FORTRESS REGISTERED INVESTMENT TRUST
Code of Ethics
I.Introduction.
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The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to prevent Access Persons
(as defined below) of Fortress Registered Investment Trust (the "Trust")
from engaging in any act, practice or course of business prohibited by
paragraph (b) of Rule 17j-1 (the "Rule") under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Act"). This Code of Ethics is required by
paragraph (c) of the Rule. A copy of the Rule is attached to this Code of
Ethics as Appendix 1.
Access Persons of the Trust, in conducting their personal
securities transactions, owe a fiduciary duty to the shareholders of the
Trust. The fundamental standard to be followed in personal securities
transactions is that Access Persons may not take inappropriate advantage of
their positions. All personal securities transactions by Access Persons
must be conducted in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential
conflict of interest between the Access Person's interest and the interests
of the Trust, or any abuse of an Access Person's position of trust and
responsibility. Potential conflicts arising from personal investment
activities could include buying or selling securities based on knowledge of
the Trust's trading position or plans (sometimes referred to as
front-running), and acceptance of personal favors that could influence
trading judgments on behalf of the Trust. While this Code of Ethics is
designed to address identified conflicts and potential conflicts, it cannot
possibly be written broadly enough to cover all potential situations and,
in this regard, Access Persons are expected to adhere not only to the
letter, but also the spirit, of the policies contained herein.
II. Definitions.
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In order to understand how this Code of Ethics applies to
particular persons and transactions, familiarity with the key terms and
concepts used in this Code of Ethics is necessary. Those key terms and
concepts are:
1. "Access Person" means any trustee, officer or "advisory
person" of the Trust. A list of the Trust's Access Persons is attached as
Appendix 2 to this Code of Ethics and will be updated from time to time.
2. "Adviser" means FIG Advisors LLC, which acts as investment
adviser to the Trust.
3. "Advisory Person" means (a) any employee of the Trust or of
any company in a control relationship to the Trust, who, in connection with
his regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains
information regarding the purchase or sale of a "Covered Security" by the
Trust, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with
respect to such purchases or sales; and (b) any natural person in a control
relationship to the Trust who obtains information concerning
recommendations made to the Trust with regard to the purchase or sale of
"Covered Securities".
4. "Beneficial Ownership" has the meaning set forth in Rule
16a- 1(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a copy of
which is included as Appendix 3. The determination of direct or indirect
beneficial ownership shall apply to all securities which an Access Person
has or acquires.
5. "Adviser Code" means the Employee Investment Transaction
Policy adopted by the Adviser and approved by the Board.
6. "Control" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the
Act.
7. "Covered Security" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a)(36) of the Act, except that it shall not include: direct
obligations of the Government of the United States; bankers' acceptances,
bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high-quality short-term
debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and shares issued by
registered open-end investment companies. A high-quality short-term debt
instrument is one with a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and
that is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally
recognized statistical rating organization.
8. "Independent trustee" means a trustee of the Trust who is not
an "interested person" of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of
the Act.
9. "Investment Personnel" of the Trust means (a) any employee
of the Trust (or of any company in a control relationship to the Trust)
who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or
participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of
securities by the Trust and (b) any natural person who controls the Trust
and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Trust
regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Trust.
10. "IPO" means an offering of securities registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, the issuer or which, immediately before the
registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act.
11. "Limited Offering" means an offering exempt from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2),
4(6) or Rule 504, 505 or 506 under the Securities Act of 1933.
12. "Purchase or sale of a Covered Security" includes, among
other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Covered
Security.
13. "Underwriter" means the Trust's principal underwriter, if
any.
14. "Underwriter Code" means the Code of Ethics adopted by the
Underwriter and approved by the Board, if any.
III. Restrictions Applicable to Directors, Officers and Employees of
Adviser and Underwriter.
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1. All Directors, officers and employees of Adviser's
investment advisory companies and Underwriter shall be subject to the
restrictions, limitations and reporting responsibilities set forth in the
Adviser Code and Underwriter Code, respectively, as if fully set forth
herein.
2. Persons subject to this Section III shall not be subject to the
restrictions, limitations and reporting responsibilities set forth in Sections
IV. and V. below.
IV. Prohibitions; Exemptions.
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1. Prohibited Purchases and Sales.
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A. No Access Person may purchase or sell, directly or
indirectly, any Covered Security in which that Access Person has, or by
reason of the transaction would acquire, any direct or indirect beneficial
ownership and which to the actual knowledge of that Access Person at the
time of such purchase or sale:
(1) is being considered for purchase or sale by the Trust; or
(2) is being purchased or sold by the Trust.
2. Exemptions From Certain Prohibitions.
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A. The prohibited purchase and sale transactions described in
paragraph IV.1 above do not apply to the following personal securities
transactions:
(1) purchases or sales effected in any account over which the
Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control;
(2) purchases or sales which are non-volitional on the part of
either the Access Person or the Trust;
(3) purchases which are part of an automatic dividend
reinvestment plan (other than pursuant to a cash purchase plan option);
(4) purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an
issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent
the rights were acquired from that issuer, and sales of the rights so
acquired;
(5) any purchase or sale, or series of related transactions,
involving 500 shares or less in the aggregate, if the issuer of such shares
has a market capitalization (outstanding shares multiplied by the current
price per share) greater than $1 billion;
(6) any purchase or sale which the Compliance Officer of
Adviser (as defined in the Adviser Code) approves on the grounds that its
potential harm to the Trust is remote.
3. Prohibited Recommendations.
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An Access Person may not recommend the purchase or sale of any
Covered Security to or for the Trust without having disclosed his or her
interest, if any, in such security or the issuer thereof, including without
limitation:
A. any direct or indirect beneficial ownership of any Covered
Security of such issuer, including any Covered Security received in a private
securities transaction;
B. any contemplated purchase or sale by such person of a
Covered Security;
C. any position with such issuer or its affiliates; or
D. any present or proposed business relationship between such
issuer or its affiliates and such person or any party in which such person has
a significant interest.
4. Pre-approval of Investments in Initial
Public Offerings or Limited Offerings.
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A. No Investment Personnel shall purchase any security
(including, but not limited to, any Covered Security) issued in an initial
public offering ("IPO") or a Limited Offering unless an officer of the
Trust approves the transaction in advance. The Secretary shall maintain a
written record of any decisions to permit these transactions, along with
the reasons supporting the decision.
V. Reporting.
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1. Initial Holdings Reports.
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No later than ten (10) days after a person becomes an Access
Person, he or she must report to the Trust the following information:
(i) the title, number of shares and principal amount
of each Covered Security in which the Access Person had any direct or
indirect beneficial ownership when the person became an Access Person;
(ii) the name of any broker, dealer or bank with
whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities were
held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person as of the date
the person became an Access Person; and
(iii) the date that the report is submitted by the
Access Person.
2. Quarterly Reporting.
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A. Every Access Person shall either report to the Trust the
information described in paragraphs B and C below with respect to
transactions in any Covered Security in which the Access Person has, or by
reason of the transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial
ownership in the security or, in the alternative, make the representation
in paragraph D below.
B. Every report shall be made not later than 10 days after the
end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction to which the report
relates was effected and shall contain the following information:
(1) 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 Covered Security involved;
(2) the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any
other type of acquisition or disposition);
(3) the price at which the transaction was effected;
(4) the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom
the transaction was effected;
(5) the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person;
and
(6) a description of any factors potentially relevant to an
analysis of whether the Access Person may have a conflict of interest with
respect to the transaction, including the existence of any substantial
economic relationship between the transaction and securities held or to be
acquired by the Trust.
C. With respect to any account established by the Access Person
in which any securities were held during the quarter for the direct or
indirect benefit of the Access Person, no later than 10 days after the end
of a calendar quarter, an Access Person shall provide a report to the Trust
containing the following information:
(1) the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access
Person established the account;
(2) the date the account was established; and
(3) the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
D. If no transactions were conducted by an Access Person during
a calendar quarter that are subject to the reporting requirements described
above, such Access Person shall, not later than 10 days after the end of
that calendar quarter, provide a written representation to that effect to
the Trust.
3. Annual Reporting.
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A. Every Access Person shall report to the Trust the
information described in paragraph B below with respect to transactions in
any Covered Security in which the Access Person has, or by reason of the
transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the
security.
B. Annually, within 30 days of the end of each calendar year,
the following information (which information must be current as of a date
no more than 30 days before the report is submitted):
(1) The title, number of shares and principal amount of each
Covered Security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect
beneficial ownership;
(2) The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access
Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct
or indirect benefit of the Access Person; and
(3) The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
4. Exceptions to Reporting Requirements.
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A. An Access Person is not required to make a report otherwise
required under paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 above with respect to any transaction
effected for any account over which the Access Person does not have any
direct or indirect influence or control; provided, however, that if the
Access Person is relying upon the provisions of this paragraph 4(A) to
avoid making such a report, the Access Person shall, not later than 10 days
after the end of each calendar quarter, identify any such account in
writing and certify in writing that he or she had no direct or indirect
influence over any such account.
B. An independent trustee of the Trust who would be required to
make a report pursuant to paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 above solely by reason of
being a trustee of the Trust is not required to make an initial holdings
report under paragraph 1 above and an annual report under paragraph 3
above, and is only required to make a quarterly report under paragraph 2
above if the independent trustee, at the time of the transaction, knew or,
in the ordinary course of fulfilling the independent trustee's official
duties as a trustee of the Trust, should have known that (a) the Trust has
engaged in a transaction in the same security within the last 15 days or is
engaging or going to engage in a transaction in the same security within
the next 15 days, or (b) the Trust or Adviser has within the last 15 days
considered a transaction in the same security or is considering a
transaction in the same security or within the next 15 days is going to
consider a transaction in the same security.
5. Annual Certification.
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A. All Access Persons are required to certify that they have
read and understand this Code of Ethics and recognize that they are subject
to the provisions hereof and will comply with the policy and procedures
stated herein. Further, all Access Persons are required to certify annually
that they have complied with the requirements of this Code of Ethics and
that they have reported all personal securities transactions required to be
disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of such policies. A copy
of the certification form to be used in complying with this paragraph A is
attached to this Code of Ethics as Appendix 4.
B. The Trust, Adviser and Underwriter shall prepare an annual
report to the Board of Trustees of the Trust to be presented at the first
regular meeting of the Board after [March 31] of each year and which shall:
(1) Summarize existing procedures concerning personal
investing, including pre-clearance policies and the monitoring of personal
investment activity after pre-clearance has been granted, and any changes
in the procedures during the past year;
(2) describe any issues arising under the Code of Ethics or
procedures since the last report to the Board including, but not limited
to, information about any material violations of the Code of Ethics or
procedures and the sanctions imposed during the past year;
(3) identify any recommended changes in existing restrictions
or procedures based upon experience under this Code of Ethics, evolving
industry practice or developments in applicable laws and regulations;
(4) contain such other information, observations and
recommendations as deemed relevant by the Trust, Adviser or Underwriter; and
(5) certify that the Trust, Adviser and Underwriter have
adopted Codes of Ethics with procedures reasonably necessary to prevent
Access Persons from violating the provisions of Rule 17j-1(b) or this Code.
6. Notification of Reporting Obligation and Review of Reports.
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Each Access Person shall receive a copy of this Code of Ethics
and be notified of his or her reporting obligations. All reports shall be
promptly submitted upon completion to the Trust's Secretary who shall
review such reports.
7. Miscellaneous.
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A. Any report under this Code of Ethics may contain a statement
that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making
the report that the person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership
in the securities to which the report relates.
VI. Confidentiality.
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No Access Person shall reveal to any other person (except in
the normal course of his or her duties on behalf of the Trust) any
information regarding securities transactions by the Trust or consideration
by the Trust or Adviser of any such securities transaction.
All information obtained from any Access Person hereunder shall
be kept in strict confidence, except that reports of securities
transactions hereunder will be made available to the Securities and
Exchange Commission or any other regulatory or self-regulatory organization
to the extent required by law or regulation.
VII. Sanctions.
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Upon discovering a violation of this Code of Ethics, the Board
of Trustees of the Trust may impose any sanctions it deems appropriate,
including a letter of censure, the suspension or termination of any
trustee, officer or employee of the Trust, or the recommendation to the
employer of the violator of the suspension or termination of the employment
of the violator.
Dated:______, 2000
Appendix 1
Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act
Appendix 2
The following are "Access Persons" for purposes of the
foregoing Code of Ethics:
NAME TITLE
Appendix 3
Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act
Appendix 4
CERTIFICATION FORM
This is to certify that I have read and understand the Code of
Ethics of Fortress Registered Investment Trust dated _______, 2000, and
that I recognize that I am subject to the provisions thereof and will
comply with the policy and procedures stated therein.
This is to further certify that I have complied with the
requirements of such Code of Ethics and that I have reported all personal
securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to
the requirements of such Code of Ethics.
Please sign your name here: ________________________________
Please print your name here:________________________________
Please date here: ________________________________
Please sign two copies of this Certification Form, return one
copy to ______________________________ and retain the other copy, together
with a copy of the Code of Ethics, for your records.
