EX-19.1 5 ex191_rpidxsecondamendedan.htm EX-19.1 Document

Rapid Micro Biosystems, Inc.

Second Amended and Restated Insider Trading Compliance Policy

(As of March 9, 2023)

This Second Amended and Restated Insider Trading Compliance Policy (this “Policy”) of Rapid Micro Biosystems, Inc. (the “Company”) consists of seven sections:
Section I provides an overview;
Section II sets forth the policies of the Company prohibiting insider trading;
Section III explains insider trading;
Section IV consists of procedures that have been put in place by the Company to prevent insider trading;
Section V sets forth additional transactions that are prohibited by this Policy;
Section VI provides an overview of the Company’s Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy; and
Section VII refers to the execution and return of a certificate of compliance.
I.    Summary
Preventing insider trading is necessary to comply with securities laws and to preserve the reputation and integrity of the Company as well as that of all persons affiliated with the Company. “Insider trading” occurs when any person purchases or sells a security while in possession of inside information relating to the security. As explained in Section III below, “inside information” is information that is both “material” and “non-public.” Insider trading is a crime. The penalties for violating insider trading laws include imprisonment, disgorgement of profits, civil fines, and significant criminal fines. Insider trading is also prohibited by this Policy, and violation of this Policy may result in Company-imposed sanctions, including termination of employment for cause.
This Policy applies to all officers, directors and employees of the Company. Individuals subject to this Policy are responsible for ensuring that members of their households also comply with this Policy. This Policy also applies to any entities controlled by individuals subject to the Policy, including any corporations, partnerships or trusts (such entities, together with all officers, directors and employees of the Company, are referred to as the “Covered Persons”), and transactions by these entities should be treated for the purposes of this Policy and applicable securities laws as if they were for the individual’s own account. This Policy extends to all activities within and outside an individual’s Company duties. Every officer, director and employee must review this Policy. Questions regarding the Policy should be directed to the Company’s General Counsel.
II.    Statement of Policies Prohibiting Insider Trading
No officer, director or employee shall purchase or sell any type of security while in possession of material, non-public information relating to the security, whether the issuer of such security is the Company or any other company.
These prohibitions do not apply to the following “permitted transactions”:
purchases of the Company’s securities by a Covered Person from the Company or sales of the Company’s securities by a Covered Person to the Company;
exercises of stock options when payment of the exercise price is made in cash, provided that, such exercise does not involve a market sale of the Company’s



securities to generate the cash needed to pay the exercise price of such option (the “cashless exercise” of a Company stock option through a broker does involve a market sale of the Company’s securities, and therefore would not qualify under this exception);
the withholding by the Company of shares of stock upon vesting of restricted stock or upon settlement of restricted stock units to satisfy applicable tax withholding requirements if (a) such withholding is required by the applicable plan or award agreement or (b) the election to exercise such tax withholding right was made by the insider in compliance with the procedures set forth in Section IV of this Policy;
bona fide gifts of the Company’s securities, unless the person making the gift has reason to believe that the recipient intends to sell the securities while the donor is in possession of material, non-public information about the Company; or
purchases or sales of the Company’s securities made pursuant to any binding contract, specific instruction or written plan entered into outside of a black-out period and while the purchaser or seller, as applicable, was unaware of any material, non-public information and which contract, instruction or plan (i) meets all of the requirements of the affirmative defense provided by Rule 10b5-1 (“Rule 10b5-1”) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), (ii) was pre-cleared in advance pursuant to this Policy and (iii) has not been amended or modified in any respect after such initial pre-clearance without such amendment or modification being pre-cleared in advance pursuant to this Policy. For more information about Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, see Section VI below and the Company’s Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy.
In addition, no officer, director or employee shall directly or indirectly communicate (or “tip”) material, non-public information to anyone outside of the Company (except in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding the protection or authorized external disclosure of Company information) or to anyone within the Company other than on a need-to-know basis.
III.    Explanation of Insider Trading
Insider trading refers to the purchase or sale of a security while in possession of “material,” “non-public” information relating to the security or its issuer.
Securities include stocks, bonds, notes, debentures, options, warrants and other convertible securities, as well as derivative instruments.
Purchase and sale are defined broadly under the federal securities law. “Purchase” includes not only the actual purchase of a security, but any contract to purchase or otherwise acquire a security. “Sale” includes not only the actual sale of a security, but any contract to sell or otherwise dispose of a security. These definitions extend to a broad range of transactions, including conventional cash-for-stock transactions, conversions, the exercise of stock options, and acquisitions and exercises of warrants or puts, calls or other derivative securities.
It is generally understood that insider trading includes the following:
trading by insiders while in possession of material, non-public information;
trading by persons other than insiders while in possession of material, non-public information, if the information either was given in breach of an insider’s fiduciary duty to keep it confidential or was misappropriated; and
communicating or tipping material, non-public information to others, including recommending the purchase or sale of a security while in possession of such information.
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A.    What Facts are Material?
The materiality of a fact depends upon the circumstances. A fact is considered “material” if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making a decision to buy, sell or hold a security, or if the fact is likely to have a significant effect on the market price of the security. Material information can be positive or negative and can relate to virtually any aspect of a company’s business or to any type of security, debt or equity.
Examples of material information include (but are not limited to) information about:
corporate earnings or earnings forecasts;
possible mergers, acquisitions, tender offers or dispositions;
major new products or product developments;
important business developments such as developments regarding strategic collaborations or joint ventures;
significant incidents involving cybersecurity or data protection;
management or control changes;
significant financing developments including pending public sales or offerings of debt or equity securities;
defaults on borrowings;
bankruptcies; and
significant litigation or regulatory actions.
Moreover, material information does not have to be related to a company’s business. For example, the contents of a forthcoming newspaper column that is expected to affect the market price of a security can be material.
A good general rule of thumb: When in doubt, do not trade.
B.    What is Non-Public?
Information is “non-public” if it is not available to the general public. In order for information to be considered public, it must be widely disseminated in a manner making it generally available to investors through such media as Dow Jones, Business Wire, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, or United Press International, a broadcast on widely available radio or television programs, publication in a widely available newspaper, magazine or news web site, a Regulation FD-compliant conference call, or public disclosure documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that are available on the SEC’s web site.
The circulation of rumors, even if accurate and reported in the media, does not constitute effective public dissemination. In addition, even after a public announcement, a reasonable period of time must lapse in order for the market to react to the information. Generally, one should allow two full trading days following publication as a reasonable waiting period before such information is deemed to be public. If, for example, the Company were to make an announcement on a Monday prior to 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, the information would be deemed public after the close of trading on Tuesday. If an announcement were made on a Monday after 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, the information would be deemed public after the close of trading on Wednesday. If you have any question as to whether information is publicly available, please direct any inquiry to the General Counsel.
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C.    Who is an Insider?
“Insiders” include officers, directors and employees of a company and anyone else who has material non-public information about a company. Insiders have independent fiduciary duties to their company and its stockholders not to trade on material, non-public information relating to the company’s securities. All officers, directors and employees of the Company should consider themselves insiders with respect to material, non-public information about the Company’s business, activities and securities.
Individuals subject to this Policy are responsible for ensuring that members of their households also comply with this Policy. This Policy also applies to any entities controlled by individuals subject to the Policy, including any corporations, partnerships or trusts, and transactions by these entities should be treated for the purposes of this Policy and applicable securities laws as if they were for the individual’s own account.
D.    Trading by Persons Other than Insiders
Insiders may be liable for communicating or tipping material, non-public information to a third party (“tippee”), and insider trading violations are not limited to trading or tipping by insiders. Persons other than insiders also can be liable for insider trading, including tippees who trade on material, non-public information tipped to them or individuals who trade on material, non-public information that has been misappropriated.
Tippees inherit an insider’s duties and are liable for trading on material, non-public information illegally tipped to them by an insider. Similarly, just as insiders are liable for the insider trading of their tippees, so are tippees who pass the information along to others who trade. In other words, a tippee’s liability for insider trading is no different from that of an insider. Tippees can obtain material, non-public information by receiving overt tips from others or through, among other things, conversations at social, business, or other gatherings.
E.    Penalties for Engaging in Insider Trading
Penalties for trading on or tipping material, non-public information can extend significantly beyond any profits made or losses avoided, both for individuals engaging in such unlawful conduct and their employers. The SEC and Department of Justice have made the civil and criminal prosecution of insider trading violations a top priority. Enforcement remedies available to the government or private plaintiffs under the federal securities laws include:
SEC administrative sanctions;
securities industry self-regulatory organization sanctions;
civil injunctions;
damage awards to private plaintiffs;
disgorgement of all profits;
civil fines for the violator of up to three times the amount of profit gained or loss avoided;
civil fines for the employer or other controlling person of a violator (i.e., where the violator is an employee or other controlled person) of up to the greater of $2,140,973 (subject to adjustment for inflation) or three times the amount of profit gained or loss avoided by the violator;
criminal fines for individual violators of up to $5,000,000 ($25,000,000 for an entity); and
jail sentences of up to 20 years.
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In addition, insider trading could result in serious sanctions by the Company, including dismissal. Insider trading violations are not limited to violations of the federal securities laws. Other federal and state civil or criminal laws, such as the laws prohibiting mail and wire fraud and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), also may be violated in connection with insider trading.
F.    Size of Transaction and Reason for Transaction Do Not Matter
The size of the transaction or the amount of profit received does not have to be significant to result in prosecution. The SEC has the ability to monitor even the smallest trades, and the SEC performs routine market surveillance. Brokers and dealers are required by law to inform the SEC of any possible violations by people who may have material, non-public information. The SEC aggressively investigates even small insider trading violations.
G.    Examples of Insider Trading
Examples of insider trading cases include:
actions brought against corporate officers, directors, and employees who traded in a company’s securities after learning of significant confidential corporate developments;
friends, business associates, family members and other tippees of such officers, directors, and employees who traded in the securities after receiving such information;
government employees who learned of such information in the course of their employment; and
other persons who misappropriated, and took advantage of, confidential information from their employers.
The following are illustrations of insider trading violations. These illustrations are hypothetical and, consequently, not intended to reflect on the actual activities or business of the Company or any other entity.
Trading by Insider
An officer of X Corporation learns that earnings to be reported by X Corporation will increase dramatically. Prior to the public announcement of such earnings, the officer purchases X Corporation’s stock. The officer, an insider, is liable for all profits as well as penalties of up to three times the amount of all profits. The officer also is subject to, among other things, criminal prosecution, including up to $5,000,000 in additional fines and 20 years in jail. Depending upon the circumstances, X Corporation and the individual to whom the officer reports also could be liable as controlling persons.
Trading by Tippee
An officer of X Corporation tells a friend that X Corporation is about to publicly announce that it has signed an agreement for a major acquisition. This tip causes the friend to purchase X Corporation’s stock in advance of the announcement. The officer is jointly liable with his friend for all of the friend’s profits, and each is liable for all civil penalties of up to three times the amount of the friend’s profits. The officer and his friend are also subject to criminal prosecution and other remedies and sanctions, as described above.
H.    Prohibition of Records Falsification and False Statements
Section 13(b)(2) of the 1934 Act requires companies subject to the 1934 Act to maintain proper internal books and records and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal
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accounting controls. The SEC has supplemented the statutory requirements by adopting rules that prohibit (1) any person from falsifying records or accounts subject to the above requirements and (2) officers or directors from making any materially false, misleading, or incomplete statement to any accountant in connection with any audit or filing with the SEC. These provisions reflect the SEC’s intent to discourage officers, directors and other persons with access to the Company’s books and records from taking action that might result in the communication of materially misleading financial information to the investing public.
I.    Director Affiliated Investment Funds
This Policy shall not apply to any entity with which a director is affiliated (a “Director Affiliated Fund”) if such entity engages in the investment of securities in the ordinary course of its business (e.g., an investment fund or partnership) and has established its own insider trading controls and procedures in compliance with applicable securities laws and the director has represented to the Company that such Director Affiliated Funds: (a) engage in the investment of securities in the ordinary course of their respective businesses; (b) have established insider trading controls and procedures in compliance with applicable securities laws; and (c) are aware such securities laws prohibit any person or entity who has material, nonpublic information concerning the Company from purchasing or selling securities of the Company or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell securities.
IV.    Statement of Procedures Preventing Insider Trading
The following procedures have been established, and will be maintained and enforced, by the Company to prevent insider trading. Every officer, director and designated employee is required to follow these procedures.
A.    Pre-Clearance of All Trades by All Officers, Directors and Certain Employees
To provide assistance in preventing inadvertent violations of applicable securities laws and to avoid the appearance of impropriety in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities, all transactions in the Company’s securities (including without limitation, acquisitions and dispositions of Company stock (including by gift), the exercise of stock options and the sale of Company stock issued upon exercise of stock options) by officers, directors and such other employees as are designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or General Counsel as being subject to this pre-clearance process (each, a “Pre-Clearance Person”) must be pre-cleared by the General Counsel. Pre-clearance does not relieve anyone of his or her responsibility under SEC rules. For the avoidance of doubt, any designation by the Board of Directors of the employees who are subject to pre-clearance may be updated from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the General Counsel.
A request for pre-clearance may be oral or in writing (including without limitation by e-mail), should be made at least two (2) business days in advance of the proposed transaction and should include the identity of the Pre-Clearance Person, the type of proposed transaction (for example, an open market purchase, a privately negotiated sale, an option exercise, etc.), the proposed date of the transaction and the number of shares, options or other securities to be involved. In addition, unless otherwise determined by the General Counsel, the Pre-Clearance Person must execute a certification (in the form approved by the General Counsel) that he, she or it is not aware of material, non-public information about the Company. The General Counsel shall have sole discretion to decide whether to clear any contemplated transaction, provided that the Chief Executive Officer shall have sole discretion to decide whether to clear transactions by the General Counsel or persons or entities subject to this policy as a result of their relationship with the General Counsel. All trades that are pre-cleared must be effected within five business days of receipt of the pre-clearance unless a specific exception has been granted by the General
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Counsel (or the Chief Executive Officer, in the case of the General Counsel or persons or entities subject to this policy as a result of their relationship with the General Counsel). A pre-cleared trade (or any portion of a pre-cleared trade) that has not been effected during the five business day period must be pre-cleared again prior to execution. Notwithstanding receipt of pre-clearance, if the Pre-Clearance Person becomes aware of material, non-public information or becomes subject to a black-out period before the transaction is effected, the transaction may not be completed.
B.    Black-Out Periods
No officer, director or other employee designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the General Counsel as being subject to quarterly black-out periods shall purchase or sell any security of the Company during the period beginning at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on the 14th calendar day before the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company and ending upon the completion of the second full trading day after the public release of earnings data for such fiscal quarter or during any other trading suspension period declared by the Company, except for purchases and sales made pursuant to the permitted transactions described in Section II. For example, if the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter ends at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on December 31, the corresponding black-out period would begin at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on December 17. For the avoidance of doubt, any designation by the Board of Directors of the employees who are subject to quarterly black-out periods may be updated from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or General Counsel.
Exceptions to the black-out period policy may be approved only by the General Counsel (or, in the case of an exception for the General Counsel or persons or entities subject to this policy as a result of their relationship with the General Counsel, the Chief Executive Officer or, in the case of exceptions for directors or persons or entities subject to this policy as a result of their relationship with a director, the Board of Directors).
From time to time, the Company, through the Board of Directors, the Company’s disclosure committee or the General Counsel, may recommend, and will notify in writing (email being acceptable), that officers, directors, employees or others suspend trading in the Company’s securities because of developments that have not yet been disclosed to the public. Subject to the exceptions noted above, all of those affected should not trade in the Company’s securities while the suspension is in effect, and should not disclose to others that the Company has suspended trading.
C.    Post-Termination Transactions
If an individual is in possession of material, non-public information when his or her service terminates, that individual may not trade in the Company’s securities until that information has become public or is no longer material.
D.    Information Relating to the Company
1.    Access to Information
Access to material, non-public information about the Company, including the Company’s business, earnings or prospects, should be limited to officers, directors and employees of the Company on a need-to-know basis. In addition, such information should not be communicated to anyone outside the Company under any circumstances (except in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding the protection or authorized external disclosure of Company information) or to anyone within the Company on an other than need-to-know basis.
In communicating material, non-public information to employees of the Company, all officers, directors and employees must take care to emphasize the need for confidential treatment
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of such information and adherence to the Company’s policies with regard to confidential information.
2.    Inquiries From Third Parties
Inquiries from third parties, such as industry analysts or members of the media, about the Company should be directed to the General Counsel.
E.    Limitations on Access to Company Information
The following procedures are designed to maintain confidentiality with respect to the Company’s business operations and activities.
All officers, directors and employees should take all steps and precautions necessary to restrict access to, and secure, material, non-public information by, among other things:
maintaining the confidentiality of Company-related transactions;
conducting their business and social activities so as not to risk inadvertent disclosure of confidential information. Review of confidential documents in public places should be conducted so as to prevent access by unauthorized persons;
restricting access to documents and files (including computer files) containing material, non-public information to individuals on a need-to-know basis (including maintaining control over the distribution of documents and drafts of documents);
promptly removing and cleaning up all confidential documents and other materials from conference rooms following the conclusion of any meetings;
disposing of all confidential documents and other papers, after there is no longer any business or other legally required need, through shredders when appropriate;
restricting access to areas likely to contain confidential documents or material, non-public information;
safeguarding laptop computers, mobile devices, tablets, memory sticks, CDs and other items that contain confidential information; and
avoiding the discussion of material, non-public information in places where the information could be overheard by others such as in elevators, restrooms, hallways, restaurants, airplanes or taxicabs.
Personnel involved with material, non-public information, to the extent feasible, should conduct their business and activities in areas separate from other Company activities.
V.    Additional Prohibited Transactions
The Company has determined that there is a heightened legal risk and/or the appearance of improper or inappropriate conduct if the persons subject to this Policy engage in certain types of transactions. Therefore, officers, directors and employees shall comply with the following policies with respect to certain transactions in the Company securities:
A.    Short Sales
Short sales of the Company’s securities evidence an expectation on the part of the seller that the securities will decline in value, and therefore signal to the market that the seller has no confidence in the Company or its short-term prospects. In addition, short sales may reduce the seller’s incentive to improve the Company’s performance. For these reasons, short sales of the Company’s securities are prohibited by this Policy. In addition, Section 16(c) of the 1934 Act
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absolutely prohibits Section 16 reporting persons (i.e., directors, certain officers and the Company’s 10% stockholders) from making short sales of the Company’s equity securities, i.e., sales of shares that the insider does not own at the time of sale, or sales of shares against which the insider does not deliver the shares within 20 days after the sale.
B.    Options
A transaction in options is, in effect, a bet on the short-term movement of the Company’s stock and therefore creates the appearance that an officer, director or employee is trading based on inside information. Transactions in options, whether traded on an exchange, on any other organized market or on an over-the-counter market, also may focus an officer’s, director’s or employee’s attention on short-term performance at the expense of the Company’s long-term objectives. Accordingly, transactions in puts, calls or other derivative securities involving the Company’s equity securities, on an exchange, on any other organized market or on an over-the-counter market, are prohibited by this Policy.
C.    Hedging Transactions
Purchasing financial instruments, such as prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds, or otherwise engaging in transactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of the Company’s equity securities, may cause an officer, director, or employee to no longer have the same objectives as the Company’s other stockholders. Therefore, all such transactions involving the Company’s equity securities, whether such securities were granted as compensation or are otherwise held, directly or indirectly, are prohibited by this Policy.
D.    Purchases of the Company’s Securities on Margin; Pledging the Company’s Securities to Secure Margin or Other Loans
Purchasing on margin means borrowing from a brokerage firm, bank or other entity in order to purchase the Company’s securities (other than in connection with a cashless exercise of stock options through a broker under the Company’s equity plans). Margin purchases of the Company’s securities are prohibited by this Policy. Pledging the Company’s securities as collateral to secure loans is prohibited. This prohibition means, among other things, that you cannot hold the Company’s securities in a “margin account” (which would allow you to borrow against your holdings to buy securities).    
E.    Partnership Distributions
Nothing in this Policy is intended to limit the ability of a venture capital partnership or other similar entity with which a director is affiliated to distribute Company securities to its partners, members or other similar persons. It is the responsibility of each affected director and the affiliated entity, in consultation with their own counsel (as appropriate), to determine the timing of any distributions, based on all relevant facts and circumstances and applicable securities laws.
VI.    Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
Rule 10b5-1 presents an opportunity for insiders to establish arrangements to sell (or purchase) Company stock without the restrictions of trading windows and black-out periods, even when there is undisclosed material information. Rule 10b5-1 will protect directors, officers and employees from insider trading liability under Rule 10b5-1 for transactions under a previously established contract, plan or instruction to trade in the Company’s stock (a “Trading Plan”) entered into in good faith and in accordance with the terms of Rule 10b5-1 and all applicable state laws and will be exempt from the trading restrictions set forth in this Policy. The
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initiation of, and any modification to, any such Trading Plan will be deemed to be a transaction in the Company’s securities, and such initiation or modification is subject to all limitations and prohibitions relating to transactions in the Company’s securities. The Company has adopted a separate Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy that sets forth the requirements for putting in place a Trading Plan with respect to the Company’s securities. Each such Trading Plan, and any modification thereof, must be submitted to and pre-approved by the General Counsel, or such other person as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time (the “Authorizing Officer”), who may impose such conditions on the implementation and operation of the Trading Plan as the Authorizing Officer deems necessary or advisable. However, compliance of the Trading Plan to the terms of Rule 10b5-1 and the execution of transactions pursuant to the Trading Plan are the sole responsibility of the person initiating the Trading Plan, not the Company or the Authorizing Officer.
Trading Plans do not exempt individuals from complying with Section 16 short-swing profit rules or liability. Furthermore, Trading Plans only provide an “affirmative defense” in the event there is an insider trading lawsuit. It does not prevent someone from bringing a lawsuit.
VII.    Execution and Return of Certification of Compliance
After reading this Policy and on an annual basis, all officers, directors and employees should execute and return to the General Counsel the Certification of Compliance form attached hereto as “Attachment A.”

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ATTACHMENT A
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE
RETURN BY [_________] [insert return deadline]
TO:    __________________, General Counsel
FROM:    __________________________
RE:    INSIDER TRADING COMPLIANCE POLICY OF RAPID MICRO BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
I have received, reviewed and understand the above-referenced Insider Trading Compliance Policy (“Policy”) and undertake, as a condition to my present and continued employment with (or, if I am not an employee, affiliation with) Rapid Micro Biosystems, Inc., to comply fully with the policies and procedures contained therein.
[I hereby designate the following affiliated entities as entities for which the above-referenced Policy shall not apply in accordance with Section III.I of such Policy:
__________________________
I hereby represent to Rapid Micro Biosystems, Inc. that the foregoing Director Affiliated Funds (as defined in the Policy): (a) engage in the investment of securities in the ordinary course of their respective businesses; (b) have established insider trading controls and procedures in compliance with applicable securities laws; and (c) are aware such securities laws prohibit any person or entity who has material, nonpublic information concerning the Company from purchasing or selling securities of the Company or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell securities.]1
[I hereby certify, to the best of my knowledge, that during the calendar year ending December 31, 20[__], I have complied fully with all policies and procedures set forth in the above-referenced Insider Trading Compliance Policy.]2

___________________________    _______________
SIGNATURE    DATE
___________________________
TITLE



1 NTD: Applicable only to directors affiliated with relevant investment funds.
2 NTD: This language should be excluded from an initial certification.