Summit Rock was co-founded in 2007 by David Dechman, the Chief Executive Officer, and Nancy Donohue, the
Chief Investment Strategist. Mr. Dechman and Ms. Donohue remain Summit Rock’s principal owners.
Summit Rock is an independent advisory firm that provides financial advice and portfolio management for a select
number of U.S. based families and charitable institutions (each, a “Client” and collectively, the “Clients”). Clients
typically have minimum wealth in excess of $100 million. Currently, the average client size at Summit Rock is
approximately $330 million. Summit Rock functions as its Clients’ outsourced investment office providing
independent, customized advice.
Although Summit Rock Clients all benefit from shared resources, each situation is unique. Summit Rock’s
approach is to work with each Client in order to understand that Client’s complete financial picture in a holistic
manner and then mutually agree with the Client on a portfolio management plan. The investment program is
customized for each Client and will incorporate a selection of managers Summit Rock believes are the most talented
across a wide universe of choices, encompassing all sectors of the market, all geographies and all liquidity
spectrums.
Summit Rock creates a structured process which prioritizes and addresses the most important issues for each Client.
Summit Rock’s investment philosophy aims to preserve capital, reduce volatility and increase long-term purchasing
power. Summit Rock’s approach includes the following:
Asset allocation with broad asset class diversification
Access to investment managers
Due diligence
Liquidity management
Investment implementation advice and support
Integration of legal, governance and other factors that impact financial results
Summit Rock also serves as the investment manager to privately offered pooled investment vehicles (the “SRA
Portfolios”) that are generally made available only to Summit Rock Clients. Based on the portfolio management
plan designed by Summit Rock and each Client, Summit Rock will advise the Client to invest in one or more of the
SRA Portfolios, each of which has a specific investment objective. As a result, a Client may be invested through the
SRA Portfolios across an array of asset classes with investment management teams that Summit Rock believes are
top-tier in their sectors. Through the SRA Portfolios, Summit Rock will seek to achieve several important benefits
for Clients, including: diversification, access to top-tier investment managers, streamlined operations and
consolidated performance, financial and tax reporting.
As of December 31, 2019, Summit Rock provides investment advice for approximately $14.6 billion of assets under
supervision. Of this amount, approximately $6.4 billion of assets were invested in the SRA Portfolios. Summit
Rock makes the investment decisions for these assets, and such assets are referred to as being managed on a
discretionary basis. Clients typically establish a Balanced Reserves account to fund capital commitments to certain
SRA Portfolios. These are also managed on a discretionary basis and total approximately $112 million in assets as
of December 31, 2019. Summit Rock also provides non-discretionary investment advice to Clients on
approximately $8.2 billion in assets, which are not invested in the SRA Portfolios or the Balanced Reserves accounts
and are typically held in a Client’s name (the “Directly Held Assets”). The Clients are responsible for acting on any
investment advice given by Summit Rock relating to the Directly Held Assets, and such Directly Held Assets are
referred to as being advised on a non-discretionary basis.
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Clients of Summit Rock will be subject to various types of fees charged by Summit Rock, its affiliates and third
parties. These fees, which are described in detail below, do not offset one another. Other investment advisers may
offer services similar to Summit Rock’s for higher or lower fees. The fees that Summit Rock Clients pay are
Summit Rock’s only form of revenue. Summit Rock is completely transparent in its pricing. If a Client terminates
its advisory relationship with Summit Rock, any unearned portion of prepaid advisory fees will be refunded by
Summit Rock to the Client.
A. Summit Rock Advisory Fees The advisory fee covers the cost of the broad engagement with Summit Rock. The Summit Rock advisory fee
includes all services associated with providing guidance to the Clients. In general, the cost of the advisory fee
covers services related to the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the investment plan.
Summit Rock typically charges Clients an advisory fee equal to 0.50% per year. This fee is assessed on all Client
assets under supervision, including Client investments in the SRA Portfolios and the Balanced Reserves accounts.
Advisory fees are charged quarterly in advance. The advisory fee is negotiable based on the situation of the Client
and level of work involved. Summit Rock will either invoice Clients directly for their quarterly advisory fee or, at a
Client’s election, Summit Rock may direct Clients’ approved third party custodians to pay the advisory fees directly
to Summit Rock on such Client’s behalf.
B. Management Fees – SRA Portfolios Summit Rock offers pooled investment vehicles, the SRA Portfolios, in order to provide certain important benefits
to Clients including diversification, access to top-tier investment managers, streamlined operations and consolidated
performance, financial and tax reporting. Each SRA Portfolio assesses a management fee of 0.65% of invested
assets per year. Based on a SRA Portfolio’s investment objective, this management fee will be based on a Client’s
net asset value and/or committed capital in such SRA Portfolio. Management fees are assessed quarterly in advance
for Clients in the SRA Portfolios. Summit Rock maintains the right to waive all or a portion of its management fees
with respect to any investor, including affiliates of Summit Rock.
C. Performance Allocations and Performance Fees – SRA Portfolios Summit Rock is motivated to deliver performance to Clients in the SRA Portfolios by having a compensation system
in place which rewards performance above industry benchmarks relevant to a specific SRA Portfolio’s investment
objective or above a fixed hurdle where appropriate (a “Performance Bonus”). With respect to the SRA Portfolios
with medium liquidity investment strategies, a Performance Bonus of 15% of the excess performance above such
SRA Portfolio’s benchmark (net of such SRA Portfolio’s management fees and expenses) is allocated or paid to
Summit Rock from each Client’s capital account or net asset value. For such medium liquidity SRA Portfolios, the
Performance Bonus, if any, is allocated or paid at the end of each fiscal year. With respect to the SRA Portfolios
with long-term liquidity, the Performance Bonus is paid to a Summit Rock upon the distribution of proceeds above
such SRA Portfolio’s hurdle.
If an investor with respect to a medium liquidity SRA Portfolio withdraws at a time other than fiscal year-end, the
Performance Bonus will be determined as of the withdrawal date. Because certain Performance Bonuses are made
in comparison to a SRA Portfolio’s benchmark, such Performance Bonuses may be allocated or paid in a year where
a SRA Portfolio has a net loss. The base value of a Client’s capital account or net asset value resets annually for
purposes of calculating the Performance Bonus. Summit Rock maintains the right to waive all or a portion of its
Performance Bonus with respect to any Client, including affiliates of Summit Rock.
D. Other Fees and Expenses – SRA Portfolios Clients with investments in the SRA Portfolios are also subject to certain fees, costs and expenses including, without
limitation, all fees, costs and expenses with respect to legal, audit, tax and other accounting (including, without
limitation, reporting and tax preparation), administrative, consulting and other similar advisory services; expenses
related to research, fees, costs and expenses of brokers, agents, valuation firms and other professionals, in each case
in relation to the making and monitoring of investments; custodial services expenses and bank service fees; all
expenses that Summit Rock in its good faith discretion determined to be related to due diligence (including, without
limitation, risk management and due diligence consulting), developing, acquiring, holding, structuring, trading,
settling, monitoring and disposing of investments, including fees and commissions associated with sourced
investments, travel expenses, insurance commissions and premiums and the SRA Portfolio’s pro rata portion of the
expenses of the pooled vehicles in which the SRA Portfolio has made an investment; expenses related to background
checks of personnel associated with potential investments; expenses, including legal fees, incurred with respect to
the review and negotiation of the documents governing investments; portfolio data analytics expenses, including
technology solutions used for analytics and risk management for the SRA Portfolio and reporting for SRA Portfolio
investors; any taxes, fees or other governmental charges levied against the SRA Portfolio and all expenses incurred
in connection with any tax audit, investigation, judicial or administrative proceeding or settlement or review of the
SRA Portfolio, including any expenses incurred by the General Partner of an onshore SRA Portfolio in connection
with its service as the tax matters partner or partnership representative of such SRA Portfolio; interest on borrowed
monies; fees and expenses payable in connection with any credit facility, including any facility fees and
commissions; costs and expenses relating to the transfer of interests or shares in the SRA Portfolio, the costs of any
litigation, liability and other insurance premiums and expenses and indemnification or other extraordinary expense
or liability relating to the affairs of the SRA Portfolio; any costs and expenses associated with the SRA Portfolio’s
legal, administrative and regulatory compliance with U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other law and regulation
and expenses relating to liquidation of the SRA Portfolio; and all organizational and start-up expenses of the SRA
Portfolio, including, without limitation, legal and administrative fees, filing fees and other expenses incurred in
connection with the offer and sale of interests or shares.
E. Non-Summit Rock Fees and Expenses In addition to the fees noted above, Clients may be subject to other fees and expenses from other asset managers,
broker-dealers or custodians recommended by Summit Rock that are not affiliated with Summit Rock. Among other
things, these fees and expenses may include private fund management and performance fees and related expenses.
In addition, these fees may include custody fees, brokerage and other trading costs, and fees related to the
management of mutual funds, money market funds, fixed income investments, equities and/or exchange traded
funds held in Client accounts.
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A. Performance-Based Fees – SRA Portfolios As detailed in Item 5 above, Summit Rock may receive a Performance Bonus from the SRA Portfolios and, as such,
Summit Rock may have an incentive to advise a Client to invest in one or more SRA Portfolios when it might
ultimately be more beneficial for such Client to invest in other SRA Portfolios, Directly Held Assets or funds or
assets for which Summit Rock does not provide any advisory services. Conversely, Summit Rock may advise a
Client to withdraw from a SRA Portfolio when it may be disadvantageous for the SRA Portfolio. Summit Rock
strives to provide transparency to its Clients with respect to its fees and the fees of the SRA Portfolios. Summit
Rock only recommends that a Client allocate capital to the SRA Portfolios after making a good-faith determination
that such an allocation is in the Client’s best interest. All Summit Rock Clients have the ability to modify their
investment allocations at any time and are aware of these potential conflicts of interest when making a decision to
invest in the SRA Portfolios.
B. Side-by-Side Management Summit Rock expects that the SRA Portfolios will invest on a side-by-side basis. Clients should be aware of the
following potential conflicts of interest resulting from the unique relationship that Summit Rock has with Clients as
both Investment Manager of the SRA Portfolios and as provider of overall wealth management services to each
Client. In determining allocations, Summit Rock may consider various factors and legal requirements, the
availability of other investment opportunities and individual Client relationships. Differences in these factors may
result in one or more SRA Portfolios not investing in the same proportion to its net asset value as other SRA
Portfolios. In addition, a SRA Portfolio may not invest at all, at the same time or on the same terms as another SRA
Portfolio. Summit Rock may allocate a favorable investment opportunity to one or more SRA Portfolios but not to
other SRA Portfolios.
Summit Rock serves as investment advisor to a variety of Clients and SRA Portfolios, and Summit Rock may make
investment decisions for a SRA Portfolio or Client that are different from those made on behalf of a SRA Portfolio
or other Client. Each Client and SRA Portfolio has a unique overall investment portfolio and goals and, as a result,
Summit Rock may provide conflicting advice to different Clients or SRA Portfolios and take conflicting actions
with respect to SRA Portfolio or Client assets. In order to mitigate this risk and conflict, Summit Rock has
implemented procedures designed to seek fair and equitable treatment for all Clients and SRA Portfolios over time.
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As more fully detailed in Item 4 above, Summit Rock provides financial advice and portfolio management to a
select number of individuals and their family members, family foundations and trusts and independent foundations
and endowments.
Summit Rock also serves as the investment manager to privately offered pooled investment vehicles, the SRA
Portfolios, which are generally made available only to Summit Rock’s Clients.
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Loss
A. Client Asset Allocations Summit Rock develops a customized asset allocation plan for each Client after acquiring a detailed understanding of
the Client’s complete financial situation. The asset allocation plan is tailored to reflect the Client’s financial
objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity requirements, tax position and any other specific circumstances
that warrant consideration. Summit Rock acquires this information through deep engagement with the Client, in
addition to the Client’s legal and tax advisers and financial staff, including family office personnel or foundation
staff members.
In addition to each Client’s unique circumstances, Summit Rock’s approach to asset allocation is driven by its
knowledge of the best practices of market leaders, a practical and realistic application of academic theory and
experience-based judgments.
Ultimately, a primary goal for many Client asset allocations is the desire to preserve capital, reduce volatility and
enhance purchasing power over time. This calls for an asset allocation that strikes a balance between preserving
wealth and seeking attractive returns. Summit Rock seeks to strike this balance, and mitigate unnecessary risk, by
achieving adequate diversification by investment strategy, manager, geography, sector and vintage year.
In addition to asset allocation, Summit Rock considers manager selection an important source of investment returns
and a key tool for risk management. In the following sub-section entitled “SRA Portfolios,” the Summit Rock
approach to manager selection and risk management is described.
B. SRA Portfolios Summit Rock serves as the investment manager to privately offered pooled investment vehicles, the SRA Portfolios,
which are generally made available only to Summit Rock’s Clients. Each SRA Portfolio has a specific investment
focus and performance benchmark. When viewed in aggregate with the Clients’ Directly Held Assets (including
directly held managers), these pooled investment vehicles provide the component pieces that allow for the creation
of a fully diversified and customized portfolio for each Client. The SRA Portfolios are used as vehicles to access
managers who Summit Rock believes are best-in-class within less-efficient asset classes where opportunities for
outperformance exist.
Summit Rock’s investment process includes quantitative and qualitative manager research, portfolio construction
considerations and a variety of Operational Risk Management processes. In selecting an underlying manager for a
SRA Portfolio, Summit Rock considers the merits of the manager’s investment program alongside the integrity of its
business and operational infrastructure. Summit Rock generally seeks to place the SRA Portfolios’ capital with
well-established investment managers that have a history of strong performance, careful risk management, strict
operational controls and institutional third-party service providers. Some of the unaffiliated managers chosen by
Summit Rock trade relatively frequently, which can result in heightened trading costs and less favorable tax
treatment of gains. In addition, historical SRA Portfolio tax results may not be indicative of tax results in future
periods.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that Clients should be prepared to bear. In addition, Clients should be
aware that they will be required to bear the financial risks of an investment in the SRA Portfolios for a substantial
period of time.
The following is a summary of certain material risks associated with investing in the SRA Portfolios. These are
more fully detailed in each SRA Portfolio’s Confidential Offering Memorandum.
Volatile Political, Market and Economic Conditions
. Investments in many sectors may experience significant
volatility. The market price of securities owned directly or indirectly by any SRA Portfolio may go up or down,
sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The ability to profitably realize investments depends not only on the
performance of an Underlying Manager, but also on political, market and economic conditions that may affect
securities markets generally, including an outbreak or escalation of major hostilities, declarations of war,
terrorist actions, public health issues or other substantial national or international calamities or emergencies,
changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, availability of
credit, credit defaults, inflation rates, economic uncertainty, changes in laws (including laws relating to taxation
of the Underlying Funds), trade barriers or adverse investor sentiment generally. Industry particular conditions,
such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions, can also adversely affect the
market price of securities owned directly or indirectly by any SRA Portfolio.
General Risks Associated with Underlying Managers. The assets of the SRA Portfolios will generally be
managed by investment managers unrelated to Summit Rock. Historical performance of selected underlying
managers is not indicative of their future performance, which may vary considerably. Summit Rock will not
have the opportunity to evaluate the relevant economic, financial and other information that will be used by
underlying managers in their selection, structuring, monitoring and disposition of investments which may result
in terms that are disadvantageous to Clients and the SRA Portfolios such as high fees, limited liquidity and
limited or no voting rights. The SRA Portfolios will not have an active role in the day-to-day management of
the underlying funds, their investments and, as a result, the returns of the SRA Portfolios will depend largely on
the performance of these unrelated underlying managers and could be substantially adversely affected by their
unfavorable performance. In addition, certain underlying managers may employ strategies that are quantitative
in nature, or techniques that require frequent trades and, as a consequence, portfolio turnover and brokerage
commissions may be greater than for other investment entities of similar size.
Although Summit Rock has built and maintains a monitoring and reporting system to analyze each SRA
Portfolio’s composition and make decisions regarding each SRA Portfolio’s mix of investments, Summit Rock
may be limited in the amount and form of information that it is able to receive from underlying managers.
Accordingly, there is no guarantee that Summit Rock will be able to effectively monitor underlying managers,
will receive complete and accurate reporting or detect any fraud or mismanagement by any underlying manager
or that Summit Rock will be able to withdraw a SRA Portfolio’s funds from any investment.
Lack of Influence over Underlying Managers. The SRA Portfolios are independent of their underlying
managers and do not have any influence over such managers’ management, trading strategies, operations or
policies. This lack of influence exposes the SRA Portfolios to various types of risks, including the risk of loss,
valuation risk, liquidity risk, market risk, counterparty credit risk, and legal, tax and regulatory risk, each of
which is more fully detailed below:
—
Risk of Loss. The risk of loss is the risk that the underlying managers within the SRA Portfolios will not
achieve their respective investment objectives, resulting in the possibility that the SRA Portfolios suffer a
substantial loss.
—
Valuation Risk. Valuation risk is the risk that the valuation of a SRA Portfolio’s investment in underlying
managers is not accurate due to inaccurate or incomplete information provided by such managers to
Summit Rock.
—
Liquidity Risk. SRA Portfolios with medium liquidity investment strategies provide limited liquidity based
on the liquidity of the underlying managers. The ability to withdraw investments from such SRA Portfolios
is subject to the ability of such SRA Portfolio to withdraw funds from underlying managers. Many
underlying managers will only permit such withdrawals at specified times and may have the right to
suspend the payment of withdrawal proceeds under certain circumstances. In addition, some underlying
managers may impose lock-ups, gates, withdrawal fees, side pockets or similar restrictions on withdrawals,
which could severely restrict the liquidity and valuation of an SRA Portfolio.
—
Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of investments held by underlying managers could
decline due to volatility in overall market conditions, changing political conditions, emerging market risk,
changes in interest rates, leverage risk, price volatility and trading limitations.
—
Counterparty Credit Risk. Counterparty credit risk is risk related to Summit Rock’s custodian or brokers or
the counterparties used by an underlying manager in an SRA Portfolio. Such counterparties may fail to
meet their contractual obligations, enter bankruptcy or otherwise experience a business interruption. In the
international securities markets, the existence of less mature settlement structures and systems may result in
settlement delay or default. There can be no assurance that a counterparty will be able or willing to make
timely settlement payments or otherwise meet its obligations, especially during unusually adverse market
conditions. Counterparty risk may be further complicated by developing U.S. and global legislation and
regulation.
—
Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risk. Legal, tax and regulatory developments that may adversely affect the
SRA Portfolios or underlying managers could occur at any time. Securities markets are subject to
comprehensive regulation, and new laws or regulations may be imposed, or new measures implemented at
any time. Summit Rock, the SRA Portfolios and underlying managers may also be adversely affected by
changes in the enforcement or interpretation of existing statutes and rules by governmental regulatory
authorities or self-regulatory organizations.
Limited Liquidity and Withdrawal Timelines in Medium Liquidity SRA Portfolios; Rebalancing. An
investment in a medium liquidity SRA Portfolio provides limited liquidity. The ability to withdraw capital from
a medium liquidity SRA Portfolio is subject to the ability of any such SRA Portfolio to withdraw funds from its
Direct Investments and Underlying Funds. Many Underlying Funds will only permit a SRA Portfolio to
withdraw assets at specified times (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually), and many Underlying Funds have the
right to suspend the payment of Withdrawal proceeds under certain circumstances.
—
Withdrawals and Withdrawal Timelines. A Withdrawal Timeline provided to a withdrawing investor will
generally be based on the expectations regarding the liquidity available from Underlying Funds in which a
SRA Portfolio is invested. Certain events may cause these expectations to be inaccurate, including
Underlying Manager lock-ups, gates, withdrawal fees, “side pockets” or similar restrictions. As such, an
investor may receive payment of Withdrawal proceeds at materially different times than those set forth in a
Withdrawal Timeline.
—
Rebalancing Withdrawals. Rebalancing Withdrawals are typically only expected for investors that express
no immediate intention of submitting full Withdrawal requests from a SRA Portfolio or terminating their
advisory relationship with Summit Rock. With respect to any investor, a General Partner or Board of
Directors, in its sole discretion, may or may not agree to a Rebalancing Withdrawal request and / or may or
may not recommend a Rebalancing Withdrawal irrespective of any agreements with or recommendations
made to any other investor. Summit Rock may or may not permit a Rebalancing Withdrawal for any
reason, including, but not limited to, its own interest. Accordingly, certain investors may be permitted to
withdraw a portion of their Capital Accounts from the SRA Portfolios pursuant to Rebalancing
Withdrawals while others may not. There is no guarantee that the use of Rebalancing Withdrawals will
enable a client to access liquidity.
—
Rebalancing Withdrawals’ Effects on Other Withdrawals. Rebalancing Withdrawals may be permitted
while future scheduled Installment Payments reflected in current Withdrawal Timelines are still pending.
No Withdrawal pursuant to a Rebalancing Withdrawal will be made if such Withdrawal would result in the
inability of the SRA Portfolio to make an expected Installment Payment with respect to an Ordinary
Withdrawal. If Summit Rock’s expectations as to the liquidity of Investments are inaccurate (for example,
as a result of unexpected decreases in the amount of liquidity available from Underlying Funds), the
payment of Withdrawal proceeds with respect to a Rebalancing Withdrawal may adversely affect the SRA
Portfolio’s ability to make Installment Payments in accordance with a Withdrawal Timeline.
—
Delays in Rebalancing Withdrawal Payments. If a Rebalancing Withdrawal is undertaken, it may take a
substantial amount of time to fully complete or, because of the subordination to scheduled Installment
Payments pursuant to Ordinary Withdrawals, may not ever be fully completed. Similarly, a Rebalancing
Withdrawal that is undertaken on behalf of one investor’s investment in a SRA Portfolio may be fully
completed in less or more time than another investor’s Rebalancing Withdrawal from the same SRA
Portfolio.
—
Summit Rock Affiliates Withdrawals. Withdrawals of amounts from the medium liquidity Onshore SRA
Portfolios by the General Partner, Summit Rock employees or partners, and the corresponding payments of
such amounts, will be made on terms determined in the General Partner’s sole discretion and may differ
materially, both with respect to timelines and amounts available for withdrawal, from the terms available to
other Limited Partners with respect to Ordinary Withdrawals and / or Rebalancing Withdrawals.
General Risks Associated with Long-Term SRA Portfolios. The following is a summary of certain material
risks associated with investing in the SRA Portfolios with long-term investment strategies:
—
Limited Operating History and Competition Associated with SRA Portfolio Companies. The SRA
Portfolios with long-term investment strategies will invest in certain underlying funds which may invest in
portfolio companies. Such companies will sometimes involve a high degree of business and financial risk.
These companies may be in an early stage of development; may not have a proven operating history; may
be operating at a loss or have significant variations in operating results; may be engaged in a rapidly
changing business with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence; may require substantial
additional capital to support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their competitive position
or may otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition, such companies may face intense
competition, including competition from companies with greater financial resources, more extensive
development, manufacturing, marketing and other capabilities and a larger number of qualified managerial
and technical personnel.
—
Investment in Small Companies. The long-term SRA Portfolios will invest in underlying funds that may
invest in small companies with limited operating experience. Small companies may lack management
depth or the ability to generate internally or obtain externally the funds necessary for growth. Companies
with new products or services could sustain significant losses if projected markets do not materialize.
Further, such companies may have, or may develop, only a regional market for products or services and
may be adversely affected by purely local events. Such companies may be small factors in their industries
and may face competition from larger companies and entail a greater risk than investment in larger
companies.
—
Investment in Venture Capital. The long-term SRA Portfolios will invest in underlying funds that may
pursue venture capital investments. Venture capital investments involve a high degree of business and
financial risk that can result in substantial losses. Further, the technologies and markets of such companies
may not develop as anticipated, even after meaningful expenditures of capital. Such companies also may
have shorter operating histories on which to judge future performance and in many cases, if operating, may
have negative cash flow.
—
Failure by Limited Partners to Meet a Long-Term SRA Portfolio Capital Call. Investments by long term
SRA Portfolios typically require that Capital Contributions be made over an extended period of time.
Failure by a Limited Partner to meet a long term SRA Portfolio capital call by inadequately funding a
Balanced Reserves Account could result in such SRA Portfolio’s default on a capital call or Investment or
reduce the number of Underlying Funds to which such SRA Portfolio may make commitments.
—
Recyclable Amounts and Overcommitment Contributions. To the extent certain long term SRA Portfolios
receive distributions from Investments that are Recyclable Amounts, such amounts will be added to each
Partner’s Uncalled Capital and the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, retain such amounts for
reinvestment by such SRA Portfolio or may distribute and recall such amounts. Certain long term SRA
Portfolios may make aggregate capital commitments to Investments in an amount up to 115% of aggregate
Capital Commitments to such SRA Portfolio. As a result, each Partner may be obligated to make
Overcommitment Contributions in an amount up to 15% of such Partner’s Capital Commitment.
—
An Investment in a SRA Portfolio that does not Permit Withdrawals is Long-Term and Illiquid. The
underlying investments of the long-term SRA Portfolios generally will be long-term and highly illiquid.
Clients may not be able to withdraw their interests in such SRA Portfolios, and there will be no active
secondary market for interests. In addition, significant tax and regulatory restrictions apply with respect to
potential transfers of Client interests. Prospective investors should not invest unless they are prepared to
retain their interest in a long-term SRA Portfolio until its liquidation in due course.
Risks Associated with Exchange Traded Fund Trading. The SRA Portfolios with medium liquidity
investment strategies will engage in periodic exchange traded fund (“ETF”) trading on free cash balances to
avoid a cash drag on returns. To the extent a Portfolio engages in ETF trading, the Portfolio will be subject to
the risk of loss, market risk and counterparty credit risk.
Risks Associated with Cybersecurity. Summit Rock, the SRA Portfolios, the underlying funds and their
service providers and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and
communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems are subject to a number of different
threats or risks that could adversely affect Summit Rock, the SRA Portfolios and the SRA Portfolio
investors. Unauthorized third parties may attempt to improperly access, modify, disrupt the operations of, or
prevent access to these systems of Summit Rock, the SRA Portfolios, the underlying managers, the SRA
Portfolios’ service providers, counterparties or data within these systems. Third parties may also attempt to
fraudulently induce employees, customers, third-party service providers or other users to disclose sensitive
information in order to gain access to available data. A successful penetration or circumvention of the security
of the systems could result in the loss or theft of a SRA Portfolio investor’s data or funds, the inability to access
electronic systems, loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or
network system or costs associated with system repairs. Such incidents could cause Summit Rock, the SRA
Portfolios, the underlying managers or their service providers to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage,
additional compliance costs or financial loss. Similar types of operational and technology risks are also present
for the portfolio companies in which the SRA Portfolios invest which could have material adverse
consequences for such portfolio companies and may cause the SRA Portfolios’ investments to lose value.
C. Potential Conflict of Interest Related to Clients’ Relationships with Summit Rock as Overall Investment Manager Detailed below is a potential conflict of interest resulting from the unique relationship that Summit Rock has with its
Clients as both Investment Manager of the SRA Portfolios and individual provider of overall wealth management
services.
Summit Rock has, and may in the future have Clients that manage (or Clients that have directors, officers, owners or
other personnel who manage) underlying funds in which the SRA Portfolios will invest. This creates a conflict of
interest because Summit Rock’s decisions with respect to the underlying fund managed by Summit Rock’s Client or
its personnel (including whether to invest or redeem or how to vote interests) will have a direct economic effect on
the Client or its personnel. Summit Rock has adopted policies and procedures to address this conflict and ensure
that any investment decision with respect to such underlying fund is made in the best interests of the SRA Portfolios.
D. Balanced Reserves Accounts SRA Portfolios with long-term liquidity investment strategies have a drawdown structure requiring an upfront
commitment of capital to be called over a period of years. Summit Rock Clients may establish a Balanced Reserves
Account to facilitate the operational and administrative aspects of these long-term investment strategies, including
the ability to meet capital calls. Summit Rock will have discretion over a Client’s Balanced Reserves Account and
intends to cause the monies in such Balanced Reserves Accounts to be invested in cash and cash equivalents.
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Neither Summit Rock nor its employees have been involved in any legal or disciplinary events material to a Client’s
evaluation of Summit Rock’s advisory business or management integrity.
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Affiliates of Summit Rock serve as general partners, management shareholders and directors of the SRA Portfolios.
Summit Rock is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity trading adviser and
became a member of the National Futures Association in November 2012. As a result of this registration, (i) David
Dechman, Nancy Donohue, Nicole Fox and Gabriel Pizzi are each registered as a principal and associated person of
Summit Rock and (ii) William Hedden, Jeffrey Kelly and Emily Locher are each registered as a principal of Summit
Rock, in each case, in accordance with the rules, regulations and bylaws of the National Futures Association.
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Transactions and Personal Trading
A. General Philosophy Summit Rock aspires to the highest possible ethical standards. Summit Rock and its employees embrace this goal,
which informs everything we do. As such, Summit Rock has adopted a written Code of Ethics in accordance with
SEC Rule 204A-1 establishing a rigorous code of conduct for employees. Various policies and procedures make up
the Code of Ethics to help ensure that Summit Rock fulfills its fiduciary obligation to place the interests of Clients
ahead of the interests of Summit Rock and its affiliates. Summit Rock employees are expected to actively
participate in Summit Rock’s compliance program and avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest. Summit Rock
employees must acknowledge receipt and understanding of the Code of Ethics upon commencement of employment
and annually thereafter by completing the Code of Ethics Questionnaire. The Code of Ethics includes guidelines in
connection with those areas detailed more fully below.
A copy of Summit Rock’s Code of Ethics will be provided to Clients or prospective Clients upon request by
contacting Summit Rock at (212) 993-7150.
B. Personal Trading Policies and Procedures
Summit Rock expects employees to conduct their personal financial affairs in a prudent manner, avoiding actions
that could compromise their ability to deal objectively with Summit Rock Clients. More specifically, to avoid the
appearance of improper behavior and keep employees focused on Summit Rock Clients, Summit Rock’s Personal
Securities Trading Policy and procedures are designed to mitigate any potential material conflicts of interest
associated with employees’ personal trading activities.
Summit Rock employees are allowed to transact in certain types of reportable and non-reportable securities and are
generally prohibited from trading in common and preferred stocks. New employees must report the existence of
securities accounts in which the employee has a beneficial interest promptly upon commencement of employment at
Summit Rock. Employees must provide quarterly and annual holdings reports regarding transactions and holdings
in all reportable securities, and employees must notify Summit Rock’s Compliance Department of accounts that are
subsequently opened or closed. Summit Rock’s Compliance Department will maintain a list of securities for which
trading is restricted because transacting in such securities may give rise to a conflict of interest or the appearance of
impropriety. Pre-clearance procedures apply to certain types of securities trading. Summit Rock employees may
invest in some of the same SRA Portfolios, securities or ETFs that Summit Rock recommends to a Client. The
Personal Securities Trading Policy is designed to minimize any actual or potential conflicts including excessive
trading, trading opposite Clients, trading ahead of Clients and trading on material non-public information. Summit
Rock’s Compliance Department will review all trading reports for potentially abusive behavior and will determine
an appropriate course of action for any employee acting in violation of the Personal Securities Trading Policy.
Certain Summit Rock employees participate in a compensation deferral program whereby a portion of their
compensation is deferred and notionally invested in various Summit Rock investment options. The goal is to ensure
that such employees have a portion of their net worth in the same investments as Clients in order to align Summit
Rock interests with those of our Clients. In addition, eligible employees are encouraged to invest personal capital in
the SRA Portfolios. We believe such investment alongside our Clients is important to align our financial interest
with that of our Clients. Summit Rock employees may be permitted to withdraw from the SRA Portfolios more
frequently or on shorter notice than Clients. However, withdrawals by Summit Rock employees will not result in
the inability of a SRA Portfolio to make a scheduled payment with respect to a Client’s ordinary or rebalancing
withdrawal, as more fully detailed in the SRA Portfolios’ Confidential Offering Memorandum.
C. Insider Trading Policies Summit Rock has established, maintains and enforces policies and procedures designed to prevent the misuse of
material non-public information. Summit Rock employees are forbidden from engaging in insider trading and must
report possession of material non-public information to the Chief Compliance Officer. Summit Rock employees are
required to acknowledge understanding of and compliance with the insider trading policies on an annual basis.
D. Outside Business Activities
Summit Rock employees must obtain prior written approval from the Chief Compliance Officer before engaging in
outside activities, including service as a director or officer, with public companies, private businesses, foundations,
endowments and/or non-profit institutions. Summit Rock employees are required to acknowledge understanding of
and compliance with the outside business activities policies on an annual basis.
E. Political Contributions, Charitable Donations and Public Positions
Summit Rock has policies in place to prevent employees from contributing to politically connected individuals,
entities or charities with the intention of influencing such persons or groups. In addition, Summit Rock employees
may not hold public office if it presents a material conflict of interest with Summit Rock’s advisory activities.
Summit Rock employees are required to acknowledge understanding of and compliance with the political
contributions, charitable donations and public positions policies on an annual basis.
F. Gifts and Entertainment
Summit Rock maintains policies and procedures governing the giving and receiving of gifts and entertainment by
employees. Summit Rock employees are required to acknowledge understanding of and compliance with the gifts
and entertainment policies on an annual basis.
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A. Brokerage Practices for the SRA Portfolios Summit Rock considers brokerage practices when evaluating current and prospective underlying managers for the
SRA Portfolios. Summit Rock expects underlying managers to develop and implement policies and procedures that
are reasonably designed to seek the best execution available taking into account the financial stability and reputation
of a particular broker-dealer, the ability to achieve prompt and reliable executions at favorable prices, the
operational efficiency with which transactions are effected and the brokerage and research services provided by such
broker-dealer, among other factors. As such, some of the underlying managers may pay execution costs that are
higher than the lowest possible cost to cover research costs. These execution costs may be charged through soft
dollar or commission sharing agreements, which can allocate certain execution costs to pay for research-related
products and services. Summit Rock expects managers to use soft dollars in accordance with the SEC’s Section
28(e) safe harbor, but there is no guarantee that an underlying manager will do so, and the use of soft dollars outside
of the Section 28(e) safe harbor would not by itself exclude an underlying manager from consideration.
To the extent SRA Portfolios engage in securities trading, Summit Rock will seek best execution for such trades and
will consider a variety of factors including price, transaction size and type, operational efficiency and the overall
value and quality of the services offered by the relevant broker-dealer. The SRA Portfolios do not use soft dollars.
B. Brokerage Practices for Assets Under Supervision Client assets that are not allocated to the SRA Portfolios or the Balanced Reserves Accounts may be held by banks
and broker-dealers selected by each Client. Summit Rock may recommend certain banks and broker-dealers based
on Summit Rock’s experience and each Client’s specific situation.
C. Basis for Recommending Broker-Dealers Summit Rock Clients may have Directly Held Assets with various broker-dealers and custodians. Upon a Client’s
request, Summit Rock will assist in identifying and recommending broker-dealers that will best meet such Client’s
needs. Summit Rock seeks to make any such recommendation considering the best interests of a Client and without
regard to any personal relationships that may exist with the broker-dealer. Also, Summit Rock is not incentivized to
allocate Client capital to any particular broker-dealers as Summit Rock does not collect any other form of
compensation from third parties.
D. Trade Aggregation and Allocation As more fully detailed in the Confidential Offering Memorandum for the SRA Portfolios, a Summit Rock Onshore
Portfolio may make investments on a side-by-side basis with its correlated Offshore SRA Portfolio. Summit Rock
will seek to allocate investments as it deems appropriate for the relevant Onshore or Offshore Portfolio and any
other investment vehicles that may co-invest with such SRA Portfolios. Summit Rock may determine that a
different allocation is appropriate for a specific SRA Portfolio or other investment vehicle for any reason. In so
doing, Summit Rock may consider, among other factors, the structure of certain transactions or legal requirements,
available capital, risk tolerance and investment objectives of such SRA Portfolio or other vehicle, the availability of
other investment opportunities and individual Client relationships. Differences in any of such factors may result in
one or more of such entities not investing the same proportion in such investment as certain other vehicles, or not
investing at all or at the same time or on the same terms. Summit Rock will seek to resolve any conflicts using its
best judgment.
E. Trade Errors Trade errors may occur during the investment and trading process. For example, a trade error may include causing a
SRA Portfolio to subscribe to or withdraw from the wrong underlying manager or in the wrong amount. Summit
Rock attempts to minimize trade errors by putting trading and authorization processes and controls in place.
Summit Rock has established policies and procedures for the handling of trade errors and will correct errors as soon
as practicable upon discovery to minimize any potential loss. Any trade errors must be reported to Summit Rock’s
Chief Compliance Officer promptly, and the Chief Compliance Officer will document the issue and determine
necessary steps to correct the error.
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A. Review of Client Accounts and SRA Portfolios Client accounts are monitored on an ongoing basis by Summit Rock’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment
Strategist, Chief Investment Officer and senior personnel on Summit Rock’s Advisory, Investment and Operating
Teams. Formal Client account reviews are conducted on a quarterly basis. Client accounts may be reviewed on a
more frequent basis in the event such reviews are necessitated by significant market events or changes in Clients’
investment objectives or risk tolerances.
The SRA Portfolios are monitored on an ongoing basis by senior personnel on Summit Rock’s Investment and
Operating Teams. In addition, the SRA Portfolios are typically reviewed in detail at weekly scheduled Investment
Team and Investment Committee meetings. The Investment Committee is comprised of Summit Rock’s Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Investment Strategist, Chief Investment Officer and senior personnel on Summit Rock’s
Advisory, Investment and Operating Teams. More frequent reviews of the SRA Portfolios may be necessitated by
significant market events affecting the SRA Portfolios or their underlying managers.
B. Reporting to Clients Summit Rock generally provides Clients with written reports that contain information about market developments,
holdings, and measures of diversification and return, among other analyses. Summit Rock seeks to tailor reports to
meet each Client’s needs and specific financial picture. Along with regularly scheduled in-person meetings, each
Client report serves three important functions. First, this report is the formal channel of open communication
between Summit Rock and Clients, where Summit Rock reviews allocations and performance versus a written
investment plan agreed to by each Client. Second, the report is one of the tools utilized to assess the overall profile
of the Client’s investments. Third, the report, combined with in-person meetings, provides a forum for making
important decisions together with the Client to plan for the future. All investments supervised for Clients, including
interests in the SRA Portfolios and Directly Held Assets, are documented in the Client reports. Summit Rock
believes that this high level of transparency is critical in order to develop trust and comfort in the investment
process.
Summit Rock strives to review the quarterly report with the Clients in person, rather than sending the information
with a standard form letter, so that there is an opportunity to discuss the report and answer any questions that may
arise. This two-way dialogue provides a scheduled format to revisit and review important information and develop
each Client’s investment plan in order to make any necessary changes.
With respect to the SRA Portfolios, Summit Rock has built and expects to maintain an extensive monitoring and
reporting system to analyze, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the composition of each SRA Portfolio. In
addition to the information on the SRA Portfolios provided to Clients on a quarterly basis, detailed information on
the underlying managers in the medium liquidity SRA Portfolios is provided to Clients annually. Clients invested in
the SRA Portfolios also receive annual audited financial statements for the SRA Portfolios and relevant information
necessary for completion of U.S. federal income tax returns.
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Summit Rock does not receive any economic benefit from any third parties in connection with providing investment
advice or other advisory services to Clients. In addition, Summit Rock does not directly or indirectly compensate
any third parties for Client referrals.
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By serving as general partner or management shareholder of the SRA Portfolios, affiliates of Summit Rock are
deemed to have custody of securities of the SRA Portfolios. Rule 206(4)-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
(the “Advisers Act”) imposes certain requirements on registered investment advisers who have actual or deemed
custody of client assets. Summit Rock is deemed to comply with many provisions of the custody rule because each
SRA Portfolio is audited in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles on an annual basis by an
independent public accountant, and audited financial statements are distributed to each investor in the SRA
Portfolios within 180 days after the end of each SRA Portfolio’s fiscal year. Where relevant, a SRA Portfolio’s
assets are held at a qualified custodian to the extent required by Rule 206(4)-2.
Certificated Client Directly Held Assets are held in custody by broker-dealers and banks unaffiliated with Summit
Rock.
Summit Rock is deemed to have custody of funds for Clients with Balanced Reserves Accounts. As such, Summit
Rock has engaged an independent public accountant subject to registration and inspection by the PCAOB to conduct
annual surprise asset verifications at a time decided by the independent accountant and provides reports to the SEC
as to the results of those verifications. The Balanced Reserves Account custodian sends account statements showing
all holdings and transactions directly to Clients no less frequently than quarterly. We encourage Clients to compare
the statements provided by Summit Rock versus those provided by the qualified custodian and promptly report any
questions, concerns or discrepancies to Summit Rock and such qualified custodian.
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Summit Rock provides investment advisory services on a discretionary basis to Clients.
Before assuming discretion in managing a Client’s assets, Summit Rock enters into an Investment Management and
Advisory Agreement with such Client that sets forth the scope of Summit Rock’s discretion.
Summit Rock has been granted discretionary authority to manage the SRA Portfolios pursuant to investment
management agreements entered into with each SRA Portfolio. Summit Rock’s investment decisions and advice
with respect to each SRA Portfolio are subject to each SRA Portfolio’s investment strategy and objectives, as more
fully detailed in the SRA Portfolio offering documents.
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Summit Rock has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures in compliance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the
Advisers Act. Such policies and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that Summit Rock votes Client
securities in the Client’s best interests.
With respect to the SRA Portfolios, Summit Rock has the authority and responsibility to evaluate potential changes
to the terms associated with underlying investments. Senior Summit Rock personnel will determine whether to
approve or reject proposed changes in the best interests of the SRA Portfolios. In addition, as part of its operational
due diligence process, Summit Rock evaluates the proxy voting policies and procedures of the underlying managers
in the SRA Portfolios.
For Directly Held Assets, Clients may direct votes in a particular solicitation. Upon request, Summit Rock will
provide Clients with recommendations on such voting, seeking to recommend a course of action in the Client’s best
interests. In such cases, Clients will receive proxy voting materials directly, and the ultimate decision and
submission of such materials remains the Client’s responsibility.
Upon request, Clients may obtain a copy of Summit Rock’s proxy voting policies and procedures and information
about how specific Client proxies were voted.
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Summit Rock is not required to include a balance sheet in this filing. Summit Rock is not aware of any financial
condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet contractual commitments to Clients. Summit Rock
has never been the subject of a bankruptcy petition.
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Open Brochure from SEC website