[Letterhead of Stellus Capital Investment Corporation]

 

November 17, 2023

VIA EDGAR

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Re: Stellus Capital Investment Corporation
  File No. 814-00971
  Rule 17g-1(g) Fidelity Bond Filing

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

On behalf of Stellus Capital Investment Corporation (the “Company”), enclosed herewith for filing, pursuant to Rule 17g-1(g) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), are the following:

 

1.       A copy of the Company’s Fidelity Bond in the amount of $1,000,000 (the “Bond”); and

 

2.       A copy of the resolutions approved at a meeting of Board of Directors of the Company on November 1, 2023 at which a majority of the directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company as defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act approved the amount, type, form and coverage of the Bond.

 

The premium was paid for the period beginning November 7, 2023 and ending November 7, 2024.

 

If you have any questions regarding this submission, please do not hesitate to call me at (713) 292-5414.

 

  Very truly yours, 
   
  /s/ W. Todd Huskinson
 

W. Todd Huskinson

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of the Company 

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

The undersigned, W. Todd Huskinson, Secretary of Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify that:

 

1.                  This certificate is being delivered to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the filing of the Company’s fidelity bond (the “Bond”) pursuant to Rule 17g-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the SEC is entitled to rely on this certificate for purposes of the filing.

 

2.                  The undersigned is the duly elected, qualified and acting Secretary of the Company, and has custody of the corporate records of the Company and is a proper officer to make this certification.

 

3.                  Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a copy of the resolutions approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, including a majority of the Board of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company as defined under section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act approving the amount, type, form and coverage of the Bond.

 

4.                  Premiums have been paid for the period November 7, 2023 to November 7, 2024.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this certificate to be executed this 17th day of November, 2023.

 

  /s/ W. Todd Huskinson
  W. Todd Huskinson
  Secretary

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Approval and Renewal of Fidelity Coverage Bond

 

WHEREAS, Section 17(g) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17g-1(a) thereunder require a BDC, such as the Company, to provide and maintain a bond which has been issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company authorized to do business in the place where the bond is issued, to protect the Company against larceny and embezzlement, covering each officer and employee of the BDC who may singly, or jointly with others, have access to the securities or funds of the BDC, either directly or through authority to draw upon such funds of, or to direct generally, the disposition of such securities, unless the officer or employee has such access solely through his position as an officer or employee of a bank (each, a “covered person”); and

 

WHEREAS, Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act specifies that the bond may be in the form of (i) an individual bond for each covered person, or a schedule or blanket bond covering such persons, (ii) a blanket bond which names the Company as the only insured (a “single insured bond”), or (iii) a bond which names the Company and one or more other parties as insureds (a “joint insured bond”), as permitted by Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act; and

 

WHEREAS, Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act requires that a majority of the Non-Interested Directors approve periodically (but not less than once every 12 months) the reasonableness of the form and amount of the bond, with due consideration to the value of the aggregate assets of the Company to which any covered person may have access, the type and terms of the arrangements made for the custody and safekeeping of such assets, and the nature of securities and other investments to be held by the Company, and pursuant to factors contained in Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act, which are described in the accompanying memorandum attached hereto as Exhibit A; and

 

WHEREAS, under Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act, the Company is required to make certain filings with the SEC and give certain notices to each member of the Board of Directors in connection with the bond, and designate an officer who shall make such filings and give such notices.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that, having considered the expected aggregate value of the securities and funds of the Company to which officers or employees of the Company may have access (either directly or through authority to draw upon such funds or to direct generally the disposition of such securities), the type and terms of the arrangements made for the custody of such securities and funds, the nature of securities and other investments to be held by the Company, the accounting procedures and controls of the Company, the nature and method of conducting the operations of the Company and the requirements of Section 17(g) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17g-1 thereunder, the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Non-Interested Directors, hereby determines that the amount, type, form, premium and coverage of the fidelity bond (the “Fidelity Bond”), covering the officers and employees of the Company and insuring the Company against loss from fraudulent or dishonest acts, including larceny and embezzlement, issued by Chubb Group of Insurance Companies and its affiliates having an aggregate coverage of $1,000,000 are fair and reasonable; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, (individually, an “Authorized Officer” and, together, the “Authorized Officers”) be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed to take all appropriate actions, with the advice of legal counsel to the Company, to provide and maintain the Fidelity Bond on behalf of the Company; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chief Compliance Officer of the Company be and hereby is, designated as the party responsible for making the necessary filings and giving the notices with respect to such bond required by paragraph (g) of Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Authorized Officers be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed to file a copy of the Fidelity Bond and any other related document or instrument with the SEC; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Authorized Officers be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to make or cause to be made, and to execute and deliver, all such additional agreements, documents, instruments and certifications and to take all such steps, and to make all such payments, fees and remittances, as any one or more of such officers may at any time or times deem necessary or desirable in order to effectuate the purpose and intent of the foregoing resolutions; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that any and all actions previously taken by the Company or any of its directors, Authorized Officers or other employees in connection with the documents, and actions contemplated by the foregoing resolutions be, and they hereby are, ratified, confirmed, approved and adopted in all respects as and for the acts and deeds of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 


 
 
 
 
 
     

 

 

              Financial Institution Bond
              For Investment Companies
 
DECLARATIONS       FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY
              Incorporated under the laws of Indiana, a stock
Name of Assured:       insurance company, herein called the Company
STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION   One American Square 202 N Illinois Street,
Address of Assured:       Suite 2600    
4400 POST OAK PARKWAY, SUITE 2200   Indianapolis, IN 46282    
HOUSTON, TX 77027       Bond Number: J06054468
Item 1. Bond Period: From: November 7, 2023        
        To: November 7, 2024        
At 12:01 A.M. local time at the Address of Assured.
Item 2. Single Loss Limits Of Liability – Deductible Amounts:    
      Insuring Clause   Single Loss Limit Of   Deductible Amount
              Liability    
  1 . Employee     $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
  2 . On Premises     $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
  3 . In Transit     $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
  4 . Forgery Or Alteration   $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
  5 . Extended Forgery   $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
  6 . Counterfeit Money   $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
  7 . Computer System Fraud   $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
  8 . Claims Expense   $ 25,000 $ 0
  9 . Audit Expense     $ 25,000 $ 0
  10. Uncollectible Items Of Deposit $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
  11 . Voice Initiated Funds Transfer $ 1,000,000 $ 10,000
      Instruction            

 

PF-52903D (08/21)

Page 1 of 2

 

Financial Institution Bond
For Investment Companies
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Bond to be signed by its Authorized Officers, but it shall
not be valid unless also signed by a duly authorized representative of the Company.
FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

 


PF-52903D (08/21)

Page 2 of 2

 

Important Notice
 
 
The SEC Requires Proof of Your Fidelity Insurance Policy
 
Your company is now required to file an electronic copy of your fidelity insurance coverage (Chubb’s ICAP Bond
policy) to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to rules adopted by the SEC on June 12,
2006.
 
Chubb is in the process of providing your agent/broker with an electronic copy of your insurance policy as well as
instructions on how to submit this proof of fidelity insurance coverage to the SEC. You can expect to receive this
information from your agent/broker shortly.
 
The electronic copy of your policy is provided by Chubb solely as a convenience and does not affect the terms and
conditions of coverage as set forth in the paper policy you receive by mail. The terms and conditions of the policy
mailed to you, which are the same as those set forth in the electronic copy, constitute the entire agreement
between your company and Chubb.
 
If you have any questions, please contact your agent or broker.

 

14-02-12160 (08/19)

Page 1 of 1

 

Notice of Loss Control Services Texas
 
Insuring Company: Federal Insurance Company
 
As a Chubb policyholder, you have loss prevention information and/or services available to you, as listed in this
Notice. You may order any brochure by email to formsordering@chubb.com and to view our full suite of loss
prevention brochures/services go to www.chubb.com/us/fl-lossprevention
 
Errors and Omissions Liability Loss Prevention Services
 
• Miscellaneous Professional Liability
What is E&O Liability Insurance Booklet? -#14-01-0157
 
--------------------
The services provided are advisory in nature. While this program is offered as a resource in developing or
maintaining a loss prevention program, you should consult competent legal counsel to design and implement your
own program. No liability is assumed by reason of the services, access or information provided. All services are
subject to change without notice.

 

14-02-23032 (05/2018)

Page 1 of 1

 

Notice to Policyholders
 
 
 
 
Insuring Company: Federal Insurance Company
 
 
 
Enclosed is your commercial insurance policy from Chubb. The bill that corresponds with this policy has been
mailed separately. When you receive the bill, please pay the amount due by the date indicated. Payment should
be made directly to Chubb. As always, prompt payment will keep your coverage in place.
 
If you have any questions about the attached policy or need assistance with additional insurance, contact your
agent or broker. For questions about billing, call our Premium Accounting Service Center at 1-800-372-4822.
Thank you for insuring through Chubb.

 

99-10-0460B (08/19)

Page 1 of 1

 

Chubb Producer Compensation
Practices & Policies
 
Chubb believes that policyholders should have access to information about Chubb's practices and policies related
to the payment of compensation to brokers and independent agents. You can obtain that information by accessing
our website at http://www.chubbproducercompensation.com or by calling the following toll-free telephone
number:
 
1-866-512-2862.

 

ALL-20887a (09/19)

 

Trade or Economic
Sanctions Notice
 
 
TRADE OR ECONOMIC SANCTIONS NOTICE
This insurance does not apply to the extent that trade or economic sanctions or other laws or regulations prohibit
us from providing insurance, including, but not limited to, the payment of claims. All other terms and conditions
of the policy remain unchanged.

 

ALL-21101 (09/19)

Page 1 of 1

 

    IMPORTANT NOTICE TO
    POLICYHOLDERS
 
 
Social Engineering Tips
 
Please read!
 
 
    HAVE YOU BEEN TRICKED INTO WIRE FRAUD? TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!
 
If you believe you have transferred funds to a criminal posing as a legitimate business associate, you should act
quickly:
 
1 . Immediately contact the originating bank and request a recall of the wire transfer and confirm that
    recall in writing.
 
2 . Immediately file a complaint with the FBI at www.ic3.gov. This reporting triggers the FBI’s Recovery Asset
    Team and the FBI’s assistance seeking return of the wire transfer.
 
3 . Preserve records of the incident, including emails sent and received in their original electronic state.
    Correspondence and forensic information contained in these electronic files help investigators shed light on
    the perpetrator(s), and parties responsible for the incident.
 
4 . Once the above steps are complete, contact Chubb per the instructions in your policy.
 
While neither recalling the wire transfer nor reporting to the FBI guarantees the return of your funds, these steps
maximize the opportunity to mitigate your loss, assist the FBI in tracing the funds and help establish any
insurance claim.
 
Simple Steps to Prevent Fraudulently Induced Wire Transfers
 
Email communication is efficient, but it is not a secure method of communication. Regardless of your familiarity
with a contact, that contact’s email may be intercepted, altered and fabricated. You may reduce the
chances of fraud by following these best practices:
 
1 . Verify Email Requests by Telephone: Require those responsible for paying invoices or changing bank
    routing information to verify payment details over the phone, rather than by email or documents sent
    electronically. Making a phone call to a known, pre-existing telephone number remains the single best
    protection against fraud.
 
2 . Segregate Wire Transfer Responsibilities: Establish a standing policy that requires at least three people
    to review and approve wire transfer requests, pay an invoice or change a business partner’s bank account
    information. Such requests should be entered by the initiator of the wire and verified by two independent
    signatories.
 
3 . Turn on MFA for Cloud Email: Multifactor Authentication is available from all major email providers. It
    provides a layer of security to email accounts beyond a user’s account name and password, making it harder
    for criminals to impersonate you, your executives and your employees.
 
This document is for information only. It is offered as a resource to be used together with your professional
insurance advisers in maintaining a loss prevention program. No liability is assumed by reason of the
information this document contains.

 

ALL-317454 (03/21)

Page 1 of 1

 

Texas Notice
Information and Complaints
 
Have a complaint or need help?
If you have a problem with a claim or your premium, call your insurance company or HMO first. If you can't work
out the issue, the Texas Department of Insurance may be able to help.
Even if you file a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance, you should also file a complaint or appeal
through your insurance company or HMO. If you don't, you may lose your right to appeal.
 
Chubb
To get information or file a complaint with your insurance company or HMO:
 
Call: Chubb at 1-800-352-4462
 
Email: ChubbUSCustomerServices@chubb.com
Mail: Chubb Customer Services, PO Box 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3703
 
The Texas Department of Insurance
To get help with an insurance question or file a complaint with the state:
Call with a question: 1-800-252-3439
File a complaint: www.tdi.texas.gov
Email: ConsumerProtection@tdi.texas.gov
Mail: MC 111-1A, P.O. Box 149091, Austin, TX 78714-9091
 
¿Tiene una queja o necesita ayuda?
Si tiene un problema con una reclamación o con su prima de seguro, llame primero a su compañía de seguros o
HMO. Si no puede resolver el problema, es posible que el Departamento de Seguros de Texas (Texas Department
of Insurance, por su nombre en inglés) pueda ayudar.
Aun si usted presenta una queja ante el Departamento de Seguros de Texas, también debe presentar una queja a
través del proceso de quejas o de apelaciones de su compañía de seguros o HMO. Si no lo hace, podría perder su
derecho para apelar.
 
Chubb
Para obtener información o para presentar una queja ante su compañía de seguros o
HMO:
 
Llame a: Chubb al 1-800-352-4462
 
Correo electrónico: ChubbUSCustomerServices@chubb.com
Dirección postal: Chubb Customer Services, PO Box 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3703

 

ALL-4Y30g (05/20)

Page 1 of 2

 

Texas Notice
Information and Complaints
 
El Departamento de Seguros de Texas
Para obtener ayuda con una pregunta relacionada con los seguros o para presentar una queja ante el estado:
Llame con sus preguntas al: 1-800-252-3439
Presente una queja en: www.tdi.texas.gov
Correo electrónico: ConsumerProtection@tdi.texas.gov
Dirección postal: MC 111-1A, P.O. Box 149091, Austin, TX 78714-9091

 

ALL-4Y30g (05/20)

Page 2 of 2

 

U. S. Treasury Department’s Office
 
Of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”)
 
Advisory Notice to Policyholders
 
This Policyholder Notice shall not be construed as part of your policy and no coverage is provided by this
Policyholder Notice nor can it be construed to replace any provisions of your policy. You should read your
policy and review your Declarations page for complete information on the coverages you are provided.
 
This Notice provides information concerning possible impact on your insurance coverage due to directives
issued by OFAC. Please read this Notice carefully.
 
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) administers and enforces sanctions policy, based on
Presidential declarations of "national emergency". OFAC has identified and listed numerous:
 
l Foreign agents;
l Front organizations;
l Terrorists;
l Terrorist organizations; and
l Narcotics traffickers;
 
as "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons". This list can be located on the United States
Treasury's web site – http//www. treas. gov/ofac.
 
In accordance with OFAC regulations, if it is determined that you or any other insured, or any person or
entity claiming the benefits of this insurance has violated U. S. sanctions law or is a Specially Designated
National and Blocked Person, as identified by OFAC, this insurance will be considered a blocked or frozen
contract and all provisions of this insurance are immediately subject to OFAC. When an insurance policy
is considered to be such a blocked or frozen contract, no payments nor premium refunds may be made
without authorization from OFAC. Other limitations on the premiums and payments also apply.

 

PF-17914a (04/16) Reprinted, in part, with permission of Page 1 of 1
  ISO Properties, Inc.  

 

 

Notice to Policyholders
 
 
 
 
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR INSURANCE?
 
Answers to questions about your insurance, coverage information, or assistance in resolving
complaints can be obtained by contacting:
 
CHUBB
Customer Support Service Department
436 Walnut Street
PO Box 1000
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3703
1-800-352-4462

 

PF-17993a (04/20)

Page 1 of 1

 

        Financial Institution Bond
        For Investment Companies
 
 
The Company, in consideration of the premium paid, and in reliance on the Application and all other statements
made and information furnished to the Company by the Assured, and subject to the Declarations made part of this
Bond and to all other terms, conditions, and limitations of this Bond, agrees to pay the Assured for:
 
I.   INSURING CLAUSES
1 . Employee
    Loss resulting directly from Larceny or Embezzlement committed by any Employee acting alone or
    in collusion with others.
2 . On Premises
    Loss of Property resulting directly from:
    a. robbery, burglary, misplacement, mysterious unexplainable disappearance, damage or destruction; or
    b. false pretenses, or common law or statutory larceny, committed by a natural person while on the
      premises of the Assured,
    while the Property is lodged or deposited at premises located anywhere.
    For the purpose of coverage under this Insuring Clause 2, the premises of securities depositories shall be
    deemed to be premises of the Assured, but only with respect to the loss of Certificated Securities.
    Certificated Securities held by such depositories shall be deemed to be Property, but only to the extent
    of the Assured’s interest therein as detailed in the books and records of such depositories.
3 . In Transit
    Loss of Property resulting directly from common law or statutory larceny, misplacement, mysterious
    unexplainable disappearance, damage or destruction, while the Property is in transit anywhere in:
    a. an armored motor vehicle, including loading and unloading thereof;
    b. the custody of a natural person acting as a messenger of the Assured; or
    c. the custody of a Transportation Company and being transported in a conveyance other than an
      armored motor vehicle, provided that covered Property transported in such manner is limited to the
      following:
      (1) Written records;
      (2) Certificated Securities issued in registered form, which are not endorsed or are restrictively
        endorsed; or
      (3) Negotiable Instruments not payable to bearer, which are not endorsed or are restrictively
        endorsed.
    Coverage under this Insuring Clause 3 begins immediately on the receipt of such Property by the armored
    motor vehicle, natural person messenger, or Transportation Company and ends immediately on
    delivery to the premises of the addressee or to any representative of the addressee located anywhere.
4 . Forgery Or Alteration
    Loss resulting directly from the Assured having, in good faith:
    a. transferred, paid, or delivered any Property; or
    b. established any credit or given any value,
    in reliance on any Written and Original:

 

PF-52903 (08/21)

Page 1 of 17

 

            Financial Institution Bond
            For Investment Companies
 
 
      (1 ) Negotiable Instrument (other than an Evidence of Debt);
      (2 ) Acceptance;
      (3 ) Withdrawal Order or receipt for the withdrawal of Property;
      (4 ) Certificate of Deposit;
      (5 ) Letter of Credit; or
      (6 ) instruction or advice directed to the Assured and purportedly signed by any Customer, any
          financial institution, or any Employee,
      which  
          i. bears a Forgery; or
          ii. is fraudulently materially altered.
    For the purpose of this Insuring Clause 4, a reproduction of a handwritten signature is treated the same as
    the handwritten signature. An electronic or digital signature is not treated as a reproduction of a
    handwritten signature.
5 . Extended Forgery
    Loss resulting directly from the Assured having, in good faith, for its own account or the account of others:
    a. acquired, sold or delivered, given value, extended credit or assumed liability in reliance on any Written
      and Original:
      (1 ) Certificated Security;
      (2 ) deed, mortgage or other instrument conveying title to, or creating or discharging a lien on, real
          property;
      (3 ) Evidence of Debt; or
      (4 ) Instruction,
      which  
          i. bears a Forgery, but only to the extent the Forgery directly causes the loss;
          ii. is fraudulently materially altered, but only to the extent the alteration directly causes the loss;
            or
          iii. is lost or stolen;
    b. guaranteed in writing or witnessed any signature on any:
      (1 ) transfer;
      (2 ) assignment;
      (3 ) bill of sale;
      (4 ) power of attorney; or
      (5 ) endorsement upon any item listed in a.(1) through a.(4) above,
      but only to the extent that such guarantee or signature directly causes the loss; or
    c. acquired, sold or delivered, or given value, extended credit or assumed liability in reliance on any item
      listed in a.(1) or a.(2) above which is a Counterfeit Original, but only to the extent the Counterfeit
      Original directly causes the loss.

 

PF-52903 (08/21)

Page 2 of 17

 

      Financial Institution Bond
      For Investment Companies
 
 
    Actual physical possession, and continued actual physical possession if taken as collateral, of the items
    listed in a.(1) through a.(4) above by an Employee, Custodian, or a federal or state chartered deposit
    institution of the Assured is a condition precedent to the Assured having relied on such items. Release
    or return of such collateral is an acknowledgment by the Assured that it no longer relies on such collateral.
    For the purpose of this Insuring Clause 5, a reproduction of a handwritten signature is treated the same as
    the handwritten signature. An electronic or digital signature is not treated as a reproduction of a
    handwritten signature.
6 . Counterfeit Money
    Loss resulting directly from the receipt by the Assured in good faith of counterfeit Money.
7 . Computer System Fraud
    Loss resulting directly from the:
    a. withdrawal, transfer, payment, or delivery of Property; or
    b. creation, deletion, debiting, or crediting of an account of the Assured or Customer,
    which results directly from a Network Intrusion.
8 . Claims Expense
    Claims Expenses incurred by the Assured in determining the amount of covered loss under this Bond
    in excess of the applicable Deductible Amount.
9 . Audit Expense
    Audit Expenses incurred by the Assured by reason of the discovery of loss covered under Insuring
    Clause 1.
10 . Uncollectible Items Of Deposit
    Loss resulting directly from the Assured having credited an account of a customer, shareholder, or
    subscriber on the faith of any Items of Deposit which prove to be uncollectible, provided that the crediting
    of such account causes:
    a. redemptions or withdrawals to be permitted;
    b. shares to be issued; or
    c. dividends to be paid,
    from an account of an Assured.
    As a condition precedent to coverage under this Insuring Clause 10, the Assured must hold Items of
    Deposit for the minimum number of days stated in the Application before permitting any redemptions or
    withdrawals, issuing any shares, or paying any dividends with respect to such Items of Deposit.
    Items of Deposit shall not be deemed uncollectible until the Assured’s standard collection procedures
    have failed.
11 . Voice Initiated Funds Transfer Instruction
    Loss resulting directly from the Assured having, in good faith, transferred, paid, or delivered Money or
    Securities in reliance upon any Voice Initiated Funds Transfer Instruction that purports, and
    reasonably appears, to have originated from:
    a. the Customer;
    b. an Employee acting on instructions of such Customer; or

 

PF-52903 (08/21)

Page 3 of 17

 

        Financial Institution Bond
        For Investment Companies
 
 
 
      c. a financial institution acting on behalf of such Customer with authority to make such instructions,
 
      but which Voice Initiated Funds Transfer Instruction was, in fact, fraudulently issued without the
      knowledge of the Assured, Employee, or Customer.
 
      As a condition precedent to coverage under this Insuring Clause 11, the Voice Initiated Funds Transfer
      Instruction must be received and processed in accordance with the Designated Procedures as outlined in
      the Application furnished to the Company.
 
 
II.     GENERAL AGREEMENTS
 
  1 . Automatic Increase – Limit Of Liability
 
      If, during the Bond Period, an increase in the minimum amount of the Single Loss Limit Of Liability
      applicable to Insuring Clause 1 is required pursuant to Rule 17g-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
      as a result of:
 
      a. the creation of a new Investment Company; or
 
      b. an increase in the gross assets of Investment Companies covered under the Bond,
 
      then the minimum required increase in the amount of the Single Loss Limit Of Liability applicable to
      Insuring Clause 1 shall take place automatically for the remainder of the Bond Period without payment of
      an additional premium.
 
  2 . Joint Assured
 
      The first named Assured shall be deemed to be the sole agent of the other Assureds for all purposes
      under this Bond, including but not limited to the giving or receiving of any notice or proof required to be
      given and for the purpose of effecting or accepting any amendments to or termination of this Bond.
 
      If the first named Assured ceases for any reason to be covered under this Bond, then the Assured next
      named on the Application shall thereafter be considered as the first named Assured for the purposes of
      this Bond.
 
      The Company shall furnish each Assured with a copy of the Bond and with any amendment thereto,
      together with a copy of each formal filing of claim by any other Assured and notification of the terms of
      the settlement of each such claim prior to the execution of such settlement.
 
      Knowledge possessed or discovery made by any Assured shall constitute knowledge possessed or discovery
      made by all of the Assureds for the purposes of this Bond.
 
      All loss and other payments, if any, payable by the Company, shall be payable to the first named Assured
      without regard to such Assured’s obligations to others, and the Company shall not be responsible for the
      application by the first named Assured of any payment made by the Company. If the Company agrees to
      and makes payment to any Assured other than the first named Assured, such payment shall be treated
      as though made to the first named Assured.
 
      The Company shall not be liable for loss sustained by one Assured to the advantage of any other Assured.
 
  3 . Notice To Company Of Legal Proceedings Against Assured – Election To Defend
 
      The Assured shall promptly give notice to the Company of any legal proceeding brought to determine the
      Assured’s liability for any loss, claim or damage which, if established, would constitute a collectible loss
      under this Bond. Concurrent with such notice, and as requested thereafter, the Assured shall furnish
      copies of all pleadings and pertinent papers to the Company.
 
      The Company may, at its sole option, elect to conduct the defense of all or part of such legal proceeding.
      The defense by the Company shall be in the name of the Assured through attorneys selected by the
      Company. The Assured shall provide all reasonable information and assistance as required by the
      Company for such defense.

 

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    If the Company elects to defend all or part of any legal proceeding, the court costs and attorneys’ fees
    incurred by the Company and any settlement or judgment on that part defended by the Company shall be
    a loss under the applicable Insuring Clause of this Bond. In addition, if the amount demanded in the legal
    proceeding is greater than the amount recoverable under this Bond, or if a Deductible Amount is applicable,
    or both, the Company’s liability for court costs and attorneys’ fees incurred in defending all or part of such
    legal proceeding is limited to the proportion of such court costs and attorneys’ fees incurred that the amount
    recoverable under this Bond bears to the total of the amount demanded in such legal proceeding.
    If the Company declines to defend the Assured, no settlement without the prior written consent of the
    Company or judgment against the Assured shall determine the existence, extent or amount of coverage
    under this Bond, and the Company shall not be liable for any costs, fees and expenses incurred by the
    Assured.
4 . Representations Made By Assured
    The Assured represents that all information it has furnished in the Application for this Bond or otherwise
    is complete, true and correct. Such Application and other information constitute part of this Bond. Any
    intentional misrepresentation, omission, concealment or incorrect statement of a material fact, in the
    Application or otherwise, shall be grounds for rescission of this Bond.
 
III.   DEFINITIONS
    As used in this Bond:
    Acceptance means a draft which the drawee has, by signature written on it, engaged to honor as presented.
    Assured means:
    (1 ) the Investment Company listed under Name of Assured in the Declarations (the “first named
        Assured”); or
    (2 ) any other Investment Company listed in the Application.
    Assured does not include any entity or organization that is not an Investment Company.
    Assured’s Network means:
    (1 ) the Assured’s Computer System; or
    (2 ) an Electronic Communication System.
    Audit Expenses means reasonable expenses incurred by the Assured with the Company’s prior written
    consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, for audits or examinations required by any
    governmental regulatory authority or self-regulatory organization to be conducted by such authority,
    organization, or their appointee. Audit Expense shall not include the Assured’s internal corporate costs
    (such as salaries), attorneys’ fees, or expenses incurred by any customer.
    Certificate of Deposit means an acknowledgment in writing by a financial institution of receipt of
    Money with an engagement to repay it.
    Certificated Security means a share, participation or other interest in property of the issuer, or an
    enterprise of the issuer, or an obligation of the issuer, which is:
    (1 ) represented by an instrument issued in bearer or registered form;
    (2 ) of a type commonly dealt in on securities exchanges or markets or commonly recognized in any area in
        which it is issued or dealt in as a medium for investment; and
    (3 ) either one of a class or series or by its terms divisible into a class or series of shares, participations,
        interests or obligations.

 

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Claims Expenses means reasonable expenses incurred by the Assured with the Company’s prior written
consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, solely for independent firms or individuals retained to
determine the amount of a covered loss. Claims Expenses shall not include the Assured’s internal
corporate costs (such as salaries), attorneys’ fees, or expenses incurred by any customer.
Computer System means a device or group of devices and all input, output, processing, storage, off-line
media libraries (including third-party hosted computing services accessed across the internet, including
infrastructure, platform, and software services), and communication facilities, including related
communications networks, which are connected directly or indirectly to such device or group of devices.
Counterfeit Original means an imitation of an actual valid Original which is intended to deceive and
be taken as the Original.
Cryptocurrency means a digital or electronic medium of exchange, operating independently of a central
bank, in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units and to verify the transfer
of such units.
Custodian means the institution designated by an Assured to maintain possession and control of its
assets.
Customer means any shareholder of an Assured which has a written agreement with the Assured to
transfer such shareholder’s Money or Securities through a Voice Initiated Funds Transfer
Instruction.
Customer Communication System means an:
(1 ) online portal or mobile application provided by the Assured for purposes of accessing a Customer’s
    account; or
(2 ) electronic mailing system hosted by the Assured or by a third party cloud service provider.
Director means any natural person duly elected or appointed:
(1 ) as an officer of the Assured;
(2 ) to the Assured’s board of directors; or
(3 ) as a trustee of the Assured.
Electronic Communication System means:
(1 ) Fedwire, Clearing House Interbank Payment System (CHIPS), Society for Worldwide Interbank
    Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), and similar automated interbank communication systems in
    which the Assured participates;
(2 ) Customer Communication System; or
(3 ) any communication system similar to those set forth in (1) and (2) of this definition in which the
    Assured participates,
allowing for the input, output, examination, or transfer of electronic instructions into or from the
Assured’s Computer System.
Employee means any natural person:
(1 ) while in the regular service of an Assured in the ordinary course of such Assured’s business, whom
    such Assured compensates directly by salary or wage and has the right to control and direct in the
    performance of such service;
(2 ) Director while in the regular service of an Assured in the ordinary course of such Assured’s
    business, or while acting as a member of any committee duly elected or appointed to examine or audit
    or have custody of or access to Property of the Assured;
(3 ) intern while in the regular service of an Assured in the ordinary course of such Assured’s business;

 

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(4 ) provided by an employment contractor while in the regular service of an Assured in the ordinary
    course of such Assured’s business under the Assured’s supervision at any of the Assured’s
    premises;
(5 ) employee of the Assured’s contracted:
    a. investment advisor;
    b. underwriter (distributor);
    c. transfer agent;
    d. shareholder accounting record-keeper; or
    e. fund administrator,
    while performing acts for the Assured in the capacity of an Employee;
(6 ) attorney of a law firm retained by the Assured while performing legal services for the Assured; or
(7 ) Processor, but only while such Processor is performing services and not:
    a. creating, preparing, modifying, or maintaining the Assured’s computer applications or software
      programs; or
    b. acting as a transfer agent or in any other agency capacity in issuing checks, drafts, or securities for
      the Assured.
Each employer of persons as set forth in (6) and (7) of this definition and the partners, officers, and other
employees of such employers shall collectively be deemed to be one person for the purpose of the definition
of Single Loss and in the event of payment under this Bond, the Company shall be subrogated to the
Assured’s rights of recovery, as stated in Section 12., Subrogation – Assignment – Recovery, of the
Conditions and Limitations, against any such employer.
Employee does not include:
(1 ) any employee of a fund administrator for any employee benefit plan; or
(2 ) any employee of a transfer agent, shareholder accounting record-keeper, or fund administrator which
    is:  
    a. not an “affiliated person” (as defined in Section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940) of an
      Assured or of the investment advisor or underwriter (distributor) of such Assured; or
    b. a “bank” (as defined in Section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940).
Evidence of Debt means an instrument, including a Negotiable Instrument, executed by a Customer
and held by the Assured, which in the regular course of business is treated as evidencing the Customer’s
debt to the Assured.
Forgery means:
(1 ) affixing the handwritten signature, or a reproduction of the handwritten signature, of another natural
    person without authorization and with the intent to deceive; or
(2 ) affixing the name of an organization as an endorsement to a check without authority and with the intent
    to deceive,
provided that a signature which consists in whole or in part of one’s own name signed with or without
authority, in any capacity, for any purpose is not a Forgery.
Initial Transaction Statement means the first written statement signed by or on behalf of the issuer of
an Uncertificated Security sent to the registered owner or registered pledgee containing:

 

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(1 ) a description of the issue of which the Uncertificated Security is a part;
(2 ) the number of shares or units transferred to the registered owner, pledged by the registered owner to
    the registered pledgee, or released from pledge by the registered pledgee;
(3 ) the name, address and taxpayer identification number, if any, of the registered owner and registered
    pledgee; and
(4 ) the date the transfer, pledge or release was registered.
Instruction means a written order to the issuer of an Uncertificated Security requesting that the
transfer, pledge or release from pledge of the specified Uncertificated Security be registered.
Investment Company means any entity registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Items of Deposit means one or more checks or drafts drawn upon a financial institution in the United
States of America.
Larceny or Embezzlement means larceny and embezzlement as defined under Section 37 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
Letter of Credit means an engagement in writing by a bank or other person made at the request of a
customer that the bank or other person will honor drafts or other demands for payment in compliance with
the conditions specified in the engagement.
Money means a medium of exchange in current use authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign
government as part of its currency.
Negotiable Instrument means any writing:
(1 ) signed by the maker or drawer;
(2 ) containing an unconditional promise or order to pay a sum certain in Money and no other promise,
    order, obligation or power given by the maker or drawer;
(3 ) payable on demand or at a definite time; and
(4 ) payable to order or bearer.
Negotiable Instrument includes a substitute check as defined in the Check Clearing for the 21st Century
Act, and shall be treated the same as the Original it replaced.
Network Intrusion means the:
(1 ) unauthorized access; or
(2 ) entry of an unauthorized application or software program,
into the Assured’s Network, by any entity or natural person, except an Employee or any authorized
representative of the Assured.
Original means the first rendering or archetype and does not include photocopies or electronic
transmissions even if received and printed.
Processor means an employee of any entity authorized by the Assured to perform data processing of the
Assured’s checks and accounting records related to such checks. Processor does not include any
employee of a Federal Reserve Bank or clearing house.
Property means Money; Securities; Initial Transaction Statement; Negotiable Instrument;
Certificate of Deposit; Acceptance; Evidence of Debt; Withdrawal Order; Letter of Credit;
insurance policy; abstract of title, deed and mortgage on real estate; revenue and other stamps; precious
metals in any form; and books of accounts and other Written records, but not electronic data processing
records or media.
Property does not include electronic data or Cryptocurrency.

 

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    Securities means either Certificated Securities or Uncertificated Securities.
    Single Loss means all covered loss, court costs, and attorneys’ fees resulting from:
    (1 ) any one act of burglary, robbery or attempt at either, in which no Employee is implicated;
    (2 ) any one act or series of related acts on the part of any natural person resulting in the damage,
        destruction, or misplacement of Property;
    (3 ) all acts other than those specified in (1) and (2) of this definition, caused by any natural person or in
        which such natural person is implicated; or
    (4 ) any one event not specified in (1), (2) or (3) of this definition.
    Transportation Company means any organization which provides its own or its leased vehicles for
    transportation or which provides freight forwarding or air express services.
    Uncertificated Security means a share, participation or other interest in property of the issuer, or an
    enterprise of the issuer, or an obligation of the issuer, which is:
    (1 ) not represented by an instrument and the transfer of which is registered on books maintained for that
        purpose by or on behalf of the issuer;
    (2 ) of a type commonly dealt in on securities exchanges or markets; and
    (3 ) either one of a class or series or by its terms divisible into a class or series of shares, participations,
        interests or obligations.
    Voice Initiated Funds Transfer Instruction means those oral instructions which authorize the
    transfer of Money in a Customer’s account, or of a Customer’s Securities, and which are:
    (1 ) made over a telecommunications device; and
    (2 ) directed to those natural persons specifically authorized to receive such instructions by such
        telecommunications device.
    Withdrawal Order means a non-negotiable instrument, other than an Instruction, signed by a
    Customer authorizing the Assured to debit the Customer’s account in the amount of funds stated
    therein.
    Written means expressed through letters or marks placed upon paper and visible to the eye.
    For the purposes of these definitions, the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular,
    unless otherwise indicated.
 
IV.   EXCLUSIONS
1 . General Exclusions – Applicable To All Insuring Clauses
    This Bond does not cover loss resulting directly or indirectly from:
    a.   riot or civil commotion outside the United States of America and Canada, or any loss due to military,
        naval or usurped power, war or insurrection. This Exclusion 1.a., however, shall not apply to loss which
        occurs in transit in the circumstances recited in Insuring Clause 3, provided that when such transit was
        initiated there was no knowledge on the part of any person acting for the Assured of such riot, civil
        commotion, military, naval or usurped power, war or insurrection;
    b.   the effects of nuclear fission or fusion, radioactivity, or chemical or biological contamination;
    c.   the loss of potential income. This Exclusion 1.c., however, shall not apply to interest and dividends
        accrued to the benefit of the Assured or any Customer prior to the discovery of a covered loss,
        whether or not such accrued interest or dividends have been paid into the account of such Assured or
        Customer as of the discovery of such covered loss;

 

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d. damages of any type for which the Assured is legally liable, except compensatory damages, but not
  multiples thereof, arising from a loss covered under this Bond;
e. all costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Assured:
  (1 ) in establishing the existence of or amount of loss covered under this Bond, except for loss covered
      under Insuring Clause 8 or 9; or
  (2 ) as a party to any legal proceeding, even if such legal proceeding results in a loss covered by this
      Bond;
f. indirect or consequential loss of any nature, except for loss covered under Insuring Clause 8 or 9. This
  Exclusion 1.f., however, shall not apply to interest and dividends accrued to the benefit of the Assured
  or any Customer prior to the discovery of a covered loss, whether or not such accrued interest or
  dividends have been paid into the account of such Assured or Customer as of the discovery of such
  covered loss;
g. any violation by the Assured or by any Employee:
  (1 ) of any law regulating:
      i. the issuance, purchase or sale of securities;
      ii. securities transactions on security or commodity exchanges or the over the counter market;
      iii. investment companies; or
      iv. investment advisors; or
  (2 ) of any rule or regulation made pursuant to any such law;
h. the loss or disclosure of confidential information, material or data, while in the care, custody or control
  of the Assured, including but not limited to patents, trade secrets, processing methods, customer lists,
  financial information, credit card information, health information, retirement or health savings
  account information, or any similar type of non-public information. This Exclusion 1.h., however, shall
  not apply when such information, material or data is used to support or facilitate the commission of
  any act otherwise covered under this Bond;
i. fees, costs, fines, penalties or any other expenses incurred by an Assured which result, directly or
  indirectly, from the access to or disclosure of an Assured’s or another entity’s or person’s confidential
  or personal information, including but not limited to patents, trade secrets, processing methods,
  customer lists, financial information, credit card information, health information, retirement or health
  savings account information, or any similar type of non-public information;
j. liability resulting from disclosure of or acting on material nonpublic information;
k. liability assumed by the Assured by agreement under any contract, unless loss under this Bond would
  be covered in the absence of such agreement;
l. the dishonest acts of any Director who is not an Employee, acting alone or in collusion with others;
m. any modification, damage, destruction, deletion, or corruption of any application or software program
  within the Assured’s Network, except for loss covered under Insuring Clause 7;
n. a threat or series of threats to:
  (1 ) gain access to the Assured’s Computer System and sell or disclose confidential information
      stored within the Assured’s Computer System; or
  (2 ) modify, damage, destroy, delete, or corrupt any application or software program within the
      Assured’s Computer System;
o. costs or expenses of any independent forensic analysts or network security consultants engaged to
  investigate or assess any actual or alleged threat;

 

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          For Investment Companies
 
 
    p. costs or expenses incurred to identify or remediate application or software program errors or
      vulnerabilities, or costs to update, replace, restore, upgrade, maintain, or improve a Computer
      System;
    q. costs or expenses incurred to replace, restore, recreate, collect, or recover any application or software
      program; or
    r. Cryptocurrency.
2 . Specific Exclusions – Applicable To All Insuring Clauses Except Insuring Clause 1
    This Bond does not cover loss resulting directly or indirectly from:
    a. the acts of an Employee, except for loss covered under:
      (1 ) Insuring Clause 2 or 3 which results directly from misplacement, mysterious unexplainable
          disappearance, or damage or destruction of Property; or
      (2 ) Insuring Clause 11;
    b. the surrender of a ransom or extortion payment away from the Assured’s premises as a result of a
      threat to do bodily harm to any person, or to do damage to the premises or Property of the Assured,
      except for loss covered under Insuring Clause 3.b.;
    c. payments made or withdrawals from any account involving erroneous credits to such account, unless
      such payments or withdrawals are physically received by such depositor or representative of such
      depositor who is within the premises of the Assured at the time of such payment or withdrawal;
    d. any Uncertificated Security, except for loss covered under Insuring Clause 7;
    e. the loss of Property while:
      (1 ) in the mail;
      (2 ) in the custody of a Transportation Company, except for loss covered under Insuring Clause 3;
          or
      (3 ) located on the premises of an armored motor vehicle operator;
    f. damages resulting from any civil, criminal or other legal proceeding in which the Assured is
      adjudicated to have engaged in Racketeering activity;
    g. the failure for any reason of a financial or depository institution, its receiver or other liquidator to pay
      or deliver funds or Property to the Assured, except for loss of Securities covered under Insuring
      Clause 2;
    h. instructions issued by a Customer to the Assured when such instructions are made, sent, or
      originated by a natural person authorized by the Customer to make, send, or originate any
      instructions;
    i. the use of credit, debit, charge, access, convenience, identification, cash management, or other cards
      whether such cards were issued, or purport to have been issued, by the Assured or by any entity other
      than the Assured;
    j. Items of Deposit which are not finally paid for any reason including, but not limited to, Forgery or
      any other fraud, except for loss covered under Insuring Clause 10;
    k. the acts of any agent, broker, factor, commission merchant, independent contractor, intermediary,
      finder, or other representative of the same general character of the Assured; or
    l. the acts of any employee, agent, broker, factor, commission merchant, independent contractor,
      intermediary, finder, or other representative of the same general character of any third party, while
      conducting business with the Assured on behalf of such third party.

 

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3 . Specific Exclusions – Applicable To All Insuring Clauses Except Insuring Clauses 1, 4, and 5
    This Bond does not cover loss resulting directly or indirectly from:
    a. the complete or partial non-payment of or default on any loan whether such loan was procured in good
      faith or through trick, artifice, fraud, or false pretenses, except for loss covered under Insuring Clause
      7 ;  
    b. any Forgery or any alteration, except for loss covered under Insuring Clause 7; or
    c. any counterfeit, except for loss covered under Insuring Clause 6.
4 . Specific Exclusions – Applicable To Insuring Clause 7
    This Bond does not cover loss resulting directly or indirectly from:
    a. any transfer, payment, or delivery of Money or Securities:
      (1 ) authorized by an Employee; or
      (2 ) arising out of any misrepresentation received by any Employee, agent, broker, factor, commission
          merchant, independent contractor, intermediary, finder, or other representative of the same
          general character of the Assured,
      whether such transfer, payment, or delivery was made in good faith or as a result of trick, artifice, fraud,
      or false pretenses;
    b. forged, altered or fraudulent Negotiable Instruments, Securities, documents or written
      instruments used as source documentation for input into a Computer System;
    c. any investment in Securities, or ownership in any corporation, partnership, real property, commodity
      or similar instrument, whether or not such investment is genuine or fraudulent;
    d. mechanical failure, faulty construction, error in design, latent defect, wear and tear, gradual
      deterioration, electrical disturbance, the Assured’s Network failure or breakdown, any malfunction
      or error in programming, or error or omission in processing;
    e. entries or changes made by a natural person with authorized access to the Assured’s Network who
      acts in good faith on instructions, unless such instructions are given to that person by a software
      contractor or its partner, officer, or employee authorized to design, develop, prepare, supply, service,
      write or implement programs for the Assured’s Network; or
    f. entries or changes made at an Electronic Funds Transfer System or a Customer
      Communication System by a:
      (1 ) Customer; or
      (2 ) natural person with authorized access to the Customer’s authentication credentials or
          mechanism.
5 . Specific Exclusions – Applicable To Insuring Clause 11
    This Bond does not cover loss resulting directly or indirectly from any Voice Initiated Transfer
    Instruction from a:
      (1 ) Customer; or
      (2 ) natural person with authorized access to the Customer’s verification credentials or mechanism.

 

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        For Investment Companies
 
 
V.     CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS
  1 . Anti-Bundling
      If any Insuring Clause requires that an enumerated type of document be fraudulently materially altered or
      a Counterfeit Original, or contain a signature which is a Forgery or obtained through trick, artifice,
      fraud, or false pretenses, the material alteration or Counterfeit Original or fraudulent signature must be
      on or of the enumerated document itself not on or of some other document submitted with, accompanying
      or incorporated by reference into the enumerated document.
  2 . Change Or Modification
      No change in or modification of this Bond shall be effective except when made by written endorsement to
      this Bond signed by an authorized representative of the Company.
      If this Bond is for a sole Assured, no change or modification which would adversely affect the rights of the
      Assured shall be effective prior to sixty (60) days after written notice has been furnished by the acting
      party to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
      If this Bond is for joint Assureds, no change or modification which would adversely affect the rights of any
      Assured shall be effective prior to sixty (60) days after written notice has been furnished by the Company
      to all Assureds and to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
  3 . Conformity
      If any time period limitation within this Bond is prohibited by any law controlling this Bond’s construction,
      such limitation shall be deemed to be amended so as to equal the minimum period of limitation provided
      by such law.
  4 . Cooperation Of Assured
      At the Company’s request and at reasonable times and places designated by the Company, the Assured
      shall:
      a. submit to examination by the Company and subscribe to the same under oath;
      b. produce for the Company’s examination all pertinent records; and
      c. cooperate with the Company in all matters pertaining to the loss.
      The Assured shall execute all papers and render all assistance to secure to the Company the rights and
      causes of action provided for under this Bond. The Assured shall do nothing after discovery of any loss to
      prejudice such rights or causes of action.
  5 . Covered Property
      This Bond shall apply to loss of Property:
      a. owned by the Assured;
      b. held by the Assured in any capacity; or
      c. for which the Assured is legally liable.
      This Bond shall be for the sole use and benefit of the Assured.
  6 . Deductible Amount
      The Company shall be liable under this Bond only for the amount by which any Single Loss is greater than
      the applicable Deductible Amount as stated in Item 2 of the Declarations.
      There shall be no deductible applicable to any loss sustained by any Assured and covered under Insuring
      Clause 1.

 

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7 . Discovery
    This Bond applies only to loss first discovered by a Director during the Bond Period. Discovery occurs at
    the earlier of a Director learning of:
    a. facts which may subsequently result in a loss of a type covered by this Bond; or
    b. an actual or potential claim in which it is alleged that the Assured is liable to a third party,
    regardless of when the act or acts causing or contributing to such loss occurred, even though the amount of
    loss does not exceed the applicable Deductible Amount, or the exact amount or details of loss may not then
    be known.
8 . Limit Of Liability
    The payment of any loss under this Bond shall not reduce the liability of the Company for other losses
    whenever sustained, provided that:
    a. the Company’s liability for each Single Loss shall not exceed the applicable Single Loss Limit Of
      Liability as stated in Item 2 of the Declarations or as set forth under General Agreement 1, and shall not
      be cumulative in amounts from year to year or from Bond Period to Bond Period;
    b. if a Single Loss is covered under more than one Insuring Clause, the maximum payable shall not
      exceed the largest applicable Single Loss Limit Of Liability; and
    c. the Company’s liability for loss or losses sustained by more than one Assureds, or all Assureds, shall
      not exceed the total amount for which the Company would be liable under this Bond if such loss or
      losses were sustained by any one Assured.
9 . Notice To Company – Proof – Legal Proceedings Against Company
    a. The Assured shall give the Company notice at the earliest practicable moment, not to exceed sixty (60)
      days after discovery of a loss, in an amount that is in excess of 50% of the applicable Deductible Amount,
      as stated in Item 2 of the Declarations.
    b. The Assured shall furnish to the Company proof of loss, duly sworn to, with full particulars, within six
      (6) months after such discovery.
    c. Certificated Securities listed in a proof of loss shall be identified by certificate or bond numbers, if
      issued with them.
    d. Legal proceedings for the recovery of any loss under this Bond shall not be brought prior to the
      expiration of sixty (60) days after the proof of loss is filed with the Company or after the expiration of
      twenty-four (24) months from the discovery of such loss.
    e. This Bond affords coverage only in favor of the Assured. No claim, suit, action or legal proceeding
      shall be brought under the Bond by anyone other than the Assured.
    f. All such notices shall be given in writing to one of the following addresses:
      (1 ) ChubbClaimsFirstNotice@chubb.com; or
      (2 ) Attn: Chubb Claims Department
          Chubb
          P.O. Box 5122
          Scranton, PA 18505
    g. All other notices to the Company under this Bond shall be given in writing to the following address:
      (1 ) NA.FinancialLines@chubb.com; or

 

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          Financial Institution Bond
          For Investment Companies
 
 
 
      (2 ) Attn: Chubb Underwriting Department
          Chubb
          202B Hall’s Mill Road
          Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889
 
    All notices described above shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Company.
 
10 . Other Insurance
 
    a. Coverage under this Bond shall apply only as excess over any other valid and collectible insurance,
      indemnity or suretyship obtained by or on behalf of:
 
      (1 ) the Assured;
 
      (2 ) a Transportation Company; or
 
      (3 ) another entity on whose premises the loss occurred or which employed the person causing the loss
          or engaged the messenger conveying the Property involved.
 
    b. Solely with respect to Insuring Clause 7, in the event of a loss covered under this Bond and also covered
      under other valid and collectible insurance issued by the Company, or a parent, subsidiary or affiliate
      of the Company to the Assured, the Single Loss Limit Of Liability under this Bond shall be reduced by
      any payment under any other such valid and collectible insurance and only the remainder, if any, shall
      be applicable to such loss covered hereunder.
 
11 . Securities Settlement
 
    In the event of a loss of Securities covered under this Bond, the Company may, at its sole discretion,
    purchase replacement Securities, tender the value of the Securities in Money, or issue its indemnity to
    effect replacement Securities.
 
    The indemnity required from the Assured under the terms of this Section against all loss, cost or expense
    arising from the replacement of Securities by the Company’s indemnity shall be:
 
    a. for Securities having a value less than or equal to the applicable Deductible Amount – one hundred
      (100%) percent;
 
    b. for Securities having a value in excess of the applicable Deductible Amount but within the Single Loss
      Limit Of Liability – the percentage that the Deductible Amount bears to the value of the Securities;
      or    
 
    c. for Securities having a value greater than the applicable Single Loss Limit Of Liability – the percentage
      that the Deductible Amount and portion in excess of the Single Loss Limit Of Liability bears to the value
      of the Securities.
 
    The value referred to in Sections 11.a., b., and c. is the value in accordance with Section 14., Valuation,
    regardless of the value of such Securities at the time the loss under the Company’s indemnity is sustained.
 
    The Company is not required to issue its indemnity for any portion of a loss of Securities which is not
    covered by this Bond, however, the Company may do so as a courtesy to the Assured in its sole discretion.
 
    The Assured shall pay the proportion of the Company’s premium charge for the Company’s indemnity as
    set forth in Sections 11.a., b., and c. No portion of the Single Loss Limit Of Liability shall be used as payment
    of premium for any indemnity purchased by the Assured to obtain replacement Securities.
 
12 . Subrogation – Assignment – Recovery
 
    In the event of a payment under this Bond, the Company shall be subrogated to all of the Assured’s rights
    of recovery against any person or entity to the extent of such payment. On request, the Assured shall
    deliver to the Company an assignment of the Assured’s rights, title and interest and causes of action
    against any person or entity to the extent of such payment.

 

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        Financial Institution Bond
        For Investment Companies
 
 
 
    Recoveries, whether effected by the Company or by the Assured, shall be applied net of the expense of
    such recovery, in the following order:
    a. first, to the satisfaction of the Assured’s covered loss which would otherwise have been paid but for
      the fact that it is in excess of the Single Loss Limit Of Liability;
    b. second, to the Company in satisfaction of amounts paid in settlement of the Assured’s claim;
    c. third, to the Assured in satisfaction of the applicable Deductible Amount; and
    d. fourth, to the Assured in satisfaction of any loss suffered by the Assured which was not covered under
      this Bond.
    Recovery from reinsurance or indemnity of the Company shall not be deemed a recovery under this Section.
13 . Termination
    a. If the Bond is for a sole Assured, it shall not be terminated unless written notice shall have been given
      by the acting party to the affected party and to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission not less
      than sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of such termination.
    b. If the Bond is for a joint Assured, it shall not be terminated unless written notice shall have been given
      by the acting party to the affected party, and by the Company to all Assureds and to the U.S. Securities
      and Exchange Commission, not less than sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of such termination.
    c. If any Director, not acting in collusion with an Employee, discovers any dishonest or fraudulent act
      committed by such Employee, whether in the employment of the Assured or otherwise, and whether
      against the Assured or any other person or entity, the Assured:
      i. shall immediately remove such Employee from a position that would enable such Employee to
        cause the Assured to suffer a loss covered by this Bond; and
      ii. within forty-eight (48) hours of discovering an Employee has committed any dishonest or
        fraudulent act, shall notify the Company of such action and provide full particulars of such
        dishonest or fraudulent act.
    d. This Bond terminates as to any Employee sixty (60) days after receipt by each Assured and the U.S.
      Securities and Exchange Commission of written notice from the Company of its decision to terminate
      this Bond as to any Employee.
14 . Valuation
    a. Books Of Account Or Other Records
      The value of any loss of Property consisting of books of account or other records used by the Assured
      in the conduct of its business shall be the amount paid by the Assured for blank books, blank pages,
      or other materials which replace the lost books of account or other records, plus the cost of labor paid
      by the Assured for the actual transcription or copying of data to reproduce such books of account or
      other records.
    b. Money
      Any loss of Money, or loss payable in Money, shall be paid in the Money of the United States of
      America or the dollar equivalent of it, determined by the free market rate of exchange in effect at the
      time of discovery of such loss.
    c. Other Property
      The value of any loss of Property, except as otherwise provided for in this Section 14., shall be the
      actual cash value or the cost of repairing or replacing such Property with Property of like quality and
      value, whichever is less.

 

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    Financial Institution Bond
    For Investment Companies
 
 
 
  d. Securities
 
    The value of any loss of Securities shall be the average market value of such Securities on the
    business day immediately preceding discovery of such loss, provided that the value of any Securities
    replaced by the Assured, with the consent of the Company and prior to the settlement of any claim for
    them, shall be the actual market value at the time of replacement. In the case of a loss of interim
    certificates, warrants, rights or other Securities, the production of which is necessary to the exercise
    of subscription, conversion, redemption or deposit privileges, the value of them shall be the market
    value of such privileges immediately preceding their expiration if the loss is not discovered until after
    their expiration. If no market price is quoted for such Securities or for such privileges, the value shall
    be fixed by agreement of the parties.
 
 
VI. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE TRADE SANCTION LAWS
 
  This Bond does not apply to the extent that trade or economic sanctions law or other similar laws or
  regulations prohibit the Company from providing insurance.

 

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TEXAS AMENDATORY ENDORSEMENT
Named Assured       Endorsement Number
STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION     1
Bond Number Bond Period     Effective Date of Endorsement
J06054468 11-07-2023 to 11-07-2024 November 7, 2023
Issued By        
Federal Insurance Company        
THIS ENDORSEMENT CHANGES THE BOND. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.
This endorsement modifies insurance provided under the following:
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION BOND FOR INVESTMENT COMPANIES
In consideration of the premium charged, it is agreed that this Bond is amended as follows:
Section V. CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS is amended as follows:  
(1) Paragraph a. of Subsection 4. Cooperation of Assured, is amended by adding the following to the end
thereof:        
provided that a parent or guardian may be present for any examination of a minor;
(2) Paragraph a. of Subsection 9. Notice to Company – Proof – Legal Proceedings Against Company is
amended by deleting “sixty (60)” and replacing it with “ninety (90)”  
(3) Paragraph d. of Subsection 9. Notice To Company – Proof – Legal Proceedings Against Company is
amended by deleting the phrase “twenty-four (24) months and replacing it with the phrase “two (2) years
and one (1) day”.        
(4) Paragraph 13. Termination is amended by adding the following to the end thereof:
This Bond shall not be cancelled or non-renewed based solely on the fact that the policyholder is an
elected official.        
This Bond will be deemed to have been amended to the extent necessary to effect the purposes and intent of this
Amendatory Endorsement.        
The regulatory requirements set forth in this Amendatory Endorsement shall supersede and take precedence over
any provisions of this Bond or any endorsement to this Bond, whenever added, that are inconsistent with or
contrary to the provisions of this Amendatory Endorsement, unless such Bond or endorsement provisions comply
with the applicable insurance laws of the State of Texas.      
The title and any headings in this endorsement/rider are solely for convenience and form no part of the terms and
conditions of coverage.        
 
All other terms, conditions and limitations of this Bond shall remain unchanged.  

 

PF-56005 (08/21)

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FRAUDULENT TRANSFER INSTRUCTION ENDORSEMENT
Named Assured           Endorsement Number
STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION     2
Bond Number     Bond Period     Effective Date of Endorsement
J06054468     11-07-2023 to 11-07-2024   November 7, 2023
Issued By              
Federal Insurance Company          
THIS ENDORSEMENT CHANGES THE BOND. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.
This endorsement modifies insurance provided under the following:
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION BOND FOR INVESTMENT COMPANIES
In consideration of the premium charged, it is agreed that solely with respect to coverage afforded under this
Endorsement, this Bond is amended as follows:      
(1) Item 2., Single Loss Limits Of Liability – Deductible Amounts, of the Declarations is amended to include the
following:          
Insuring Clause   Single Loss Limit of Liability   Deductible Amount
Fraudulent Transfer Instruction $ 1,000,000   $ 10,000
(2) The following Insuring Clause is added:      
14. Fraudulent Transfer Instruction      
Loss resulting directly from the Assured having, in good faith, transferred, paid, or delivered Money or
Securities in reliance upon a Transfer Instruction that purports, and reasonably appears, to have
originated from:          
a. the Customer;          
b. an Employee acting on instructions of such Customer; or    
c. a financial institution acting on behalf of such Customer with authority to make such instructions,
but which Transfer Instruction was, in fact, fraudulently issued without the knowledge of the Assured,
Employee, or Customer.          
As a condition precedent to coverage under this Insuring Clause 14, the:    
  i. sender of the Transfer Instruction must have authenticated such Transfer Instruction with the
    Customer’s authentication credentials or mechanism;    
  ii. Employee acting on the Transfer Instruction must obtain Verification prior to any single
    transfer, payment, or delivery of funds in excess of the Deductible Amount set forth in Paragraph (1)
    of this Endorsement; and          
  iii. Assured shall assert any available claims, offsets, or defenses against such Customer, any financial
    institution, or any other party to the transaction.    
(3) The Definition of Customer is deleted and replaced with the following:    
Customer means any shareholder of an Assured which has a written agreement with the Assured to
transfer such shareholder’s Money or Securities through a Voice Initiated Funds Transfer
Instruction or a Transfer Instruction.      

 

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(4) The following Definitions are added:
Telefacsimile means a system of transmitting a facsimile of a tangible document by electronic signals over
telephone lines to a piece of equipment maintained for the specific purpose of receiving such signals and
printing such facsimile on a tangible medium.
Transfer Instruction means those instructions, other than any Voice Initiated Funds Transfer
Instruction, which authorize the transfer of Money in a Customer’s account, or of a Customer’s
Securities, and which are:
a. transmitted to the Assured via:
  i. any electronic instruction, including an e-mail, that is delivered through an Electronic
    Communication System and that is capable of retention by the recipient at the time of receipt;
  ii. telex, or Telefacsimile instruction; or
  iii. automated telephone system; and
b. received by an Employee specifically authorized by the Assured to receive and act upon such
  instructions.
Verification means an Employee:
a. attempted to verify the authenticity of such Transfer Instruction by communicating with the
  Customer, or natural person purporting to be the Customer via any communication method, other
  than e-mail, prior to any single transfer, payment, or delivery of funds, and contemporaneously
  documented the communication method utilized and the result of such attempt in writing; and
b. contemporaneously documented the use of the Customer’s authentication credentials or mechanism.
(5) Exclusion 2.a. is deleted and replaced with the following:
a. the acts of an Employee, except for loss covered under:
  i. Insuring Clause 2 or 3 which results directly from misplacement, mysterious unexplainable
    disappearance, or damage or destruction of Property; or
  ii. Insuring Clause 11 or 14;
(6) The following Exclusion is added:
This Bond does not cover loss resulting directly or indirectly from any Transfer Instruction from a:
a. Customer; or
b. natural person with authorized access to the Customer’s authentication credentials or mechanism.
The title and any headings in this endorsement/rider are solely for convenience and form no part of the terms and
conditions of coverage.
 
All other terms, conditions and limitations of this Bond shall remain unchanged.

 

PF-52913 (08/21)

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UNAUTHORIZED SIGNATURE ENDORSEMENT
Named Assured           Endorsement Number
STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION       3
Bond Number   Bond Period       Effective Date of Endorsement
J06054468   11-07-2023 to 11-07-2024   11-07-2023
Issued By            
Federal Insurance Company            
THIS ENDORSEMENT CHANGES THE BOND. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.
This endorsement modifies insurance provided under the following:
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION BOND FOR INVESTMENT COMPANIES
In consideration of the premium charged, it is agreed that solely with respect to coverage afforded under this
Endorsement this Bond is amended as follows:        
(1) Item 2., Single Loss Limits of Liability – Deductible Amounts, of the Declarations is amended to include the
following:            
Insuring Clause   Single Loss Limit of Liability   Deductible Amount
Unauthorized Signature $ 1,000,000     $ 10,000
(2) The following Insuring Clause is added:        
Unauthorized Signature            
Loss resulting directly from the Assured having accepted, paid, or cashed any check or Withdrawal Order
made or drawn on or against the account of a Customer, which bears the signature or endorsement of one
other than a person whose name and signature is on file with the Assured as signatory on such account.
As a condition precedent to coverage under this Insuring Clause, the Assured shall have on file signatures of
all persons who are signatories on such account.        
The title and any headings in this endorsement/rider are solely for convenience and form no part of the terms and
conditions of coverage.            
 
All other terms, conditions and limitations of this Bond shall remain unchanged.    

 

PF-52918 (08/21)

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