A. Firm Information
Raven Capital Management LLC (the "Adviser"), a Delaware limited liability company, is an investment adviser with its
principal place of business in New York, NY. The Adviser commenced operations as an investment adviser in September
2008 and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser. Josh Green, James Masciello and Jeremy Tucker are the
principal owners of the Adviser (the "Principals").
B. Advisory Services Offered
The Adviser provides advisory services on a discretionary basis to closed-end private investment funds (each a “Fund” and
collectively, the "Advisory Clients"), which deploy an asset-based investment strategy focusing primarily on asset-based
secured debt investments, with opportunistic investments in subordinated debt, mezzanine debt, and equity. The Adviser
focuses on five (5) distinct asset types: (i) Receivables/Intellectual Property; (ii) Specialty Finance; (iii) Commercial Real
Estate; (iv) Transportation; and (v) Infrastructure. The Funds are intended for sophisticated investors and institutional
investors.
C. Client Account Management
The Funds include:
• Raven Asset-Based Opportunity Fund I LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Opportunity Master Fund I”);
• Raven Asset Based-Based Opportunity Fund I, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Opportunity Fund I
Offshore Feeder”);
• Raven Asset-Based Opportunity Fund II LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Opportunity Fund II”);
• Raven Asset-Based Opportunity Fund III LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Opportunity Fund III”);
• Raven Asset-Based Opportunity Offshore Fund III LP, a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“Opportunity
Offshore Fund III”);
• Raven Asset-Based Opportunity Fund IV LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Opportunity Fund IV”);
• Raven Asset-Based Opportunity Offshore Fund IV LP, a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“Opportunity
Offshore Fund IV”);
• RPM Fund I LP, a New York limited partnership (“RPM Fund I” or a “Customized Fund”);
• Raven Asset-Based Credit Fund I LP, a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“Credit Fund I” or a “Customized
Fund”); and
• RCM Shipping I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“RCM Shipping I” or a “Customized Fund,” together
with RPM Fund I and Credit Fund I, the “Customized Funds”).
The Adviser has established the Customized Funds for investments by certain outside investors and their affiliates. The
Customized Funds may utilize modified trading and/or investment strategies than the other Funds and may be subject to
different terms and arrangements (including fees, liquidity rights, transparency rights, termination rights and brokerage).
It should be noted that any such future customized fund relationships may be subject to minimum investment size and other
possible special requirements.
The Adviser bases its advice to Advisory Clients on the investment objectives and restrictions (if any) set forth in the
applicable offering memorandum, organizational documents, limited partnership agreement, investment management
agreement, and/or subscription agreements, as the case may be (each, and collectively, the “Governing Documents”).
D. Wrap Fee Programs
The Adviser does not participate in wrap fee programs.
E. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2019, the Adviser had approximately $871,290,984 assets under management on a discretionary basis.
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A. Fees for Advisory Services
Asset-Based Compensation
For each Fund, the Adviser is paid an asset-based investment management fee ranging from 0.75% to 2.0% per annum of
either the commitments or the lower of cost or fair market value of net assets, respective to each Advisory Client.
These fees are not negotiable, but may be reduced or waived by each Fund’s General Partner at its sole discretion.
In the case of the Customized Funds, the Adviser has: (i) tailored the investment objectives to the specific
objectives/restrictions of such accounts; and (ii) individually negotiated the terms and fees for such accounts, which are
different from the terms and fees of the other Funds. The Adviser negotiates such arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
The Adviser, the General Partner and its members, employees, affiliates or their related persons may also invest directly in
any one, some or all of the Advisory Clients. It should be noted that investments made by such parties generally are not
subject to the asset-based investment management fee or the performance-based compensation.
Performance-Based Compensation
The Adviser may also be paid performance-based compensation, which is compensation that is based on a share of gains
on, or income earned by, each Advisory Client. The performance-based compensation may be paid to the Adviser or an
affiliate of the Adviser, and ranges from 10% to 20%. Receipt of performance-based compensation is subject to a hurdle
rates equal to between 6% and 12%. The Governing Documents for each Fund provide the definitive terms of such
performance-based compensation.
These fees are not negotiable, but may be reduced or waived by each Fund’s General Partner at its sole discretion.
B. Fee Billing
Investment management fees are charged quarterly in advance based on the total commitments or the lower of cost or fair
market value of the assets in the Advisory Client account on the first day of the quarter.
Investment management fees are deducted and paid to the Adviser from the assets of the relevant Advisory Client accounts.
If applicable, performance-based compensation is deducted and paid to the Adviser, or an affiliate of the Adviser, from the
assets of the relevant Advisory Client accounts.
C. Other Fees and Expenses
In addition to paying investment management fees and, if applicable, performance-based compensation, investors will bear
their pro rata share of the applicable Fund's operating and other expenses including, but not limited to: (i) sales expenses;
(ii) legal expenses; internal and external accounting, audit and tax preparation expenses; (iii) filing and printing fees; (iv)
travel expenses and the production of marketing materials; and (iii) other organizational expenses (collectively
“Organizational Expenses”).
The investors will also pay all other expenses attributable to the activities of the Partnership, including, but not limited to:
(i) expenses incurred in connection with the sourcing, evaluation, and potential acquisition, and disposition of Portfolio
Investments, including, but not limited to, appraisal fees, taxes, brokerage fees and discounts, and legal, auditing,
accounting, unaffiliated third-party investment banking, consulting, information services, and professional fees; (ii)
expenses incurred in connection with the carrying or management of Portfolio Investments, including custodial, trustee,
record keeping and other administration fees; (iii) insurance (including Partnership-related insurance expenses and fees
for directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for the Partnership and the Investment Manager), regulatory or litigation
expenses (and damages); (iv) expenses incurred in connection with the Partnership’s financial statements, tax returns, and
K-1s; (v) valuation consultants’, attorneys’ and accountants’ fees and disbursements; (vi) taxes, fees and other governmental
charges levied against the Partnership; (vii) expenses incurred in connection with the winding up or liquidation of the
Partnership; (viii) expenses relating to defaults by Limited Partners in the payment of any Capital Contributions; (ix)
expenses for transactions not consummated; (x) the costs and expenses associated with the purchase (or attempted
purchase), holding or sale, exchange or other disposition of securities, Portfolio Investments or other Partnership assets,
including, but not by way of limitation, placement and finder’s fees, asset specialist fees and advisory fees paid to third
parties unaffiliated with the General Partner and/or Investment Manager related to the acquisition or disposition of
securities, Portfolio Investments or other Partnership assets; (xi) expenses incurred in connection with any restructuring or
amendments to the constituent documents of the Partnership and related entities, including the General Partner and the
Investment Manager; (xii) expenses incurred in connection with distributions to the Partners; (xiii) costs and expenses of
the LP Advisory Committee, including, upon the request of a majority of the members of the LP Advisory Committee,
expenses related to the LP Advisory Committee employing any advisor that it deems reasonably necessary to assist the LP
Advisory Committee in carrying out its functions hereunder; (xiv) interest and other expenses on any Borrowings; and (xv)
costs and expenses in connection with any scheduled meetings of Partners or otherwise called by the General Partner
(collectively the “Partnership Expenses”).
D. Advanced Payment of Fees
The Adviser does not require the prepayment of fees.
E. Compensation for Sales of Securities
Neither the Adviser nor its supervised persons accepts compensation for the sale of securities or other investment products,
including asset-based sales charges or service fees.
The Adviser and its affiliates have in the past and may again in the future enter into agreements, or "side letters," with
certain prospective or existing investors whereby such investors may be subject to terms and conditions that are more
advantageous than those set forth in the Governing Documents. Such terms and conditions may provide for special rights
to: (i) pay reduced management fees and/or performance-based compensation; (ii) make future investments; and/or (iii)
receive reports on a more frequent basis or that include information not provided to other investors, as may be negotiated
by the Adviser and such investor. The modifications are solely at the discretion of the Adviser.
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Performance-Based Fees
The Adviser manages multiple Advisory Client accounts. The Adviser and/or its affiliates are entitled to be paid
performance-based compensation by each of the Advisory Clients. Certain Advisory Client accounts may have higher asset-
based fees or more favorable performance-based compensation arrangements than other accounts, which may create an
incentive for the Adviser to recommend investments that may be riskier or more speculative than those that would be
recommended under a different fee or compensation agreement. Please refer to the Governing Documents of each Fund for
complete information on the “performance-based fee” arrangements of each Fund.
The performance-based carried interest arrangements for each Fund comply with Rule 205-3 under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). Any share of profits allocated and distributed to the general partner of a Fund
is separate and distinct from the advisory fees charged by the Adviser to such Fund for advisory services.
Side-by-Side Management
In certain circumstances, Funds may have overlapping investment objectives and investment strategies. Accordingly, it is
likely that Advisory Clients may co-invest in many of the same securities and issuers. While it is anticipated that there will
be significant overlap between certain Advisory Client portfolios, each Advisory Client will trade pursuant to its specific
mandate, objective, liquidity, concentration, risk tolerance and other applicable parameters. The Adviser reviews
investment decisions for the purpose of ensuring that all accounts with substantially similar investment objectives are
treated equitably.
When the Adviser and its investment personnel manage more than one Advisory Client account, a potential exists for one
Advisory Client account to be favored over another Advisory Client account. Accordingly, the Adviser has adopted and
implemented policies and procedures intended to address conflicts of interest that may arise relating to the management of
multiple pooled investment vehicle Advisory Clients, including accounts with different fee arrangements, and the allocation
of investment opportunities.
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The Adviser’s Advisory Clients consist of private funds that are pooled investment vehicles. Any initial and additional
subscription minimums are disclosed in the Governing Documents of the relevant pooled investment vehicle. The minimum
investment in the Funds is generally $1,000,000.
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A. Analysis and Investment Strategies
The Adviser utilizes a variety of methods and strategies to make investment decisions and recommendations. The Principals
have extensive relationships with industry operators, asset specific consultants, and other specialist third-parties which
allow the Principals to transact efficiently by conducting thorough due diligence and developing appropriate valuation,
pricing and transaction structures.
The Adviser employs a carefully developed, refined and executed asset-based investment strategy focusing primarily on
asset-based secured debt investments, with opportunistic investments in subordinated debt, mezzanine, and equity. The
Adviser focuses on five distinct asset types: Receivables/Intellectual Property, Specialty Finance, Commercial Real Estate,
Transportation, and Infrastructure.
The Adviser’s investments are initiated through the Adviser’s direct origination efforts. These relationships enable the
Adviser to review transactions that are unique, plentiful and uninvolved with a competitive bidding process. Further, as the
lead or single lender, coupled with these proprietary opportunities, the Adviser seeks to command superior pricing and
more restrictive covenants than syndicated loan facilities.
The Adviser employs a stringent due diligence and underwriting process for each investment which includes, but is not
limited to: 1) in-depth review of the asset-type; 2) retention of industry experts, if necessary; 3) thorough valuation analysis
and exploration of exit alternatives; 4) forensic accounting; 5) legal diligence; 6) counter-party/management background
checks and references; 7) collateral inspection/site visits; 8) use-of-proceeds analysis; and 9) analysis/stress-testing of
financial projections.
Once the comprehensive due diligence process is completed, the Adviser determines the optimal investment structure,
formulates a term sheet and begins long form documentation. The Adviser structures and documents its investments to
compartmentalize and mitigate risk. This is accomplished through heavy corporate, financial and asset specific covenants,
transparent structured finance techniques, and meticulous attention to the details of the attendant legal documentation
which is drafted by the Adviser’s outside legal counsel.
The Adviser monitors its investments on an on-going basis to ensure their compliance and performance. This management
process is conducted via covenant monitoring, asset valuations and market surveillance.
An investment with the Adviser involves substantial risks that should be considered carefully. Certain risk factors that may
be considered applicable to an investment with the Adviser are outlined below. Additional risk factors are outlined in the
Governing Documents for the applicable Advisory Client. It should be noted, however, that there may be other risk factors
applicable to such an investment that are not identified but that might still result in material losses to investors. Although
the Adviser may attempt to manage these risks through careful research and ongoing monitoring of investments, there can
be no assurance that the securities and other instruments purchased which are the focus of its strategies will increase in
value or that the Adviser’s accounts will not incur significant losses. Prospective investors should consult their own legal,
investment, tax, and other advisers, and the Governing Documents, as to whether an investment with the Adviser is
appropriate for them.
B. Material Risks (Including Significant or Unusual Risks) Relating to Investment Strategies
Hard Assets
Hard assets and hard asset securities may be cyclical in nature. During periods of economic or financial instability, hard
asset securities may be subject to broad price fluctuations, reflecting volatility of energy and basic materials prices and
possible instability of supply of various hard assets. In addition, hard asset companies may also be subject to the risks
associated with extraction of natural resources as well as the risks of the hazards associated with natural resources, such as
fire, drought, and increased regulatory and environmental costs.
Illiquid Instruments
Certain instruments may have no readily available market or third-party pricing. Reduced liquidity may have an adverse
impact on market price and the Adviser’s ability to sell particular securities when necessary to meet liquidity needs or in
response to a specific economic event, such as the deterioration of creditworthiness of an issuer.
Interest Rate Risks
Generally, the value of fixed-income securities changes inversely with changes in interest rates. As interest rates rise, the
market value of fixed-income securities tends to decrease. Conversely, as interest rates fall, the market value of fixed-income
securities tends to increase. This risk is greater for long-term securities than for short-term securities.
Issuer-Specific Changes
Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic or political conditions that
affect a particular type of security or issuer, and changes in general economic or political conditions can increase the risk of
default by an issuer or counterparty, which can affect a security's or instrument's value. The value of securities of smaller,
less well-known issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers. Smaller issuers can have more limited product lines,
markets, or financial resources.
Leverage
The Advisory Clients may utilize leverage, which involves the borrowing of funds from brokerage firms, banks and other
institutions in order to be able to measure the amount of capital available for investments. Performance may be more volatile
if an Advisory Client’s account employs leverage.
Nature of Investment
Investments will generally consist of asset-based debt instruments issued by privately-held companies located in North
American and other assets that may be affected by business, financial market or legal uncertainties.
Valuation of Investments
While the Fund assets are valued on an annual basis by the Adviser and certain third-party valuation firm(s), the portfolio
investments will include investments which are illiquid. It is noted that these portfolio investments may be extremely
difficult to value accurately.
Force Majeure
Portfolio investments may be affected by force majeure events (i.e., events beyond the control of the party claiming that the
event has occurred, including, without limitation, acts of God, fire, flood, earthquakes, outbreaks of an infectious disease,
pandemic or any other serious public health concern, war, terrorism, failure of technology, government macroeconomic
policies, social instability, etc.). Some force majeure events may adversely affect the ability of a party (including a portfolio
company or a counterparty to an Advisory Client or a portfolio company) to perform its obligations until it is able to remedy
the force majeure event. These risks could, among other effects, adversely impact the cash flows available from a portfolio
company, cause personal injury or loss of life, damage property, or instigate disruptions of service. Certain force majeure
events (such as war or an outbreak of an infectious disease) could have a broader negative impact on the world economy
and international business activity generally, or in any of the countries in which Advisory Clients would invest.
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Neither the Adviser nor the Adviser’s management persons have been the subject of any material legal or disciplinary events
required to be disclosed in this item.
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A. Registered Broker-Dealers
Neither the Adviser nor the Adviser’s management persons are registered or have an application pending to register as a
broker-dealer or registered representative of a broker-dealer.
B. Registered Futures Commission Merchants, Commodity Pool Operators and Commodity Trading
Advisors
Neither the Adviser nor the Adviser’s management persons are registered or have an application pending to register as a
futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, or an associated person of the
foregoing entities.
C. Relationships with Related Persons
The Funds are sponsored by general partners as follows: (i) Raven Capital Management, GP LLC (for Opportunity Funds I,
II and III, Offshore III and the RCM Shipping I Fund); (ii) Raven Capital Management GP II LLC (for Credit Fund I); (iii)
Raven Capital Management GP IV, LLC (for Opportunity Fund IV and Offshore IV); and (iv) RPM Fund I GP LLC (for RPM
Fund I).
All of the general partners listed above are under common control with the Adviser.
Since the Adviser and its related persons manage multiple Funds, this can create a potential conflict in the allocation of
time, resources and investment opportunities among the Funds. Please refer to the Governing Documents of the relevant
Fund for more complete information on the requisite time commitments (if any) of the Adviser and its related persons to
the Funds and the allocation of investment opportunities among the Funds. Please also refer to the description of the
Adviser’s investment policy in the subsection Side by Side Management in Item 6 above.
D. Selection or Recommendation of Other Advisors
The Adviser does not recommend or select other investment advisers for its Advisory Clients and does not receive
compensation from such advisers in a manner that would create a material conflict of interest. Further, the Adviser does
not have other business relationships with other advisers that would create a material conflict of interest.
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Trading
The Adviser’s Code of Ethics (the “Code”) is designed to meet the requirements of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act. The
Code applies to the Adviser’s “Access Persons.” Access Persons include any member, officer, director or employee of the
Adviser who, in relation to the Funds: (i) has access to non-public information regarding any purchase or sale of securities
or non-public information regarding securities holdings; or (ii) is involved in making securities recommendations, executing
securities recommendations, or has access to such recommendations that are non-public. The Adviser considers all of its
employees to be Access Persons.
The Adviser’s Code describes its fiduciary duty and responsibilities to its Advisory Clients and sets forth, among other things,
the Adviser’s policies and procedures for: (i) identifying, escalating and addressing any potential conflicts of interest; (ii)
monitoring and preventing the Adviser or its Access Persons from engaging in insider trading; (iii) pre-clearance
requirements, trading restrictions and reporting requirements for Access Persons’ personal securities transactions; (iv) the
receipt of gifts by Access Persons; (v) political campaign contributions pre-clearance requirements; and (vi) pre-approval of
any employment other than the Access Person’s employment with the Adviser. Under the Code, all Access Persons of the
Advisers are required to promptly report violations of the Code to the Chief Compliance Officer. Access Persons must also
acknowledge receipt and attest that they will comply with the Code on an annual basis.
The Adviser, in the course of its investment management and other activities (e.g., board or creditor committee service),
may come into possession of confidential or material, nonpublic information about issuers, including issuers in which the
Adviser or its related persons have invested or seek to invest on behalf of Advisory Clients. The Adviser is prohibited from
improperly disclosing or using such information for its own benefit or for the benefit of any other person, regardless of
whether such other person is an Advisory Client. The Adviser maintains and enforces written policies and procedures that
prohibit the communication of such information to persons who do not have a legitimate need to know such information,
and to assure that the Adviser is meeting its obligations to its Advisory Clients and remains in compliance with applicable
law. In certain circumstances, the Adviser may possess certain confidential or material, nonpublic information that, if
disclosed, might be material to a decision to buy, sell or hold a security. The Adviser is prohibited from communicating
such information to any Advisory Client or using such information for any Advisory Client’s benefit. In such circumstances,
the Adviser will have no responsibility or liability to the Advisory Client for not disclosing such information to the Advisory
Client (or the fact that the Adviser possesses such information), or not using such information for the Advisory Client’s
benefit, in accordance with the Adviser’s policies and procedures and with applicable law.
Clients or prospective clients may obtain a copy of the Code by contacting Chris Felice (Chief Compliance Officer) by email
at
[email protected], or by telephone at 212-966-7926.
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As a general matter, the Adviser focuses on securities transactions involving private companies, and purchases and sells
such companies through privately negotiated transactions that do not require the services of a broker dealer. It is not
currently part of the Adviser’s business for the Adviser to effect transactions in Advisory Client accounts that involve the
payment or receipt of brokerage commissions or to act as a broker in any capacity, and there are no transactions effected
that would give rise to the use of soft dollars; however, if the Adviser ever effects brokerage transactions in the future, the
Adviser will adopt appropriate policies and procedures.
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A. Frequency of Reviews
The Principals are responsible for monitoring the Advisory Clients' portfolios on a continuous basis. Such matters reviewed
include specific securities held, adherence to applicable investment guidelines, and the performance of each Advisory Client
account.
B. Causes for Reviews
The Adviser uses independent third parties to conduct financial audits of the accounts of its Advisory Clients. The Chief
Compliance Officer reviews certain other aspects of regulatory compliance. The timing of such reviews is dependent upon
the purpose of the review and other factors.
C. Client Reporting
The Adviser provides investors with written reports on a quarterly basis that include, among other things, a summary of
activity and the net asset value or balance of the investor’s account. Such written reports are provided pursuant to the terms
of the Fund’s Governing Document.
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The Adviser has in the past and may again in the future make cash payments to third-party solicitors for Advisory Client
referrals whereby the third-party solicitor receives compensation attributable to the Advisory Client solicited and referred
by the third-party solicitor, provided that, to the extent required, each such solicitor has entered into a written agreement
with the Adviser pursuant to which the solicitor will provide each prospective client with a copy of the Adviser’s Form ADV
Part 2, and a disclosure document setting forth the terms of the solicitation arrangement, including the nature of the
relationship between the solicitor and Adviser and any fees to be paid to the solicitor. Where applicable, cash payments for
Advisory Client solicitations will be structured to comply fully with the requirements of Rule 206(4)-3 under the Advisers
Act and related SEC staff interpretations.
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Pursuant to Rule 206(4)-2 under the Advisers Act (the “Custody Rule”), the Adviser is deemed to have custody of the assets
held by the Funds because affiliates of the Adviser serve as general partners of the Funds.
To ensure compliance with the Custody Rule, the Adviser will ensure that the Funds are subject to annual audit by an
independent public accountant registered with, and subject to regular inspection by, the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and that the audited financial statements of each Fund are prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and distributed to investors within 120 days of the end of each Fund’s fiscal year.
Investors should carefully review the audited financial statements of the Funds upon receipt, and should compare these
statements to any account information provided by the Adviser.
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The Adviser provides investment advisory services on a discretionary basis to the Advisory Clients and is authorized to make
transaction recommendations for the Funds. Prior to assuming full discretion in managing a client’s assets, the Adviser
enters into an investment management agreement or other agreement that sets forth the scope of the Adviser’s discretion.
Please see Item 4 for a description of any limitations Advisory Clients may place on the Adviser’s discretionary authority.
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It is not currently part of the Adviser’s business for the Adviser to invest in or hold securities which require the voting of
proxies; however, if the Adviser ever invests in or holds such securities in the future, the Adviser will adopt and implement
written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the Adviser votes Advisory Client securities in a
manner consistent with the best interests of such Advisory Client.
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The Adviser and its affiliates do not require or solicit prepayment of advisory fees six months in advance. The Adviser is not
currently aware of any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet contractual commitments to
the Funds or investors.
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