right to control and direct both as to the result to be accomplished and details and means by which such result is accomplished in the performance of such service;
|
|
(3)
|
an attorney retained by the INSURED or an employee of such attorney while either is performing legal services for the INSURED;
|
|
(4)
|
a person furnished by an employment contractor to perform clerical, premises maintenance or security duties for the INSURED under the INSURED’S supervision at any of the INSURED’S offices or premises;
|
|
(5)
|
an employee of an institution which has been merged or consolidated with the INSURED prior to the effective date of this bond;
|
|
(6)
|
a student or intern pursuing studies or performing duties in any of the INSURED’S offices;
|
|
(7)
|
each natural person, partnership or corporation authorized by written agreement with the INSURED to perform services as an electronic data processor of checks or other accounting records related to such checks but only while such person, partnership or corporation is actually performing such services and not:
|
|
a.
|
creating, preparing, modifying or maintaining the INSURED’S computer software or programs; or
|
|
b.
|
acting as a transfer agent or in any other agency capacity in issuing checks, drafts or securities for the INSURED;
|
|
(8)
|
a director or trustee of the INSURED, but only while performing acts within the scope of the customary and usual duties of an officer or “Employee” of the INSURED or while acting as a member of any duly elected or appointed committee to examine, audit or have custody of or access to “Property” of the INSURED; or
|
|
(9)
|
any partner, officer or employee of an investment adviser, an underwriter (distributor), a transfer agent or shareholder record keeper, or an administrator, for an “Investment Company” while performing acts within the scope of the customary and usual duties of an officer or employee of an “Investment Company” or acting as a member of any duly elected or appointed committee to examine, audit or have custody of or access to “Property” of an “Investment Company”.
|
|
a.
|
which is not an “affiliated person” (as defined in Section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940) of an “Investment Company” or of the investment advisor or underwriter (distributor) of such “Investment Company”; or
|
|
b.
|
which is a “bank” (as defined in Section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940).
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 6 of 12
|
|
F.
|
“Forgery" means the signing of the name of another person or organization with the intent to deceive with or without authority, in any capacity, for any purpose but does not mean a signature which consists in whole or in part of one’s own name.
|
|
G.
|
“Investment Company” means an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and as shown under the NAME OF INSURED on the DECLARATIONS.
|
|
H.
|
“Items of Deposit” means one or more checks or drafts drawn upon a financial institution in the United States of America.
|
|
I.
|
“Larceny or Embezzlement” means “Larceny or Embezzlement” as set forth in Section 37 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
|
|
J.
|
“Property” means:
|
|
a.
|
currency, coin, bank notes, or Federal Reserve notes (money), postage and revenue stamps, U.S. Savings Stamps, securities, including notes, stock, treasury stock, bonds, debentures, certificates of deposit;
|
|
b.
|
certificates of interests or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral trust certificate, preorganization 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, interests or instruments commonly known as securities under the Investment Company Act of 1940, any other 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;
|
|
c.
|
bills of exchange, acceptances, checks, drafts, withdrawal orders, money orders, travelers’ checks, letters of credit, bills of lading, abstracts of title, insurance policies, deeds, mortgages of real estate and/or of chattels and interests therein, assignments of such mortgages and instruments, including books of accounts and written records used by the INSURED in the conduct of its business; and
|
|
d.
|
electronic representation of the instruments enumerated above (but excluding all electronic data processing records) in which the INSURED acquired an interest at the time of the INSURED’S consolidation or merger with, or purchase of the principal assets of, a predecessor or which are held by the INSURED for any purpose or in any capacity whether held gratuitously or whether or not the INSURED is liable therefor.
|
|
K.
|
“Securities, documents or other written instruments” means original (including original counterparts) negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, or assignments thereof, which by themselves represent an equitable interest, ownership, or debt and which are transferable in the ordinary course of business by delivery of such instruments with any necessary endorsements or assignments.
|
|
L.
|
“Transportation Company” means any entity which provides its own or leased vehicles for transportation or provides freight forwarding or air express services.
|
|
M.
|
“Voice Initiated Election” means any election related to dividend options available to an “Investment Company” shareholders or subscribers which is executed by voice over the telephone.
|
|
N.
|
“Voice Initiated Redemption” means any redemption of shares issued by an “Investment Company” which is initiated by voice over the telephone.
|
|
O.
|
“Voice Initiated Transaction(s)” means any “Voice Initiated Redemption” or “Voice Initiated Election”.
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 7 of 12
|
|
(1)
|
loss not reported to the UNDERWRITER in writing within thirty (30) days after termination of all of the Coverages under this bond;
|
|
(2)
|
loss due to riot or civil commotion outside the United States of America and Canada, or any loss due to military, naval or usurped power, war or insurrection. However, this exclusion shall not apply to loss which occurs in transit under the circumstances enumerated in Coverage III TRANSIT, provided that when such transit was undertaken there was no knowledge on the part of any person acting for the INSURED in undertaking such transit of such riot, civil commotion, military, naval or usurped power, war or insurrection;
|
|
(3)
|
loss resulting from dishonest acts of any member of the Board of Directors or Board of Trustees of the INSURED who is not an “Employee”, acting alone or in collusion with others;
|
|
(4)
|
loss, which in whole or in part, results solely from any violation by the INSURED or by any “Employee” of any law, or rule, or regulation pertaining to any law regulating:
|
|
a.
|
the issuance, purchase or sale of securities,
|
|
b.
|
transactions on security or commodity exchanges or over-the-counter markets,
|
|
c.
|
investment advisors, or
|
|
d.
|
investment companies
|
|
(5)
|
loss of potential income including, but not limited to, interest and dividends not realized by the INSURED or by any “Customer” of the INSURED;
|
|
(6)
|
loss resulting from indirect or consequential loss of any nature;
|
|
(7)
|
any damages other than compensatory damages (but not multiples thereof) for which the INSURED is legally liable, arising from a loss covered under this bond;
|
|
(8)
|
loss resulting from the effects of nuclear fission, fusion, radioactivity, or chemical or biological contamination;
|
|
(9)
|
loss resulting from the theft or misuse of confidential information, material or data except that this exclusion shall not apply to the transfer or payment of money;
|
|
(10)
|
costs, fees and expenses incurred by the INSURED in proving the existence or amount of loss under this bond, provided however, this EXCLUSION shall not apply to Coverage XI.;
|
|
(11)
|
loss resulting from voice requests or instructions transmitted over the telephone, provided however, this EXCLUSION shall not apply to Coverage VIII. and Coverage IX.;
|
|
(12)
|
loss sustained by one INSURED to the advantage of any other INSURED, or subsidiary or entity in which the INSURED, its majority shareholder, partner, or owner has a majority interest therein, provided that an INSURED, upon discovery of the loss, can cause the principal sum to be restored to the INSURED who suffered the loss.
|
|
(1)
|
loss caused by an “Employee”, provided, however, this EXCLUSION shall not apply to loss covered under Coverages II. or III. which results directly from misplacement, mysterious disappearance, or damage to or destruction of “Property”;
|
|
(2)
|
loss through the surrender of “Property” away from an office of the INSURED as a result of a threat:
|
|
a.
|
to do bodily harm to any person, except loss of “Property” in transit in the custody of any person acting as messenger of the INSURED, provided that when such transit was undertaken there was no knowledge by the INSURED or any person acting as messenger of the INSURED of any such threat or
|
|
b.
|
to do damage to the premises or “Property” of the INSURED;
|
|
(3)
|
loss involving “Items of Deposit” which are not finally paid for any reason provided however, that this EXCLUSION shall not apply to Coverage X.;
|
|
(4)
|
loss resulting from payments made or withdrawals from any account involving erroneous credits to such account;
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 8 of 12
|
|
(5)
|
loss of “Property” while in the mail;
|
|
(6)
|
loss of “Property” while in the custody of a “Transportation Company”, provided however, that this EXCLUSION shall not apply to Coverage III.;
|
|
(7)
|
loss resulting from the failure for any reason of a financial or depository institution, its receiver or other liquidator to pay or deliver funds or other “Property” to the INSURED but this EXCLUSION shall not apply to loss of “Property” directly resulting from robbery, burglary, misplacement, mysterious disappearance, damage, destruction or abstraction from the possession, custody or control of the INSURED.
|
|
(1)
|
loss resulting from “Forgery” or any alteration;
|
|
(2)
|
loss resulting from the complete or partial non-payment of or default on any loan whether such loan was procured in good faith or through trick, artifice, fraud or false pretenses;
|
|
(3)
|
loss involving a “Counterfeit” provided, however, this EXCLUSION shall not apply to Coverage VI., X., and XIII.
|
|
(1)
|
facts which may subsequently result in a loss of a type covered by this bond, or
|
|
(2)
|
an actual or potential claim in which it is alleged that the INSURED is liable to a third party,
|
IV.
|
NOTICE – PROOF – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST UNDERWRITER
|
|
(1)
|
At the earliest practicable time, not to exceed thirty (30) days after discovery of the loss, the INSURED shall give the UNDERWRITER notice thereof.
|
|
(2)
|
Within six (6) months after such discovery, the INSURED shall furnish to the UNDERWRITER a proof of loss, duly sworn to, with full particulars of the loss.
|
|
(3)
|
Securities issued with a certificate or bond number shall be identified in a proof of loss by such numbers.
|
|
(4)
|
Legal proceedings for the recovery of any loss under this bond shall not be brought prior to the expiration of sixty (60) days after the proof of loss is filed with the UNDERWRITER or after the expiration of twenty-four (24) months from the discovery of such loss.
|
|
(5)
|
This bond affords coverage only to the INSURED. No claim, suit, action, or legal proceedings shall be brought under this bond by anyone other than the INSURED.
|
V.
|
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/NON-REDUCTION AND NON-ACCUMULATION OF LIABILITY
|
|
(1)
|
any one act of burglary, robbery or attempt thereat, in which no “Employee” is concerned or implicated, or
|
|
(2)
|
any one unintentional or negligent act on the part of any one person resulting in damage to or destruction or misplacement of “Property”, or
|
|
(3)
|
all acts, other than those specified in (1) above, of any one person, or
|
|
(4)
|
any one casualty or event other than those specified in (1), (2), or (3) above,
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 9 of 12
|
|
(1)
|
an “Employee” acknowledges being guilty of “Larceny or Embezzlement”,
|
|
(2)
|
an “Employee” is adjudicated guilty of “Larceny or Embezzlement”, or
|
|
(3)
|
in the absence of (1) or (2) above, an arbitration panel decides, after a review of any agreed statement of facts between the UNDERWRITER and the INSURED, that an “Employee” would be found guilty of “Larceny or Embezzlement” if such “Employee” were prosecuted.
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 10 of 12
|
|
a.
|
if such options have not expired, the average market value of such options on the business day immediately preceding the discovery of such loss, or the actual market value at the time of agreed replacement as provided in the preceding paragraph, or
|
|
b.
|
if such options have expired at the time their loss is discovered, their market value immediately preceding their expiration, or
|
|
c.
|
if no market price is quoted for such “Property” or for such options, the value shall be determined by agreement between the parties, or arbitration if the parties are unable to agree to the value.
|
|
(1)
|
for securities having a value of less than or equal to the applicable Deductible – one hundred percent (100%);
|
|
(2)
|
for securities having a value greater than the Deductible but within the applicable Limit of Liability – the percentage that the Deductible bears to the value of the securities;
|
|
(3)
|
for securities having a value greater than the applicable Limit of Liability – the percentage that the Deductible and the portion in excess of the applicable Limit of Liability bears to the value of the securities.
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 11 of 12
|
|
(1)
|
at the time that any partner, director, trustee, or officer or supervisory “Employee” not acting in collusion with such “Employee”, learns of any dishonest act committed by such “Employee” at any time, whether in the employment of the INSURED or otherwise, whether or not such act is of the type covered under this bond, and whether against the INSURED or any other person or entity or
|
|
(2)
|
sixty (60) days after the receipt by each INSURED and by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., of a written notice from the UNDERWRITER of its desire to terminate this bond as to such “Employee”.
|
IC 00 H003 00 0308 | ||
F-6000-0 |
Page 12 of 12
|
|
1.
|
The Name of Insured (INSURED) shown in the Declarations, Item 1. is amended to include the following language:
|
|
2.
|
Nothing herein is intended to alter the terms, conditions and limitations of the bond other than as stated above.
|
|
3.
|
This rider shall become effective as of 12:01 a.m. on June 5, 2012 standard time.
|
F-6002 |
Page 1 of 1
|
Brian S. Becker, Secretary
|
David Zwiener, President
|
F-6016 |
Page 1 of 1
|
1.
|
GENERAL CONDITIONS, B. NOTICE TO UNDERWRITER OF MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR OTHER ACQUISITIONS is amended to include the following paragraph:
|
|
If the INSURED shall, while this bond is in force, establish any new "Investment Companies" other than by consolidation or merger with, or purchase or acquisition of assets or liabilities of, another institution, such "Investment Companies" shall automatically be covered hereunder from the date of such establishment without the payment of additional premium for the remainder of such Bond Period.
|
|
2.
|
If the INSURED shall, while this bond is in force, require an increase in limits to comply with SEC Reg. 17g-1, due to an increase in asset size of current "Investment Companies" covered under this bond or the addition of new "Investment Companies," such increase in limits shall automatically be covered hereunder from the date of such increase without the payment of additional premium for the remainder of the Bond Period.
|
3.
|
Nothing herein is intended to alter the terms, conditions and limitations of the bond other than as stated above.
|
|
4.
|
This rider shall become effective as of 12:01 a.m. on June 5, 2012 standard time.
|
F-6018 |
Page 1 of 1
|
F-5267-0 | ||
HR 00 H093 00 0207 |
© 2007, The Hartford
|
Page 1 of 1
|
RIDER
|
|
Section II. A. EXCLUSIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL COVERAGES, paragraph (8) is amended as follows:
|
|
(8)
|
loss resulting from the effects of nuclear fission, fusion or radioactivity;
|
TEXAS RIDER
Mandatory.
|
|
ADOPTED MAY, 2003
|
Form F-6050-0 |
Page 1 of 1
|
RIDER
|
|
Notice of Claim or Wrongful Act
|
|
A notice of any Claim or Wrongful Act shall be given in writing to the following:
|
B.
|
Where it is stated in the policy or declarations page that a notice of any Claim or Wrongful Act shall be given in writing to The Hartford, Hartford Plaza, Hartford CT 06115, it shall be deleted and replaced with the following:
|
HG 00 H009 01 0708 |
© 2008, The Hartford
|
|
RIDER
|
II.
|
All Other Notices
|
A.
|
All notices other than a notice of Claim or Wrongful Act shall be given in writing to the following:
|
|
B.
|
With the exception of notice of a Claim or Wrongful Act, where it is stated in the policy or declarations page that a notice shall be given in writing to The Hartford, Hartford Plaza, Hartford CT 06115 shall be deleted and replaced with the following:
|
HG 00 H009 01 0708 |
© 2008, The Hartford
|
|