CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR FINANCIAL
OFFICERS
ADOPTED JULY 23, 2003,
AS AMENDED AUGUST 10, 2005, SEPTEMBER 22, 2005, SEPTEMBER 19, 2006,
MAY 30, 2007, JUNE 5, 2008 AND NOVEMBER 13, 2008
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This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) for the investment companies within the Van Kampen complex
identified in Exhibit A (collectively, “Funds” and each, a “Fund”) applies to each Fund’s
Principal Executive Officer, President, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer (or persons
performing similar functions) (“Covered Officers” each of whom are set forth in Exhibit B) for
the purpose of promoting: |
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honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent
conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships. |
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full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents
that a company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) and in other public communications made by the Fund; |
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compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations; |
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prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or
persons identified in the Code; and |
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accountability for adherence to the Code. |
Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be
sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.
Any question about the application of the Code should be referred to the General Counsel or his/her
designee (who is set forth in Exhibit C).
| II. |
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Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest |
Overview. A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s private interest
interferes, or appears to interfere, with the interests of, or his service to, the Fund. For
example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family,
receives improper personal benefits as a result of his position with the Fund.
Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the
Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of
1940 (“Investment Company Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Investment Advisers
Act”). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as
the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Fund because of their status as
“affiliated persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund. The Fund’s and its
investment adviser’s compliance programs and procedures are designed to prevent, or identify and
correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or
replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside the parameters of this Code,
unless or until the
General Counsel determines that any violation of such programs and procedures is also a
violation of this Code.
Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts may
arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the Fund and its investment
adviser of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code
recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally
for the Fund or for the investment adviser, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and
implementing decisions that will have different effects on the Fund and its investment adviser.
The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual
relationship between the Fund and the investment adviser and is consistent with the performance by
the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Fund. Thus, if performed in conformity
with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, such activities
will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Funds’ Boards
of Directors/Trustees (“Boards”) that the Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of one
or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes.
Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are
not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The
following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers
should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the
personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the
Fund.
Each Covered Officer must not:
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use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence
investment decisions or financial reporting by the Fund whereby the Covered Officer
would benefit personally (directly or indirectly); |
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cause the Fund to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal
benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of the Fund; or |
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use material non-public knowledge of portfolio transactions made or contemplated
for, or actions proposed to be taken by, the Fund to trade personally or cause others
to trade personally in contemplation of the market effect of such transactions. |
Each Covered Officer must, at the time of signing this Code, report to the General Counsel all
affiliations or significant business relationships outside the Morgan Stanley complex and must
update the report annually.
Conflict of interest situations should always be approved by the General Counsel and
communicated to the relevant Fund or Fund’s Board. Any activity or relationship that would present
such a conflict for a Covered Officer would likely also present a conflict for the Covered Officer
if an immediate member of the Covered Officer’s family living in the same household engages in such
an activity or has such a relationship. Examples of these include:
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service or significant business relationships as a director on the board of any
public or private company; |
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accepting directly or indirectly, anything of value, including gifts and gratuities
in excess of $100 per year from any person or entity with which the |
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Fund has current or prospective business dealings, not including occasional meals
or tickets for theatre or sporting events or other similar entertainment; provided
it is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and
not so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety; |
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any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any
of the Fund’s service providers, other than its investment adviser, principal
underwriter, or any affiliated person thereof; and |
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a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or
spreads paid by the Fund for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or
redeeming shares other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s employment,
such as compensation or equity ownership. |
| III. |
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Disclosure and Compliance |
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Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself/herself with the disclosure and
compliance requirements generally applicable to the Funds; |
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each Covered Officer must not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to
misrepresent, facts about the Fund to others, whether within or outside the Fund,
including to the Fund’s Directors/Trustees and auditors, or to governmental regulators
and self-regulatory organizations; |
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each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his area of
responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Funds and their
investment advisers with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and
understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Funds file with, or submit
to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds; and |
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it is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the
standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations. |
| IV. |
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Reporting and Accountability |
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Each Covered Officer must: |
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upon adoption of the Code (thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered
Officer), affirm in writing to the Boards that he has received, read and understands
the Code; |
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annually thereafter affirm to the Boards that he has complied with the requirements
of the Code; |
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not retaliate against any other Covered Officer, other officer or any employee of
the Funds or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations that are
made in good faith; and |
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notify the General Counsel promptly if he/she knows or suspects of any violation of
this Code. Failure to do so is itself a violation of this Code. |
The General Counsel is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which
questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular
situation. However, any waivers3 sought by a Covered Officer must be considered by the
Board of the relevant Fund or Funds.
The Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:
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the General Counsel will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential
violations reported to him; |
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if, after such investigation, the General Counsel believes that no violation has
occurred, the General Counsel is not required to take any further action; |
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any matter that the General Counsel believes is a violation will be reported to the
relevant Fund’s Audit Committee; |
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if the directors/trustees/managing general partners who are not “interested
persons” as defined by the Investment Company Act (the “Independent
Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners”) of the relevant Fund concur that a
violation has occurred, they will consider appropriate action, which may include
review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures;
notification to appropriate personnel of the investment adviser or its board; or a
recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer or other appropriate disciplinary
actions; |
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the Independent Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners of the relevant Fund
will be responsible for granting waivers of this Code, as appropriate; and |
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any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed
as provided by SEC rules. |
| V. |
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Other Policies and Procedures |
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section 406 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment
companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Funds, the Funds’ investment
advisers, principal underwriters, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the
behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by
this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code unless any
provision of this Code conflicts with any applicable federal or state law, in which case the
requirements of such law will govern. The Funds’ and their investment advisers’ and principal
underwriters’ codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and Morgan
Stanley’s Code of Ethics are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and
are not part of this Code.
Any amendments to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibits A, B or C, must be approved or
ratified by a majority vote of the Board of each Fund, including a majority of Independent
Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners.
VII. Confidentiality
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| 3 |
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Item 2 of Form N-CSR defines “waiver” as “the
approval by the registrant of a material departure from a provision of the code
of ethics.” |
All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered
confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by
law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the Independent
Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners of the relevant Fund or Funds and their counsel, the
relevant Fund or Funds and their counsel and the relevant investment adviser and its counsel.
The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the Funds and does not constitute an
admission, by or on behalf of any Fund, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion
I have read and understand the terms of the above Code. I recognize the responsibilities and
obligations incurred by me as a result of my being subject to the Code. I hereby agree to abide by
the above Code.
Date:
EXHIBIT B
Covered Officers
Edward C. Wood III — President and Principal Executive Officer
Stuart N. Schuldt — Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXHIBIT C
General Counsel’s Designee
Stefanie Chang Yu