Article 49(j): Closed-Ended Investment Traded Fund

j. To achieve the independence of a member of the fund’s board of directors, the following must be complied:

1. an independent director of a closed-ended investment traded fund shall be able to perform his/her duties, express his/her opinions and vote on decisions objectively with no bias in order to help the board make correct decisions that contribute to achieving the interests of the fund.

2. the board of a closed-ended investment traded fund shall conduct an annual assessment of the member's independence and ensure that there are no relationships or circumstances that affect or may affect his/her independence.

3. with regards to the definition of "Independent Fund Director" in the Glossary of Defined Terms Used in the Regulations and Rules of the Capital Market Authority, cases that negate the independence requirement for an independent director in the board of a closed-ended investment traded Fund, include but are not limited to, the following:

a. if he/she holds (5%) or more of the fund's units or the units of another fund under the management of the same fund manager; or is a first degree relative of someone who owns such percentage.

b. if he/she is a representative of a legal person that holds (5%) or more of the fund's units or the units of another fund under the management of the same fund manager;

c. if he/she is a representative of a legal person that holds (5%) or more of the shares of the fund manager, an affiliate of the fund manager, the custodian or an affiliate of the custodian;

d. if he/she is a first degree relative of any member of the board of the fund or any other fund under the management of the same fund manager;

e. if he/she is a first degree relative of any employees of any related party of the fund.

f. if he/she is an employee or used to be an employee during the preceding two years, of the fund manager or any party related to the fund, or if he/she, during the preceding two years, held a controlling interest in any of these parties.

g. if he/she receives financial consideration from the fund in addition to the remuneration for his/her membership of the board.