A. Firm Description. Chi-Rho Financial, LLC (“Chi-Rho” or “We”) is a Georgia Limited
Liability Company formed in 2000. The principal owner is Mr. Joseph B. Hurley IV.
B. Advisory Business. We manage four private investment funds of funds: Dunwoody Partners,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership; Piedmont Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership;
Piedmont Partners Offshore, L.P., a British Virgin Islands business company; and Stone
Mountain Partners, Ltd, a British Virgin Islands business company (collectively, the “Funds”).
We manage the Funds according to the investment objectives and investment guidelines set
forth in their confidential offering memoranda (the “Offering Documents”). In addition, we
have entered into an engagement to manage a separate account (“Managed Account”) offering
the same underlying managers in our four private funds. This business is conducted on a non-
discretionary basis.
C. Tailored Advice. Our clients are the Funds and the Managed Account. We manage the Funds
according to the investment objectives and investment guidelines set forth in the Offering
Documents.
D. Wrap Fee Programs. We do not participate in any wrap fee programs.
E. Amount of Assets Managed. As of December 31, 2019, we managed $ 587,951,293 of assets
on a discretionary basis and $ 39,864,711.67 on a non-discretionary basis.
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A. Advisory Fees. The compensation the Funds pay us is set forth in each of the Offering
Documents. We, in our sole discretion, may assess a higher or lower management fee with
respect to certain investors in the Funds. The Managed Account pays us a management fee
based upon the assets in the Managed Account.
B. Other Fees or Expenses. Each Fund bears all of its operating and other expenses, including
but not limited to any transactional expenses and its legal, auditing, accounting and custodial
fees. The offshore funds will reimburse their directors for any expenses incurred in connection
with their duties to the Funds. The offshore funds also pay their administrator a fee, plus
reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses and additional fees for particular services as agreed
upon from time to time. As fund of funds, each Fund will also bear its pro-rata share of the
expenses of the underlying private investment partnerships and other collective investment
vehicles (“Sub-Funds”) in which it invests. The expenses of Sub-Funds will generally consist
of, but not be limited to, administrative fees, brokerage expenses and the Sub- Fund’s
investment managers’ management and performance-based fees. Further information
regarding the expenses of each Sub-Fund is set forth in the Offering Documents. Information
regarding our brokerage practices is contained below in Item 12.
In order for each Fund to pay its expenses on a timely basis, a cash balance is maintained in
each of the Funds. Generally, that cash balance is generated by allocating a portion of
investors’ capital deposits to cash. For Piedmont Partners LP and Piedmont Partners Offshore,
L.P., this cash balance is maintained at the Sub-Fund level. The investor’s pro rata share of a
Sub-Fund’s cash balance is shown on that investor’s monthly Sub-Fund holding statement.
Due to the cash balance in the Funds and the management fees and expenses of the Funds, the
overall performance of the Funds (and Sub-Funds within Piedmont Partners LP and Piedmont
Partners Offshore, L.P..) will differ from the performance of the underlying investment
managers. Chi-Rho strives to minimize the amount of cash maintained in the Funds on a best
efforts basis within the constraints of managing the business of the Funds so that the Fund’s
investors will participate as closely as possible to the performance of the underlying investment
managers.
C. Other Compensation. Chi-Rho does not receive any compensation from other sources.
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We receive a performance-based fee from one of our four Funds – Piedmont Partners, LP. This
performance fee is a one percent (“1.0%”) general partner participation Fee. If the Sub-Fund within
Piedmont Partners, L.P. is profitable, Chi-Rho participates in 1.0% of the profits. Conversely, if
the Sub-Fund within Piedmont Partners, L.P. incurs a loss, Chi-Rho absorbs 1.0% of such loss.
Performance-based fee arrangements may create an incentive for us to recommend investments
which may be riskier or more speculative than those which would be recommended under a
different fee arrangement. Such fee arrangements also create an incentive to favor higher fee
paying accounts over other accounts that use the same investment strategy but only a charge an
asset-based fee (known as “side-by-side management”). This incentive could cause an investment
adviser to allocate the “best” investment opportunities only to the higher-fee account and the
better-executed trades to the higher fee account. There may be instances where we experience
capacity constraints in Sub-Fund investment opportunities such that any of our Funds, to the extent
eligible for such opportunity, are not able to participate. In the event of this occurrence, where we
may have to allocate an investment opportunity amongst our Funds, we will ensure each Fund is
treated fairly and equitably over time and that no Fund is systematically disadvantaged.
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Our only clients are the Funds and a non-discretionary separate managed account. Fund minimum
investment requirements are set forth in the Offering Documents, which may be waived at the
discretion of the general partner or investment manager.
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A. Investment Strategies and Methods of Analysis. We seek to provide the Funds’ investors with a solid, long-term, risk adjusted rate of return. Each Fund allocates its assets to various other
investment managers (the “Managers”), which are generally accessed by investing in the Sub-
Funds. We are responsible for the selection of the Managers and the allocation of each Fund’s
assets to the Managers.
Our investment strategy is a talent-driven process. We feel that there are talented Managers
available who are able to generate investment profits from strategies that are not directly tied to
the direction of the stock market or interest rates. We seek to identify such Managers using a
proprietary process to quantitatively analyze their performance for absolute return, return-to-risk
and consistency characteristics. The second step in the process is a qualitative evaluation of the
Manager for issues such as integrity, business skills, trading methodology, back office, and risk
management. The next step in the investment process is to build client portfolios or investment
products around desired return and risk characteristics. The final step in the process is ongoing
management of a portfolio. Again, standards are developed to evaluate the performance of a
Manager selected on behalf of a Fund. A combination of early warning signs and required
termination criteria are used to manage the ongoing risk and performance of a portfolio.
The Managers within each Fund and the allocations to such Managers vary from time to
time. Managers trade a wide variety of financial instruments, in various markets. Such instruments
include equities, debt instruments, swaps on interest rates and currencies, futures contracts (such
as equity indices, interest rate instruments and currencies), options (on any of the foregoing) and
inter-bank currency contracts. The markets traded by the Managers include U.S. and non-U.S.
stock, options and futures exchanges, over-the-counter (dealer) markets, and privately negotiated
transactions. Some of the instruments traded by the Managers may be inherently leveraged, such
as options and futures, and some Managers may, through borrowing, use leverage in their trading
of other instruments, such as equities.
Each Fund is designed for long term investors who do not require current investment
returns or current liquidity. As with any investment, there can be no assurance that a Fund’s
investment objective will be achieved or that an investor will not lose a portion or all of its
investment in any Fund.
B. Primarily Recommended Securities. We primarily invest in private investment partnerships and other collective investment vehicles.
C. Material Risks. The material risks presented by our investment strategies and methods of analysis are set forth below. Additional information is contained in the Offering Documents. This
brochure does not purport to contain a complete disclosure of all risks that may be relevant to a
prospective investor in a Fund. Investing involves risk of loss that an investor should be prepared
to bear.
Passive Investment. Each Fund will be managed exclusively by us, and investors are not
able to make any investment or other decision on behalf of a Fund. Investors are precluded
from active participation in making investment or other management decisions.
Multiple Managers. Because each Manager will trade independently of the others, the
trading losses of some Managers could offset trading profits achieved by the profitable
Managers. Managers might compete for the same investment positions. Conversely,
Managers may take offsetting positions which would result in transaction costs for a Fund
without the possibility of profits.
Dependence on Skill and Integrity of Managers. The success of each Fund is dependent
upon the ability and integrity of the Managers and the Sub-Funds that we select. While we
carefully scrutinize new Managers and monitors all Sub-Funds in which each Fund invests,
the current and future performance of any individual Sub-Fund may vary from its historical
performance. In addition, there is the possibility that Managers may deviate from their
stated investment disciplines, be negligent in their investment management or commit
fraud or willful misconduct.
Illiquid Securities. The Sub-Funds may invest in securities which are not readily
marketable, including privately placed securities. A Sub-Fund may find it difficult to
readily dispose of illiquid investments in the ordinary course of business. In addition,
illiquid investments may not have an established trading market. The net asset value of a
Sub- Fund may be based in significant part on the valuations placed on Sub-Fund assets by
its Manager without reference to an established market for such investments.
Sub-Funds’ Limitations on Withdrawals. Although investors in the Fund have certain
withdrawal rights, the Sub-Funds may not permit withdrawals at the same intervals or on
the same notice. For this reason, we have authority to restrict withdrawal rights if a Fund
is unable to obtain sufficient funds to honor withdrawal requests by redeeming its interest
in a Sub-Fund. Investors requesting a withdrawal may experience delays in receiving
withdrawal payments.
Valuation. Each Fund relies primarily on information provided by Managers in valuing its
investments in Sub-Funds. There is a risk that inaccurate valuations provided by Managers
could adversely affect the value of a Fund and the amounts investors receive upon
withdrawal from a Fund. Because Managers of privately offered Sub-Funds generally
provide net asset value information to a Fund on a monthly basis and do not generally
provide detailed information on their investment positions, except on an annual basis, each
Fund is generally unable to determine the fair value of its investments in such privately
offered Sub-Funds or its net asset value other than as of the end of each month. The Funds
also may not be able to verify valuation information given to them by Managers, except in
connection with the delivery of such Sub-Fund’s annual audited financial statements.
Reliance on Key Personnel. The success of each Fund is highly dependent on the financial,
managerial and investment expertise of our key personnel. Should anything happen to such
key personnel, the business and results of operations of a Fund may be adversely affected.
Portfolio Valuation. Valuation of assets held by the Funds may involve uncertainties and
the exercise of judgement and discretion.
Early-Stage Managers. Early-stage Managers may not have substantial experience in
operating Sub-Funds and may not have significant track records.
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We are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or disciplinary events that would
be material to your evaluation of us or the integrity of our management. We have no such legal or
disciplinary events to disclose.
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A. Broker-Dealer Affiliation. Mr. Hurley is a registered representative of Register Financial Associates, Inc. (“Register”). Further information regarding Mr. Hurley’s role in this capacity is
set forth below in Item 14.
B. Pooled Investment Vehicle Affiliation. As disclosed in Item 4, we manage the Funds. C. Recommending other Investment Advisers. As disclosed in Item 8, we allocate Fund assets to other Managers’ Sub-Funds. We may enter into marketing and referral arrangements with
certain Managers entitling us to receive a portion of the advisory fees earned by such Managers
attributable to the Fund’s investments in any such Managers’ Sub-Funds. As a result of such
marketing and referral arrangements, we have a substantial financial incentive to allocate Funds’
assets to Sub-Funds based on these arrangements rather than solely on our consideration of the
Funds’ best interests.
To the extent required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) and the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, we will reimburse management fees charged to certain investors
who are benefit plan investors in an amount equal to the fees received by us that are attributable
to such investor’s investment in a Fund.
We address this conflict of interest by adhering to our process and procedures for selecting
Managers for each Fund and by fully disclosing such conflict within the Offering Documents.
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Trading We have adopted and will maintain and enforce a code of ethics (the “Code”) which sets forth the
standards of conduct expected of employees and requires compliance with the federal securities
laws and our fiduciary duties, including the duties to put client interests first at all times and to
maintain the confidentiality of client information.
The Code also addresses the personal securities trading activities of employees in an effort to detect
and prevent illegal or improper personal securities transactions and requires initial and annual
holdings reports as well as quarterly personal securities transaction reports.
To mitigate the potential for conflicts of interest, the Code contains a number of restrictions related
to the activities of employees, including limits on the provision and receipt of gifts or entertainment
and limits on outside activities. The Code provides that all employees are to certify their
compliance on an ongoing basis and makes the Chief Compliance Officer responsible for
administering and enforcing the Code and maintaining all records the Code requires. A copy of
the Code is available upon request.
Two of the Funds invests directly in another Fund. Typically, such an investment occurs only when
the investing Fund needs to do so in order to access a specific Sub-Fund. When such an investment
occurs, we waive the management fee to avoid duplicating our fees. Nonetheless, the investment
of one Fund in another Fund presents a conflict of interest if we receive a participation allocation
for investments into this Fund. This provides us an incentive to invest in our own Fund rather than
directly in alternative Sub-Funds. We address this conflict of interest by disclosing its existence
within the Offering Documents.
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We generally invest only in other private investment partnerships or similar collective investment
vehicles. Given the nature of our investments, we have no broker-dealer relationships.
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The Fund’s portfolio is monitored daily by the Chief Investment Officer. We provide Fund
investors monthly written information regarding such Fund’s performance. We also provide
weekly performance numbers on our website if Sub-Fund Managers provide them. Additionally,
Fund investors receive written annual audited financial statements of the Fund. We conduct regular
reviews on our separately managed account.
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Joe Hurley, Chi-Rho’s President and Chief Investment Officer, is compensated by Register . Mr.
Hurley maintains a Series 7 license and is an independent contractor with Register. Register has a
selling agreement with an adviser that sponsors Sub-Funds in which our Funds invest. Pursuant to
this agreement, Mr. Hurley receives additional compensation from Register for referring investors
to this advisor, to include when one of our Fund’s invests in this adviser’s Sub-Funds. Although
the Fund and its investors do not bear the cost of such compensation, it does present a conflict of
interest because it provides Mr. Hurley an incentive to allocate Funds’ assets to Sub-Funds based
on these arrangements rather than solely on his consideration of the Funds’ best interests. We
address this conflict of interest by adhering to our process and procedures for selecting Managers
for each Fund and by fully disclosing such conflict to Fund investors.
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We do not serve as the qualified custodian of assets of the Funds and do not maintain physical
custody of their liquid assets. We are deemed by the applicable regulatory rules, however, to have
constructive custody of the assets of the Funds. We will satisfy the applicable regulatory
requirements related to custody by, among other things, ensuring that the Funds are subject to an
annual audit by an independent, PCAOB –registered and examined accounting firm, and that such
audited financial statements are provided to Fund investors within 180 days of a Fund’s fiscal year
end. Cash balances for the Funds are deposited and banking relationships are maintained at
Synovus.
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Pursuant to their governing documents, the Funds retain us to exercise broad investment discretion
in accordance with their investment objective and policies and without investor consultation or
consent, all as set forth in the Offering Documents.
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Because we invest all assets in securities such as privately-placed investment partnerships or
similar collective investment vehicles that do not have traditional equity-like voting rights, we do
not engage in proxy voting. In the event equity-like voting issues are presented to us, we will adopt
a proxy voting policy and otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 206(4)-6 under the
Investment Advisers Act.
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Registered investment advisers are required to provide certain financial information or disclosures
about their financial condition. We have no financial condition that impairs our ability to meet
contractual commitments to clients, and have never been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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Open Brochure from SEC website