STRATUS FUND INC
485BPOS, EX-99.(P)(I), 2000-10-31
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                               STRATUS FUND, INC.
                                 CODE OF ETHICS


                                 August 15, 2000


                WHEREAS,  Stratus  Fund,  Inc.  (the  "Fund")  is  a  registered
investment  company  under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"); and

               WHEREAS, Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act requires the Fund to adopt
a Code of Ethics (the "Code"); and

               WHEREAS,  this  Code  extends  to  every  executive  officer  and
director  of the Fund as well as any  employee of the Fund who is involved in or
obtains information  concerning the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund's
investment  portfolios,  whether  as a result  of  security  analysis  or making
purchase  or  sale   recommendations,   executing   trading  orders,   portfolio
management, or otherwise; and

               WHEREAS,  the  reputation and integrity of the Fund are dependent
upon maintaining the highest possible  standards of conduct in the Fund's public
and private relationships; and

               WHEREAS,  the business  operations and portfolio  transactions of
the Fund must be conducted in a manner that avoids conflicts of interest or even
the appearance of such conflicts; and

               NOW  THEREFORE,  the Fund  hereby  adopts the  following  Code of
Ethics (the "Code"), effective as of August 15, 2000.

I.      PURPOSE OF THE CODE

        A. This Code is intended to maintain  the highest  standards  of ethical
conduct for the  personnel of the Fund. In doing so, this Code  addresses  three
primary areas of concern:

        o       Observing  the  general  anti-fraud  provisions  of the  Federal
                Securities laws.

        o       Avoiding  conflicts  with  the  interest  of  the  Fund  or  the
                appearance of such conflicts.

        o       Avoiding trading on the basis of material non-public information
                or  information  about  securities  transactions  made or  being
                considered for the Fund.



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<PAGE>



        B. The Code is based on the  principle  that  personnel  of the Fund are
fiduciaries to the Fund.  Accordingly,  Fund  personnel  must avoid  activities,
interests,  and  relationships  that might interfere or appear to interfere with
their ability to make  decisions in the best interests of the Fund. At all times
Fund personnel must:

        o       PLACE THE INTERESTS OF THE FUND FIRST.

        o       AVOID TAKING INAPPROPRIATE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR POSITION.

        o       CONDUCT ALL PERSONAL SECURITIES  TRANSACTIONS IN FULL COMPLIANCE
                WITH  THIS  CODE,  INCLUDING  ALL  PRE-CLEARANCE  AND  REPORTING
                REQUIREMENTS.

        C. You must not take any  action  that could  cause even the  appearance
that an unfair or improper  action has been taken.  You must follow the policies
set forth in this Code and you must resolve doubtful  situations in favor of the
Fund. Any questions  concerning  this Code should be addressed to the Compliance
Officer.

II.     DEFINITIONS

               Listed below are  definitions  for some of the terms used in this
Code, many of which are defined by law:

        "ACCESS  PERSON"  means any  director  or  officer  of the Fund,  or any
employee  of the Fund who is an  Advisory  Person of the Fund,  and any  natural
person in a control relationship to the Fund who obtains information  concerning
recommendations made to or by the Fund with respect to the purchase or sale of a
Security by the Fund.

        "ADVISORY  PERSON"  means any officer,  director or employee of the Fund
who,  in  connection  with  his or  her  regular  functions  or  duties,  makes,
participates  in, or obtains any  information  regarding the purchase or sale of
Securities  by  the  Fund,  or  whose  functions  relate  to the  making  of any
recommendations  with respect to such  purchases and sales of  Securities.  This
term also includes affiliates of Advisory Persons.

        "BENEFICIAL  OWNERSHIP/BENEFICIAL  OWNER"  means any  person  who has or
shares,   directly   or   indirectly,   through   any   contract,   arrangement,
understanding,  relationship  or  otherwise,  a  direct  or  indirect  pecuniary
interest  in a security  within  the  meaning of  Securities  Exchange  Act Rule
16a-1(a)(2). "Pecuniary Interest" means the opportunity, directly or indirectly,
to profit or share in any profit  derived from a  transaction  in the  security.
"Indirect Pecuniary  Interest" includes,  but is not limited to, Securities held
by members of your  immediate  family who share your  household,  including your
spouse, children and stepchildren,  parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters,
and any of your in-laws.

        If you need help in determining whether you have beneficial ownership of
any  Security  for  purposes of this Code,  you should  consult  the  Compliance
Officer.


                                        2

<PAGE>


        "CONTROL"  means the power to exercise a  controlling  interest over the
management  or policies of a company,  unless such power is solely the result of
an official  position.  Any person is  presumed  to  "control" a company if that
person owns,  directly or indirectly  through one or more controlled  companies,
more than  twenty-five  percent  (25%) of the voting  securities of the company.
Despite this presumption,  a person may not be a control person if facts,  other
than  security  ownership,   demonstrate  that  such  person  does  not  have  a
controlling  interest.  Similarly,  persons owning less than twenty-five percent
(25%) of the voting  securities  of the company may be deemed to have  "control"
depending on the facts and circumstances.

        "DISINTERESTED  DIRECTOR"  means a  director  of the  Fund who is not an
"interested  person" of the Fund within the  meaning of Section  2(a)(19) of the
1940 Act.

        "PERSONAL  TRADING"  means  the  purchase  or sale of  Securities  by an
individual for his or her own account,  any other account in which he or she has
a "beneficial ownership" interest, or any account "controlled" by him or her. An
account is  "controlled"  by a person when that person  decides what  securities
transactions will be effected for the account,  either by making recommendations
to the account owner or by entering orders directly with the broker handling the
account.

        "PURCHASE  OR SALE OF A  SECURITY"  includes,  among other  things,  the
writing of an option to purchase or sell Securities.

        "SECURITY"  means any note,  stock,  treasury  stock,  bond,  debenture,
evidence  of  indebtedness,  certificate  of interest  or  participation  in any
profit-sharing   agreement,   collateral-  trust   certificate,   reorganization
certificate  or  subscription,   transferrable   share,   investment   contract,
voting-trust  certificate,  certificate  of  deposit  for  security,  fractional
undivided interest in oil, gas or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle,
option or  privilege  on any  security  or on any  group or index of  securities
(including any interest  therein based on the value thereof),  or any put, call,
straddle,  option or privilege  entered into on a national  securities  exchange
relating to foreign currency,  or generally 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.

        "SECURITY HELD OR TO BE ACQUIRED BY THE FUND" means any Security  which,
within the most recent fifteen (15) days (i) is or has been held by the Fund, or
(ii) is being or has been  considered by the Fund or its Investment  Adviser for
purchase  by the Fund,  and any option to  purchase  or sell,  and any  security
convertible  into or exchangeable for a Security that is or has been held by the
Fund or is or has been  considered  by the Fund or its  Investment  Adviser  for
purchase by the Fund.


                                        3

<PAGE>


III.    IDENTIFICATION OF ACCESS PERSONS

        A. The Fund will  maintain a list of all Access  Persons and will notify
each  Access  Person in writing  that such  person is an Access  Person.  Once a
person has been so  identified,  he/she  shall  continue to be an Access  Person
until otherwise notified in writing by the Fund. If such person,  however, is an
Access Person solely because he/she is a director of the Fund, such person shall
cease to be an Access Person at the time such person ceases to be a director.

        B. Each Access Person shall be given a copy of the Code at the time such
person becomes an Access Person.

IV.     COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNING LAWS, REGULATIONS AND
        PROCEDURES

        A. Each Access Person shall comply strictly with all applicable  federal
and state  laws and all  rules and  regulations  of any  governmental  agency or
self-regulatory organization governing his or her activities.

        B. Each Access Person shall comply strictly with procedures  established
by the Fund to ensure  compliance  with  applicable  federal  and state laws and
regulations of governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations.

        C. Access Persons shall not knowingly  participate in, assist or condone
any acts in violation of any statute or regulation governing securities matters,
nor any act  that  would  violate  any  provision  of the  Code or any  rules or
procedures adopted thereunder.

V.      CONFIDENTIALITY OF TRANSACTIONS

        A.  Information  relating  to the Fund's  portfolios  and  research  and
studies   activities  is  confidential   until  publicly   available.   Whenever
statistical  information  or research is supplied to or  requested  by the Fund,
such  information  must  not be  disclosed  to any  persons  other  than as duly
authorized  by the  president or the board of directors of the Fund. If the Fund
is  considering  a particular  purchase or sale of a Security,  this must not be
disclosed except to such duly authorized persons.

        B. If any Access Person should obtain information  concerning the Fund's
portfolios (including the consideration by the Fund of acquiring or recommending
any Security for a portfolio),  whether in the course of such person's duties or
otherwise, such person shall respect the confidential nature of this information
and shall not divulge it to anyone  unless it is properly  part of such person's
services to the Fund to do so or such person is specifically authorized to do so
by the president of the Fund.


                                        4

<PAGE>



VI.     PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS/ACTIVITIES

        A. General.  As a general  matter,  it is a violation of Federal law and
the policies of the Fund for Fund  personnel  to engage in any act,  practice or
course of business in connection  with the purchase or sale of any Security held
or to be  acquired  or sold by the Fund that  violates  any of the  SEC's  rules
designed to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative acts.

        B. Unlawful  actions.  It is unlawful for any  affiliated  person of the
Fund,  in  connection  with the purchase or sale,  directly or indirectly by the
person of a Security held or to be acquired by the Fund:

        o       To employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Fund;

        o       To make any untrue  statement of a material  fact to the Fund or
                omit  to  state a  material  fact  necessary  in  order  to make
                statements made to the Fund, in light of the circumstances under
                which they are made, not misleading;

        o       To  engage in any act,  practice  or  course  of  business  that
                operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on the Fund; or

        o       To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Fund.

        C.  Front-running.  "Front-running"  or  "scalping"  is  defined  as the
practice of trading on the basis of the anticipated  market effect of trades for
the Fund's investment  portfolios.  "Front-running" and "scalping"  constitute a
violation of the Federal securities laws. Therefore, it is absolutely prohibited
for any Advisory  Person to purchase or sell a Security or a derivative  thereof
("Related  Security"),  such as an option or  warrant,  for his or her  personal
account or any account in which he or she has a beneficial ownership interest or
which he or she controls:

        o       At a time when he/she  knows of another  person's  intention  to
                purchase  or sell that same  Security  or  Related  Security  on
                behalf of the Fund;

        o       Within one (1) calendar day of actively considering for purchase
                or sale for the Fund such Security or Related Security; or

        o       Within one (1)  calendar  day before or after a  transaction  in
                that Security or Related Security by the Fund.

        D. Short-term Trading  Activities.  Advisory Persons are prohibited from
profiting  from the purchase and sale, or the sale and  purchase,  within thirty
(30) calendar days, of the same  Securities if Securities of the same issuer are
held by the  Fund.  Any such  trade  must be  reversed  or the  profits  must be
disgorged and distributed in a manner determined by the Compliance Officer.


                                        5

<PAGE>


        E. Short Sales.  Advisory  Persons are prohibited from engaging in short
sales of Securities.

        F. IPO's.  Advisory Persons are prohibited from acquiring any Securities
in an initial public offering,  unless there is prior approval in writing by the
Compliance  Officer  after a  determination  that the  purchase is not likely to
create any actual or potential conflict of interest.

        G. Private  Placements.  Advisory  Persons are prohibited from acquiring
Securities in a private  placement  unless there is prior approval in writing by
the Compliance  Officer after a determination that the purchase is not likely to
create any actual or potential conflict of interest.

        H. Trading While in Possession of Material  Non-Public  Information.  No
Access  Person may purchase or sell any  Security,  or be involved in any way in
the purchase or sale of a Security,  while in possession of material  non-public
information about the Security or its issuer,  regardless of the manner in which
such information was obtained, except to the extent authorized by the Compliance
Officer.   Furthermore,   no  Access  Person  possessing   material   non-public
information  may  disclose  such  information  to  any  person  other  than  the
Compliance  Officer,  except to the extent authorized by the Compliance Officer.
This prohibition  covers  transactions for the Fund, as well as transactions for
your personal accounts and accounts of persons in privity with you.

               "Material   information"  is  defined  as  information  which  an
investor  would  consider  important in making an investment  decision and which
would  substantially  effect  the  market  price  of  a  security  if  generally
disclosed. "Non-public information" is defined as information which has not been
effectively made available to the marketplace.  Material non- public information
includes corporate information,  such as undisclosed financial information about
a corporation,  and market information,  such as a soon-to-be-published  article
about a corporation. Any questions as to whether certain information is material
non-public information should be directed to the Compliance Officer.

VII.    PRE-CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL SECURITIES
        TRANSACTIONS

        A. General  Requirement.  Advisory  Persons may not engage in a personal
securities  transaction unless it has been pre-cleared by the Compliance Officer
following a determination  that the transaction  does not give rise to an actual
or potential conflict of interest with the Fund's activity in the same Security.

        B. Pre-Clearance Procedures.

               1.     All Advisory Persons must obtain written approval from the
                      Compliance   Officer  (or  designee)  BEFORE  executing  a
                      personal securities transaction.


                                        6

<PAGE>


               2.     Advisory   Persons  seeking   pre-clearance   of  personal
                      securities transactions must complete a Pre-Clearance Form
                      (see  Exhibit  A) and  submit  the form to the  Compliance
                      Officer (or designee).

               3.     Upon  completion  of the review  process,  the  Compliance
                      Officer  will date the  completed  pre-clearance  form and
                      indicate whether the trade is authorized or denied.

               4.     All authorized  personal  securities  transactions must be
                      completed within one (1) trading day following the date of
                      approval. If the trade is not executed within this one (1)
                      day  time  period,  a new  pre-clearance  request  must be
                      submitted to the Compliance Officer (or designee).

               5.     NO  EXPLANATIONS  ARE  REQUIRED  FOR  REFUSALS.    In some
                      cases,  trades  may be  rejected  for a  reason   that  is
                      confidential.  The  Compliance  Officer is not required to
                      give  any    explanation  for  refusing   to  authorize  a
                      securities transaction.

VIII.   REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

        A. Initial  Holdings  Report.  Within ten (10) days of  employment or of
becoming an Access  Person,  Access  Persons must provide a complete list in the
form of  Exhibit B  indicating  (i) the title,  number of shares  and  principal
amount of each  Security  in which the Access  Person had any direct or indirect
beneficial ownership at the time the person became an Access Person and (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.

        B. Annual Holdings Reports.  By July 30 of each year, each Access Person
must file with the Compliance  Officer an annual update to his or her Securities
holdings  report  which  update must be current as of June 30 of each year.  All
employees  must also  execute  and provide to the  Compliance  Officer an annual
certificate of compliance with the Code and any policies adopted thereunder.

        C. Quarterly  Transaction Reports. No later than ten (10) days after the
end  of  a  calendar  quarter,  each  Access  Person  must  submit  a  quarterly
transaction   report  in  the  form  of  Exhibit  C  containing   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  Security
                        involved;

                2.      The nature of the transaction (i.e.,  purchase,  sale or
                        any other type of acquisition or disposition);


                                        7

<PAGE>




                3.      The price of the Security at which the  transaction  was
                        effected;

                4.      The name of the  broker,  dealer or bank with or through
                        which the transaction was effected; and

                5.      The date that the  report  is  submitted  by the  Access
                        Person.

               In  addition,  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,  such Access Person must submit
a report to the Compliance Officer 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.

IX.     EXCEPTIONS TO PRE-CLEARANCE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

        A. Exempt Securities.  Personal securities transactions in the following
Securities  are not  subject to either  the  pre-clearance  requirements  or the
reporting requirements set forth in Sections VII and VIII of this Code.

                o       Open-end  mutual  funds  and  open-end  unit  investment
                        trusts.

                o       Variable  annuities,  variable  life  products and other
                        similar   unit-based   insurance   products   issued  by
                        insurance  companies and insurance  companies'  separate
                        accounts.

                o       U.S. (Federal) government securities.

                o       Money market  instruments  (as defined by the Compliance
                        Officer).

                o       Securities    acquired   through   automatic    dividend
                        reinvestment plans.

                o       Securities  acquired  through the receipt or exercise of
                        rights or  warrants  issued  by a company  on a pro rata
                        basis to all holders of a class of Securities.

                o       Futures contracts,  commodities contracts and futures or
                        options on a stock market index,  a foreign  currency or
                        commodity.


                                        8

<PAGE>



        B. Disinterested Directors.  Disinterested Directors of the Fund are not
subject to the  reporting  requirements  set forth in Section  VIII of this Code
unless the director  knew, or in the ordinary  course of  fulfilling  his or her
official  duties as a Fund director  should have known,  that during the fifteen
(15) day period  immediately  before or after the  director's  transaction  in a
Security, the Fund purchased or sold the Security, or the Fund or its investment
adviser considered purchasing or selling the Security.

        C. Delegated Discretionary  Accounts.  Pre-clearance is not required for
transactions  over which the person does not have direct or indirect  control or
influence (i.e.,  trades in a blind trust or  discretionary  trades in which the
person is neither  consulted  nor  contacted  regarding  the trade  before it is
executed).

        D. Duplicate Broker Confirmations or Account Statements.  Access Persons
need not make Quarterly Transaction Reports under Section XIII(C) of the Code if
the report would duplicate  information  contained in broker trade confirmations
or  account  statements  received  by the Fund in the time  period  required  by
Section XIII(C) of the Code.

        E. Access  Persons  Subject to Other Codes of Ethics.  Any Access Person
who would  otherwise  be  subject  to this  Code  shall  not be  subject  to its
prohibitions  or  requirements  if such  person is  subject  to a code of ethics
described in Section XII of this Code.

X.      DEALINGS WITH PERSONS WHO DO BUSINESS WITH THE FUND

        A. No  Access  Person  may seek or  accept  from any  person  that  does
business with the Fund any item of material value or preferential treatment that
is or appears to be connected with the Fund directing business to that person.

        B. For  purposes of this  prohibition,  "items of material  value" shall
include but not be limited to:

                o       gifts  amounting  in value to more than $100 per person,
                        per year; and

                o       payment or reimbursement  of travel expenses,  including
                        overnight  lodging,  in excess of $100 per  person,  per
                        year.

        C.     "Items of material value" shall not include:

                o       An occasional  meal, a ticket to a sporting event or the
                        theater  or  comparable  entertainment,   which  is  not
                        conditioned  on  directing  business  to the  firm  that
                        provided  such meal or  entertainment  and is neither so
                        frequent  nor so  extensive  as to raise any question of
                        propriety; or

                                        9

<PAGE>



                o       An  unconditional  gift of a  typical  item of  reminder
                        advertising  such as an ink  pen  with  the  name of the
                        advertiser  inscribed,  a  calendar  pad or other  gifts
                        amounting in value to not more than $100 per person, per
                        year.

XI.     ADMINISTRATION OF THE CODE

        A. Approval and Amendment. The board of directors of the Fund, including
a majority of  Disinterested  Directors,  must approve the Code of Ethics of the
Fund and any  material  changes to the Code.  Before  approving  the Code or any
material  changes to the Code, the board of directors of the Fund must receive a
certification from the Fund that it has adopted procedures  reasonably necessary
to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code. The board of directors of the
Fund must  approve a  material  change to the Code no later  than six (6) months
after adoption of the material change.

        B. Compliance Officer. The Fund shall designate a Compliance Officer for
the Code.  The  Compliance  Officer  shall oversee  compliance  with the Code by
officers,  directors,  and  employees of the Fund.  The  Compliance  Officer may
designate an employee of the Fund to assist in  administrative  matters relating
to the Code.

        C. New Employees.  Upon  commencement  of employment with the Fund, each
new  employee  or  director  will  receive  two copies of the Code.  Immediately
thereafter,  each such director or employee must sign,  date and return one copy
of the Code to the  Compliance  Officer.  The other  copy  should be kept by the
director or employee for his/her  reference.  On an annual basis,  each employee
must certify in writing that he/she has reviewed and understands the Code.

        D.     Review and Reporting.

               1.     The Compliance  Officer shall review all reports submitted
                      pursuant to this Code and compare  all  reported  personal
                      securities    transactions   with   completed    portfolio
                      transactions  of the Fund and a list of  securities  being
                      considered  for  purchase or sale by the Fund to determine
                      whether a violation of this Code may have occurred.

               2.     If the Compliance  Officer  determines that a violation of
                      the Code may have  occurred,  he/she shall submit  his/her
                      written   determination,   together  with  a  confidential
                      monthly  report and any  additional  explanatory  material
                      provided by the  individual  to the  president of the Fund
                      who shall make an independent  determination as to whether
                      a violation has occurred.

               3.     If the president finds that a violation has occurred,  the
                      president  shall impose upon the individual  such sanction
                      as he or  she  deems  appropriate  and  shall  report  the
                      violation  and  the  sanction  imposed  to  the  board  of
                      directors of the Fund.


                                       10

<PAGE>


               4.     No person shall  participate in a determination of whether
                      he/she has  committed  a  violation  of the Code or of the
                      imposition of any sanction against himself or herself.  If
                      a  securities   transaction  of  the  president  is  under
                      consideration,   any  vice  president  shall  act  in  all
                      respects   in  the  manner   prescribed   herein  for  the
                      president.

               5.     The  Compliance  Officer shall prepare   and the president
                      of the Fund  shall,  at least  annually,  submit  to   the
                      board of directors a written  report that  describes   any
                      issues  arising  under the Code of Ethics   or the  Fund's
                      procedures  since the last  report,  including,  but   not
                      limited to, information  about material violations  of the
                      Code or Fund procedures or   sanctions imposed in response
                      to   the  violations,  and  certifies  that  the  Fund has
                      adopted  procedures   reasonably  necessary  to    prevent
                      Access Persons from violating the Code.

        E.  Sanctions.  Violations  of the Code may result in the  imposition of
sanctions  by the SEC,  other  regulatory  authorities  or the  Fund,  including
forfeiture of any profit from a transaction,  reduction in salary and suspension
or termination of employment.

        F. Recordkeeping Requirements. It is the intention of the Fund to comply
with the record keeping  requirements of Rule 17j-1(d) under the 1940 Act, which
includes maintaining:

                1.      A copy of this Code and any other  code  which is, or at
                        any time  within  the past  five (5)  years  has been in
                        effect;

                2.      Records of any violations of this Code and actions taken
                        as a result of such violations;

                3.      Copies  of each  report  made  under  this  Code  (i.e.,
                        reports required by Section XIII of the Code);

                4.      A record of all  persons,  currently  or within the past
                        five (5) years, who are or were required to make reports
                        under  Section  XIII  of the  Code,  or who  are or were
                        responsible for reviewing these reports; and

                5.      A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the
                        decision,  to approve the  acquisition by Access Persons
                        of securities under Section VI(E) and (F) of the Code.

XII.    INVESTMENT ADVISER'S OR PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER'S CODE OF
        ETHICS

        A. The  investment  adviser and principal  underwriter  of the Fund must
adopt a written code of ethics  containing  provisions  reasonably  necessary to
prevent its Access Persons



                                       11

<PAGE>



from  engaging in any  unlawful  conduct.  The board of  directors  of the Fund,
including a majority of the  Disinterested  Directors,  must approve the code of
ethics of each investment adviser and principal underwriter to the Fund, and any
material  changes to these codes.  Before approving a Code or any amendment to a
Code,  the board of directors must receive a  certification  from the investment
adviser and  principal  underwriter  that it has adopted  procedures  reasonably
necessary to prevent Access  Persons from violating the investment  adviser's or
principal  underwriter's  code of ethics.  The board of directors must approve a
material  change  to a Code no  later  than six  months  after  adoption  of the
material change.

        B.  Each  investment   adviser   (including,   where   applicable,   any
sub-adviser) and principal underwriter of the Fund shall:

                1.      Submit to the board of  directors  of the Fund a copy of
                        its code of ethics adopted pursuant to Rule 17j-1;

                2.      Promptly  report  to the Fund in  writing  any  material
                        amendments to such code;

                3.      Promptly  furnish to the Fund upon request copies of any
                        reports made  pursuant to such code by any person who is
                        an Access Person as to the Fund;

                4.      Immediately  furnish to the Fund,  without request,  all
                        material  information  regarding  any  violation of such
                        code by any  person  who is an  Access  Person as to the
                        Fund; and

                5.      At least  annually,  furnish  a  written  report  to the
                        Fund's board of directors  that (i) describes any issues
                        arising under its code of ethics or procedures since the
                        last report,  including, but not limited to, information
                        about  material  violations of the code or procedures or
                        sanctions  imposed in  response to the  violations,  and
                        (ii) certifies that the investment adviser,  sub-adviser
                        or principal  underwriter,  as  applicable,  has adopted
                        procedures   reasonably   necessary  to  prevent  Access
                        Persons from violating its code of ethics.


                                       12

<PAGE>



                                  CERTIFICATION

               I have  read the  Stratus  Fund,  Inc.'s  Code of  Ethics  in its
entirety  and I  understand  it.  I  agree  to  comply  fully  with  all  of its
provisions. Further, I agree to certify in writing that I have complied with the
terms of this Code of Ethics on an annual basis.


                                                   --------------------------
                                                   Printed Name

                                                   --------------------------
                                                   Date

                                                   --------------------------
                                                   Signature



                                       13

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A


                 PERSONAL SECURITY TRANSACTION PRE-CLEARANCE AND APPROVAL FORM

                                                     Date: ___________________


Pre-clearance is requested for a transaction involving

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (name of issuer and type of security)

for my  personal  account,  or an account  in which I have a direct or  indirect
beneficial  interest,  or an account with respect to which I exercise investment
discretion and have a beneficial interest. Pre-clearance for this transaction is
requested for the account of _______________________________
                                       (name)

This transaction will be effected through ______________________________________
                                            (name of broker, dealer or bank)

I hereby represent I have no material nonpublic  information with respect to the
issuer of such security.

I understand this pre-clearance is valid only for transactions on the date shown
below.

                                                  ------------------------------
                                                            (signature)

                                                  ------------------------------
                                                               Date


The foregoing transaction is hereby approved.

STRATUS FUND, INC.


By:____________________________


Date:__________________________



                                       A-1

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT B

                                  CONFIDENTIAL

                                    Report to
                               Stratus Fund, Inc.
                             of Securities Holdings

NAME: ____________________  For the Year Ended __________  Initial Report ______



Names of Security        Type of Security         Quantity/Principal Amount Held
-----------------        ----------------         ------------------------------






Name of any  Broker,  Dealer or Bank in Which any  Securities  are Held for Your
Direct or Indirect Benefit:





I hereby represent that I had no material nonpublic  information with respect to
the issuers of the  securities  covered by this report and that I have  reported
all holdings that I am required to report.

                                           ------------------------   ----------
                                           Signature                      Date

Please return to the Compliance Officer of the Company.
Date Report Submitted ________________



                                       B-1

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT C

                                  CONFIDENTIAL

                                    Report to
                               Stratus Fund, Inc.
                           of Securities Transactions

NAME: _____________________________  For the Quarter Ended _______________

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         Interest Rate
                                        Quantity or           and        Nature of     Unit    Broker, Dealer or Bank     Date of
Name of Security   Type of Security   Principal Amount   Maturity Date   Transaction   Price   Effecting Transaction    Transaction
----------------   ----------------   ----------------   -------------   -----------   -----   ---------------------    -----------
<S>                 <C>               <C>               <C>              <C>           <C>        <C>                   <C>







</TABLE>




I hereby represent that I had no material nonpublic  information with respect to
the issuers of the securities covered by this report.

Check if the following is applicable:

        __ This report shall not be  construed  as an admission  that I have any
direct or any indirect beneficial ownership in the security.



                                       C-1

<PAGE>




I have reported all  transactions  which I am required to report. I have omitted
any transactions in thrift plans,  federal government  securities,  money market
instruments,  open-end mutual funds (note:  transactions in shares issued by the
Company and in  closed-end  funds must be reported)  or  automatic  reinvestment
plans, or purchases through the exercise of pro-rata rights.

                                           ------------------------   ----------
                                            Signature                  Date

Please return to the Compliance Officer of the Company.

Date Report Submitted _______________________



                                       C-2


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