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Firm Brochure
(Part 2A of Form ADV)
Battery Global Advisors, LLC
260 Franklin Street, Suite 1510
Boston, MA 02110
617-948-3800
www.bga.com
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business
practices of BATTERY GLOBAL ADVISORS, LLC (“Battery Global
Advisors” or “BGA”). If you have any questions about the contents of this
brochure, please contact us at 617-948-3800. The information in this
brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.
The fact that Battery Global Advisors is a “registered investment adviser”
does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Battery Global Advisors is available on the
SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov
March 27, 2025
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Item 2 – Material Changes
Annual Update
Item 2 of this Firm Brochure will be updated annually when material changes
occur since the previous release of the Firm Brochure.
Material Changes since the Last Update
No material changes to the Firm Brochure have occurred since our previous
annual update dated March 28, 2024. However, in 2024 we standardized our
AUM calculation across our Family Office Clients, and now include in assets
under management any assets for which a market value is reasonably
attainable on at least an annual basis, where previously certain such assets
were not included in our AUM calculation. The change in measurement
resulted in a material increase in our reported assets under management.
Full Brochure Available
Whenever you would like to receive a complete copy of this Firm Brochure,
please contact us by telephone at 617-948-3800.
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
Item 2 - Material Changes ............................................................................................. ii
Item 3 - Table of Contents .................................................................................... TOC 1
Item 4 - Advisory Business .......................................................................................... 1
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation ................................................................................. 1
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees ................................................................................ 4
Item 7 - Types of Clients ............................................................................................... 4
Item 8 - Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ................... 5
Item 9 - Disciplinary Information ................................................................................ 12
Item 10 - Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .................................. 12
Item 11 - Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and
Personal Trading ......................................................................................................... 13
Item 12 - Brokerage Practices .................................................................................... 15
Item 13 - Review of Accounts ..................................................................................... 17
Item 14 - Client Referrals and Other Compensation ................................................. 18
Item 15 - Custody ........................................................................................................ 18
Item 16 - Investment Discretion ................................................................................. 18
Item 17 - Voting Client Securities............................................................................... 19
Item 18 - Financial Information .................................................................................. 20
TOC 1
Item 4 - Advisory Business
Firm Description
Battery Global Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, was
founded in 2006.
Principal Owners
John O’Connor is the principal owner of BGA.
Types of Advisory Services
Battery Global Advisors provides personalized financial planning, investment
management and family office services to high net worth individuals (“Family
Office Clients”). Advice to Family Office Clients is provided through
consultation with such client and may include determination of financial
objectives, identification of financial problems, cash flow management, tax
planning, insurance review, investment management, education funding,
retirement planning, and estate planning.
Battery Global Advisors also manages and provides investment advisory
services on a discretionary basis to private pooled investment funds (each a
“Private Fund” and collectively the “Private Funds”).
Tailored Relationships
Our advisory services are highly tailored to each Family Office Client,
depending on the goals and objectives of each client. Family Office Clients
may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of
securities.
Amounts Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, Battery Global Advisors manages or advises on
approximately $6,899,500,000 in assets (including uncalled commitments to
its Private Funds) for approximately 126 clients, counting separately each
series within our Private Funds that are structured as series LLCs (refer to
Item 8 for a description of these private funds). Approximately
$2,690,400,000 is managed on a discretionary basis, including
$2,489,900,000 in the Private Funds and $303.0 million from Family Office
Clients. Approximately $4,209,100,000 is managed or advised on a non-
discretionary basis.
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation
Description
Family Office Clients. Each Family Office Client enters a Wealth
Management and Investment Advisory Services Agreement with BGA (an
“Agreement”) that describes the terms upon which the annual management
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fee (“Client Fee”) is calculated on a quarterly basis. The terms, which are
negotiated based on each Family Office Client’s investable assets and
desired service level, are based on the following scale:
• 1.00% on the first $5,000,000;
• 0.75% on the next $5,000,000 (from $5,000,001 to
$10,000,000);
• 0.50% on the next $40,000,000 (from $10,000,001 to
$50,000,000); and
• 0.25% on the investable assets above $50,000,000.
Some Family Office Clients have transitioned to a new billing approach where
fixed Client Fees are negotiated annually based on a subjective assessment
of the client’s complexity—often as proxied by their estimated net worth—
based on the following scale: 0.2% on the first $100mm of net worth, and
0.1% on net worth above $100mm. We expect all clients will transition to this
fee billing approach over time.
Family Office Clients receive a credit against their Client Fee in an amount
equal to the minimum of their Client Fee and the management and other fees
paid by the client in the prior quarter to Private Funds (excluding those Private
Funds that invest in real estate that were started after April 5, 2019), reducing
BGA’s incentive to recommend the Private Funds over other potentially more
suitable investments. With respect to real estate Private Fund investments for
which Family Office Clients do not receive a credit against their Client Fee,
we believe this approach: a) is in our clients’ best interests in terms of
transparency and overall fees paid relative to alternatives; (b) is fair relative to
the increased work required by such investments; (c) fairly allocates the cost
to those Family Office Clients who choose to invest in our real estate Private
Funds; (d) eliminates BGA’s incentive to seek out and accept capital from
non- Family Office Clients, leaving more capacity for Family Office Clients on
capacity-constrained investments.
Certain Private Funds managed by BGA, and in which BGA solicits
investments from its Family Office Clients, include incentive allocations to
BGA that are not credited against the Family Office Client’s Client Fees. We
believe this approach: (a) is fair relative to the increased work required to
source and diligence such investments; (b) fairly allocates the cost to those
Family Office Clients who choose to invest; (c) eliminates BGA’s incentive to
seek out and accept capital from non- Family Office Clients, leaving more
capacity for Family Office Clients on capacity-constrained investments.
Private Funds. BGA’s Private Funds may charge a management or
administration fee, and/or charge an acquisition fee. In certain Private Funds,
BGA may be entitled to an incentive allocation. Compensation is determined
separately for each series of each fund. A management or administration fee
is a fee charged periodically throughout the life of a fund or series and is
typically calculated as a fixed percentage of assets under management or
committed capital. An acquisition fee is a fixed dollar amount or fixed
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percentage of committed capital. Fees are payable in advance at the
beginning of the accounting period for each fund. An incentive allocation is
typically a percentage of net income allocable to each investor. Depending on
the fund structure, an incentive allocation may crystalize periodically (e.g.
annually), subject to a high water mark, or may be crystalized only at the end
of the fund’s life (though the Private Funds may make interim distributions of
incentive allocation to BGA subject to the provisions of the applicable Private
Fund).
Full details of the calculation of management and other fees and incentive
allocations charged by the Private Funds are available in the Private Funds’
confidential private placement memoranda or other applicable legal
documents.
Fee Billing
Client Fees are billed quarterly in advance, meaning that BGA invoices
Family Office Clients at the beginning of the three-month period covered by
the invoice. Payment in full is expected upon invoice presentation. Client
Fees are typically paid by the Family Office Client upon receipt of an invoice.
Family Office Clients may choose to initiate payment themselves or authorize
BGA to deduct the fee from their account. BGA may automatically deduct
Client Fees once a Family Office Client has had sufficient time to review the
invoice, although BGA does not typically do so.
Family Office Clients shall be refunded fees paid in advance if the Family
Office Client’s Agreement is terminated prior to the end of the quarter.
Refunds will be calculated on a pro rata basis based on time elapsed during
the quarter up until termination.
Other Fees
Custodians may charge transaction fees on purchases or sales of certain
mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. These transaction charges are
usually small and incidental to the purchase or sale of a security. The
selection of the security is more important than the nominal fee that the
custodian charges to buy or sell the security. Please refer to Item 12 of this
brochure for more information about BGA’s brokerage practices.
Mutual funds, ETFs and investments in private funds recommended by BGA
generally charge management fees and/or performance fees. These fees are
disclosed in the relevant document (prospectus, private placement
memorandum, etc.) for the investment.
Each Private Fund managed by BGA pays its direct operating expenses,
which may include (among other things): brokerage commissions, borrowing
charges on securities sold short, management fees and expenses charged by
any underlying funds, custodial fees, database subscriptions and investment
data, legal, accounting and audit fees and expenses, tax preparation fees,
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governmental fees and taxes, bookkeeping and other professional fees, travel
and travel-related expenses in connection with certain of the fund’s activities,
costs of fund reporting, costs of fund governance activities (such as obtaining
member consents if and when necessary and appropriate), costs and
expenses associated with negotiating and entering into contracts and
arrangements in the ordinary course of the fund’s business, costs and
expenses of third party administrators retained for fund purposes, costs and
premiums of any fidelity and performance bonds and manager liability and
errors and omission insurance coverage, extraordinary expenses of the fund
such as litigation costs, and all other reasonable expenses related to the
operation of the fund and/or the purchase, sale or transmittal of fund assets.
BGA engages an accountant to perform an annual surprise examination over
its Family Office Client accounts. BGA typically bills the cost of the surprise
examination to Family Office Clients.
BGA engages a wholly owned service provider to provide certain services to
its Family Office Clients in Israel. When the service provider bills BGA for its
services, it adds Israel’s value added tax to the service fee. BGA typically bills
the value added tax to its Family Office Clients in Israel.
Past Due Accounts and Termination of Agreement
An Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party upon receipt of
written notice to terminate to the other. Upon termination of the Agreement,
the balance (if any) of the Family Office Client’s unearned fees shall be
refunded to the Family Office Client and the balance (if any) of BGA’s earned
fees shall be charged to the Family Office Client.
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side
Management
Sharing of Capital Gains
BGA may be entitled to an incentive allocation on certain of its Private Funds,
as described in Item 5.
Certain private funds that BGA recommends to its clients may charge
performance-based fees that are ultimately paid by the client.
Item 7 - Types of Clients
Description
Battery Global Advisors provides personalized financial planning and
discretionary and nondiscretionary investment management to high net worth
individuals.
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Battery Global Advisors also provides investment advisory services and
portfolio management on a discretionary basis to private pooled investment
funds.
Account Minimums
Certain of the Private Funds have minimum initial and subsequent investment
amounts. Such amounts are not consistent across all of the Private Funds
and may be waived in BGA’s discretion. Such minimums are described in
detail in each Private Fund’s private placement memorandum or other
applicable document.
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Item 8 - Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk
of Loss
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
Family Office Clients
Wealth management and advisory services provided to Family Office Clients
vary depending on the client’s needs. Most Family Office Clients seek
ongoing in-depth advice and life planning with respect to their assets. This
typically involves a detailed review and analysis of all aspects of the client’s
financial affairs, including the near-term, medium-term, and long-term needs
and investment objectives of the client and his or her family members.
BGA works with each Family Office Client to identify goals and establish
objectives designed to reach those goals. BGA helps the client implement
and review these goals and objectives on an ongoing basis and may
recommend modifications to address changes in the client’s circumstances,
the investment environment, applicable regulations (including tax) and other
matters relevant to the client’s overall plan. A Family Office Client’s
Agreement may also set forth certain investment restrictions that will inform
the advice provided by BGA.
Private Funds
BGA Horizon Fund and BGA Private Opportunities Fund
BGA Horizon Fund and BGA Private Opportunities Fund seek to identify,
diligence and offer access to investments with strong absolute return and/or
internal rate of return potential. They typically invest in long lock-up
investments and drawdown structures, or in investments that are otherwise
difficult for individual investors to access for a variety of reasons. BGA may
also utilize BGA Horizon Fund as a pooling vehicle to invest in a given third-
party hedge fund as a single investor. These funds each consist of multiple
series, each of which invests in a single specified investment or asset, or a
group of closely related investments or assets. A member may choose
whether to participate in a given series. BGA is not obligated to offer
participation in a given series to members of other series. Each series is
effectively its own fund; however, the series share certain fund-level
expenses (e.g. audit fee) and utilize the same legal documents.
BGA Real Estate Fund, LLC
BGA Real Estate Fund makes investments in which BGA believes that
substantial risk-adjusted capital appreciation and/or current cash flow returns
are attainable. The principal objectives of the fund are to generate cash flow,
preserve capital and realize capital appreciation over the life of a series
primarily through the acquisition of limited partnership interests or similar
limited liability equity interests in investment partnerships. Investments are
selected which, in BGA’s judgement, represent a reasonable opportunity for
sustained positive annual cash flow and/or the realization of substantial asset
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appreciation upon disposition. A member may choose whether to participate
in a given series; typically, a new series is created each calendar year to
invest in BGA’s discretion during that year, although certain series invest in a
single specified investment or asset or a group of closely related investments
or assets. BGA is not obligated to offer participation in a given series to
members of other series. Each series is effectively its own fund; however, the
series share certain fund-level expenses (e.g., audit fee) and utilize the same
legal documents.
BGA Opportunity Zone Fund, LLC
BGA Opportunity Zone Fund seeks to provide investors with access to real
property investments that provide the potential to defer United States federal
income tax liability on capital gains by acquiring an interest in a Qualified
Opportunity Fund. BGA’s investment decisions may be inconsistent with the
investment objectives of investors not seeking such tax benefits, and in fact
may be adverse to such investors’ investment objectives. The fund consists
of multiple series, most of which invest in a single specified investment or
asset, or a group of closely related investments or assets. A member may
choose whether to participate in a given series. BGA is not obligated to offer
participation in a given series to members of other series. Each series is
effectively its own fund; however, the series share certain fund-level
expenses (e.g., audit fee) and utilize the same legal documents.
Investment Risks, Including Risk of Loss
Investing in securities and other obligations involves a substantial risk of loss
that BGA clients and investors in the Private Funds should be prepared to
bear. There can be no assurance that a client’s investment objective can or
will be achieved. Investment advice to Family Office Clients is tailored to
each such client’s specific goals and objectives. Therefore, the risks borne by
each Family Office Client may vary. In addition, each of the Private Funds’
risk-return profiles involves certain distinct investment risks.
The primary risks inherent in the investment strategies employed or
recommended by BGA are as follows:
• Market and Economic Conditions Risk – Markets in which a client may
invest are subject to fluctuations, and the market value of any
particular investment may be subject to substantial variation. A client’s
investments will be affected by general economic and market
conditions, such as interest rates, availability of credit, inflation rates,
economic uncertainty, changes in laws, trade barriers, currency
exchange controls, and national and international political
circumstances (including wars, terrorist acts or security operations).
These factors may affect the level and volatility of securities prices and
the liquidity of a client’s investments. Volatility or illiquidity could impair
the profitability of an investment or result in losses. A client may
maintain trading positions that can be adversely affected by the level of
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volatility in the financial markets. In addition, volatile markets and
credit risk may give rise to the risk of default by one or more large
financial institutions that are dependent upon one another for liquidity
and operational needs, and a default by one such institution may
cause a series of defaults by others, including counterparties, the
brokers and other institutions to which a client has exposure, which
could in turn adversely affect the client.
• Non-diversification – A client’s investment portfolio may, from time to
time, be invested in the securities of a limited number of issuers, some
of which may be within the same industry sector, in which case the
portfolio may be more susceptible to any single economic, political, or
regulatory occurrence than the portfolio securities of a diversified
investment company.
•
Investments in Illiquid Securities – A client may be invested in
securities for which there are not significant trading markets or no
markets at all. Such investments may be illiquid and involve a high
degree of business and financial risk which can result in substantial
losses. In addition, the Underlying Funds in which certain Private
Funds invest may be illiquid or have restrictive withdrawal rights, or
may hold illiquid investments as portfolio securities, which may limit the
ability of such fund to dispose of such interests at times and prices that
are favorable to the fund.
• Complex Investments – In managing the Private Funds, BGA may
engage in a wide range of investment and trading strategies (described
in greater detail in the Private Funds’ respective private placement
memoranda and other applicable documents) to seek to hedge market
risks and/or to enhance potential gain. BGA may also recommend the
same or similar hedging strategies to Family Office Clients. These
investments are complex and involve a high degree of risk. There can
be no assurances that any hedging strategies used or recommended
by BGA will be successful in avoiding losses or generating gains.
Furthermore, no assurance can be given that BGA will employ or
recommend any hedging strategies with respect to all or any portion of
a Private Fund’s assets.
•
Investments in Non-US Issuers – Investments in the securities of
issuers located outside the US and securities issued by US entities
with substantial foreign operations can involve additional risks relating
to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries.
These risks include fluctuations in foreign currencies, withholding or
other taxes; trading, settlement, custodial and other operational risks;
and the less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of
some foreign markets. These factors can make non-US investments,
especially those in emerging markets, more volatile and potentially less
liquid than US investments.
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• Credit Risks and Exposures – Investments in fixed income securities
may involve risk exposure tied to the credit risk of the obligors on the
purchased securities, which is determined by the obligors’ ability to
make required interest and principal payments. Any event that causes
excessive defaults in the purchased securities could materially and
adversely impact investment results.
•
Interest Rate Risk – Generally, the value of fixed rate debt securities
will change inversely with changes in interest rates. As interest rates
rise, the market value of debt securities tends to decrease.
Conversely, as interest rates fall, the market value of debt securities
tends to increase. This risk will be greater for long-term securities than
for short-term securities. Further, bank loans typically have floating
interest rates that are based on spreads above LIBOR. Accordingly,
fluctuations in LIBOR may affect the value of such loans.
• Risks of Investing in Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities –
Mortgage loans on commercial properties often are structured so that a
substantial portion of the loan principal is not amortized over the loan
term but is payable at maturity (as a “balloon payment”), and
repayment of the loan principal thus often depends upon the future
availability of real estate financing from the existing or an alternative
lender and/or upon the current value and salability of the real estate.
Therefore, the unavailability of real estate financing may lead to default
on the mortgage, which would likely adversely affect payments to the
fund in respect of its investment in the related commercial mortgage-
backed security.
• Risks of Investing in Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities –
Residential mortgage-backed securities generally provide for
prepayment of principal at any time due to, among other reasons,
prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans. The rate of
prepayments affects the price and volatility of a mortgage-backed
security and may have the effect of shortening or extending the
effective maturity beyond what was anticipated. As a result of
prepayments, an investor may be required to reinvest assets at an
inopportune time resulting in a lower return. Different types of
mortgage-backed securities are subject to varying degrees of
prepayment risk and certain securities may face significant loss in
value if prepayments differ from what is expected. Finally, the risks of
investing in such instruments reflect the risks of the underlying
obligors, as well as the real estate that secures the instruments.
• Risks of Investing in Structured Securities – This risk relates to
investing directly or indirectly in collateralized loan obligations and
similar credit-related structured products or other securities, which are
subject to credit, liquidity, counterparty, correlation and interest rate
risks. Any such structured securities may be unrated and/or non-
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investment grade. In addition, investors in certain structured securities
will have limited remedies available upon the default of the structured
securities. The value of structured securities generally will fluctuate
with, among other things, the condition (financial and otherwise) of the
obligors under or issuers of the assets making up the collateral
portfolio of the related structured securities, general economic
conditions, the condition of certain financial markets, political events,
developments or trends in any particular industry and changes in
prevailing interest rates. Conditions adversely affecting the value of a
structured security’s collateral or its performance may adversely affect
the value and performance of the related structured security. If
distributions on and liquidation proceeds of a structured security’s
collateral are insufficient to make payments on the structured security,
no other assets will be available for payment of the deficiency and
following realization of the structured security, the obligations of such
issuer to pay such deficiency generally will be extinguished.
Structured securities’ collateral may consist of high yield debt
securities, loans, asset-backed securities and other instruments, which
often are unrated or rated below investment grade (or of equivalent
credit quality). Such investments may be speculative and inherently
involve a significant amount of leverage.
• Risks of Investing in Bank Loans – This risk relates to in loans,
including stressed and distressed loans originated by banks and other
financial institutions. Such loans may include term loans and revolving
loans, may pay interest at a fixed or floating rate and may be senior or
possibly subordinated. Purchasers of bank loans are predominantly
commercial banks, investment funds and investment banks. There can
be no assurance that future levels of supply and demand in bank loan
trading will provide an adequate degree of liquidity. In addition,
investments in stressed or distressed bank loans are often less liquid
than performing bank loans.
• Risks Inherent in Low Rated and Unrated Debt Securities –
Investments in lower-quality and comparable unrated debt obligations
involve a variety of risks. Such securities are regarded as
predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay
interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the
obligations and involve major risk exposure to adverse business,
financial or economic conditions. The economy and interest rates can
affect unrated investments differently than other investments. Issuers
of high yield securities and other investments are vulnerable to real or
perceived economic changes (for instance, an economic downturn or
prolonged period of rising interest rates), political changes or adverse
developments specific to the issuer or its industry and tend to be highly
leveraged. High yield debt has historically experienced greater default
rates than has been the case for investment grade securities. In the
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event of a default by the issuer of the debt, an investor would
experience a reduction of its income and could expect a decline in the
market value of the defaulted investments and may incur significant
additional expenses to seek recovery. An investor may have difficulty
disposing of certain high yield, high risk investments because there
may be a thin or non-existent trading market for such investments.
The market prices of high yield, high risk securities are subject to
abrupt and erratic market movements and excessive price volatility,
and the “bid-ask” spreads for such securities may be greater than
normally expected. Reduced secondary market liquidity may have an
adverse impact on market price and an investor’s ability to dispose of a
particular issue when necessary to meet its liquidity needs or in
response to a specific economic event such as deterioration in the
creditworthiness of the issuer. The market prices of high yield
securities structured as zero coupon or pay-in-kind securities are
generally affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes and tend
to be more volatile than securities that pay interest periodically.
An additional risk that relates more particularly to BGA Horizon Fund and
BGA Private Opportunities Fund is:
•
Investing in Underlying Funds – Identifying appropriate Investment
Managers and suitable Underlying Funds is difficult and involves a high
degree of uncertainty. While BGA assesses potential Investment
Managers and Underlying Funds in light of both objective information
(such as historical performance data) and subjective information, there
can be no guarantee that BGA’s assessment of any Investment
Manager or Underlying Fund is accurate or that such information
provides any indication as to how an Underlying Fund will perform in
the future. In addition, BGA does not have control over the
management of the Underlying Funds, and the success of investments
in Underlying Funds generally depends on the ability of the Investment
Managers as well as the overall direction and volatility of the markets
in which they invest.
Investment in BGA Real Estate Fund involves many additional risks related
specifically to real estate. These include development risk, inflation risk,
unknown environmental liability, unknown property defects, permitting,
licensing, leasing delays, and tenant defaults or bankruptcies. Furthermore,
the fund does not strive to diversify each series, so a given series could be
highly concentrated by geography, property type, or other characteristic.
Investments in BGA Opportunity Zone Fund are subject to many of the same
risks as BGA Real Estate Fund. The tax rules governing investments in
Qualified Opportunity Zones require substantial improvement to the property
to capture available tax benefits; as such, most investments will have
substantial development risk.
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The foregoing is only a brief summary of some of the important risks
associated with the investment strategies employed or recommend by BGA of
which Family Office Clients and investors in the Private Funds should be
aware. As a result of these factors and other risks inherent in any investment,
there can be no assurance that a client’s investment objectives will be
achieved, or that an investor in a Private Fund will receive any return of or on
its invested capital. A more detailed discussion of the risks relating to an
investment in a Private Fund is provided in such fund’s private placement
memorandum or other applicable document. Prospective investors in a
Private Fund should carefully review the private placement memorandum or
other applicable document for such fund and should be satisfied that an
investment in such Private Fund is suitable for them in light of their
circumstances, their investment objectives and their financial situation.
Item 9 - Disciplinary Information
Legal and Disciplinary
There are no legal or disciplinary events that are material to a client’s or
prospective client’s evaluation of BGA’s advisory business or the integrity of
its management persons.
Item 10 - Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Broker-Dealer – not applicable
B. Financial Industry Activities – not applicable
C. Affiliations
1. Not applicable
2. BGA manages several Private Funds. Since BGA’s clients include
both high net worth individuals and Private Funds, BGA has an
incentive to recommend its own Private Funds to its Family Office
Clients over other potentially more suitable investments. BGA
addresses this potential conflict by giving its Family Office Clients a
credit against their Client Fees in an amount equal to the minimum
of the Client Fee and the management and other fees they pay to
the Private Funds (excluding those Private Funds that invest in real
estate that were started after April 5, 2019).
3. Not applicable
4. BGA is a commodity pool operator that has not registered as a
commodity pool operator with the CFTC or become a member of
the NFA because it relies on CFTC No-Action Letter No. 12-38.
5. Not applicable
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6. Not applicable
7. Not applicable
8. Not applicable
9. Not applicable
10. Not applicable
11. Battery Management Corp., the management company for the
Battery Ventures family of private funds (“BMC”), provided capital to
fund the formation and initial operation of Battery Global Advisors,
and the owners of BMC, collectively, own a material portion of the
equity interests in BGA. Battery Global Advisors recognizes that
this ownership may create the potential for conflicts of interest
between BMC, its personnel, or its clients, on the one hand, and
BGA, its personnel, or its clients, on the other hand. Accordingly,
BGA has established certain policies and procedures to limit such
conflicts of interests and to identify and resolve in favor of its clients
any actual conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of these
arrangements and interactions. Among other things, these policies
and procedures are designed to ensure that BGA’s investment
decisions and recommendations for clients are made independently
from BMC.
D. Compensation for Referrals – not applicable
Item 11 - Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading
A. Code of Ethics
BGA, its members and employees (collectively, “BGA Personnel”) have
committed to a Code of Ethics that is available for review by clients and
prospective clients upon request by contacting us at 617-948-3800. BGA
distributes the Code of Ethics to BGA Personnel upon the commencement of
employment or engagement with BGA. All BGA Personnel are required to
acknowledge that they have received, read, understood, and agree to comply
with the Code of Ethics. The following are the main points addressed in the
Code of Ethics:
1. BGA and BGA Personnel must comply with applicable federal
securities laws and the rules governing the capital markets. BGA
Personnel are expected to act with competence, dignity, integrity and
in an ethical manner, and are expected to use reasonable care and
exercise independent professional judgment.
2. BGA Personnel must preclear personal trading in reportable securities.
BGA’s preclearance rules are summarized in Item 11D. below.
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3. BGA Personnel are required to submit quarterly reports regarding
personal reportable securities transactions and newly opened personal
trading accounts, as well as annual holdings reports regarding
reportable securities holdings and all existing personal trading
accounts. Initial holdings reports are required from BGA Personnel
within 10 days of attaining such status.
B. Recommending Securities in which BGA has a Material Financial Interest
BGA manages several Private Funds in which BGA solicits investments from
its Family Office Clients. This creates a potential conflict of interest in that
BGA has an incentive to recommend its own Private Funds to its Family
Office Clients over other potentially more suitable investments due to the fees
BGA earns on amounts invested in the Private Funds. BGA addresses the
potential conflict of interest by giving its Family Office Clients a credit against
their Client Fees in an amount equal to the minimum of the Client Fee and the
management and other fees they pay to the Private Funds (excluding those
Private Funds that invest in real estate that were started after April 5, 2019).
With respect to real estate Private Fund investments for which Family Office
Clients do not receive a credit against their Client Fee, we believe this
approach: a) is in our clients’ best interests in terms of transparency and
overall fees paid relative to alternatives; (b) is fair relative to the increased
work required by such investments; (c) fairly allocates the cost to those
Family Office Clients who choose to invest in our real estate Private Funds;
(d) eliminates BGA’s incentive to seek out and accept capital from non-
Family Office Clients, leaving more capacity for Family Office Clients on
capacity-constrained investments.
Certain Private Funds managed by BGA, and in which BGA solicits
investments from its Family Office Clients, include incentive allocations to
BGA that are not credited against the Family Office Client’s Client Fees. We
believe this approach: (a) is fair relative to the increased work required to
source and diligence such investments; (b) fairly allocates the cost to those
Family Office Clients who choose to invest; (c) eliminates BGA’s incentive to
seek out and accept capital from non- Family Office Clients, leaving more
capacity for Family Office Clients on capacity-constrained investments.
C. Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Investment opportunities that BGA determines are appropriate for one or
more Private Funds will first be made available to such Private Fund(s) and
second, to the extent of any remaining amount of such investment
opportunity, to Family Office Clients. Thereafter, BGA Personnel may
participate in any remaining amount of the investment opportunity, if desired,
subject to the rules described in Item 11D. below. BGA may reserve a limited
amount of capacity in a capacity-constrained investment for employees and
for certain strategic non-clients.
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D. Personal Trading
BGA Personnel are required to preclear trades in reportable securities. BGA
utilizes an automated preclearance system that tests proposed trades for
potential conflicts of interest with BGA clients and tests for the potential to
move markets. Proposed trades flagged by the system must be manually
approved by BGA’s Compliance Team and are only valid for the date
submitted. BGA’s Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Executive Officer
approve each other’s preclearance requests where required.
Item 12 - Brokerage Practices
Selecting Brokerage Firms
Subject to the terms of any client’s agreement with BGA, BGA has discretion
in deciding what brokers and dealers client accounts will use and in
negotiating the rates of compensation that clients will pay. In addition to
using brokers as “agents” and paying commissions, client accounts may buy
or sell securities directly from or to dealers acting as principals at prices that
include markups or markdowns and may buy securities from underwriters or
dealers in public offerings at prices that include compensation to the
underwriters and dealers.
Agreements with Family Office Clients typically provide that the client may
instruct BGA to use a particular broker-dealer to effect certain brokerage
transactions for such client (a “Directed Brokerage” arrangement). In a
Directed Brokerage arrangement, BGA may be unable to achieve the most
favorable execution of client transactions. Such arrangements may cost
clients more money for several reasons, including higher commissions and an
inability to aggregate orders.
In selecting brokers and dealers, BGA seeks the most favorable execution
terms reasonably available. To make this determination, BGA may consider
such factors as the ability to effect the transactions, the broker-dealer’s
facilities, reliability and financial responsibility, securities pricing and
transaction expenses, execution capability, confidentiality, capital
commitment, and order and processing responsiveness. Selection of broker-
dealers may also take into consideration a broker-dealer’s effectiveness in
providing market or industry information, arranging for access to an issuer’s
management, investment vehicles or knowledgeable industry sources and the
provision or payment of the costs of brokerage or research products or
services.
BGA need not solicit competitive bids and does not have an obligation to seek
the lowest available commission cost or the lowest markups or markdowns.
Accordingly, if BGA determines in good faith that the commissions (or
markups or markdowns) charged by a broker-dealer are reasonable in
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relation to the value of the brokerage and research products or services
provided by such broker-dealer, a client may pay commissions (or markups or
markdowns) to such broker-dealer in an amount greater than the amount
another broker-dealer might charge.
Soft Dollars
BGA may—but currently does not—execute portfolio transactions with broker-
dealers that, in connection with the execution of such transactions, provide
brokerage or research services, consistent with Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, BGA may receive benefits in
the form of proprietary research or third-party research services (including
information on particular securities or individual companies, general,
economic and political information, analytical and statistical data, relevant
market information and market quotations utilized in connection with the
analysis of securities) and in the form of superior or enhanced brokerage
services (including clearance, settlement and custody services). These
benefits are often referred to as “soft dollar” benefits. BGA may also receive
soft dollar benefits in the form of brokerage services that are incidental to
effecting securities transactions on behalf of client accounts or required in
connection with those transactions by applicable SEC or self-regulatory
organization rules. These incidental services may include post-trade services,
communication services and trading software confirmation services and
clearance and settlement products.
If BGA uses client brokerage commissions (or markups or markdowns) to
obtain research or other products or services, BGA receives a benefit
because it does not have to produce or pay for the research, products, or
services. Also, BGA may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-
dealer based on BGA’s interest in receiving the research or other products or
services, rather than on its clients’ interest in receiving the most favorable
execution.
A broker-dealer is not excluded from receiving business because it has not
been identified as providing research services. The investment information
received from any client’s brokers and dealers may be used by BGA in
servicing other investors besides that client. Where a product or service
obtained with soft dollars provides both research and non-research
assistance to BGA, BGA will make a reasonable allocation of the cost which
may be paid for with soft dollars. In allocating costs for a particular product or
service, BGA will make a good faith, fact-based analysis of how it will use the
product or service.
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Order Aggregation
BGA may aggregate client trades when such aggregation is expected to be in
the best interest of all participating clients. Clients participating in an
aggregated order participate at the average share price.
Item 13 - Review of Accounts
Periodic Reviews
BGA reviews each Family Office Client’s accounts and financial plans on a
frequent basis. BGA generally meets with each Family Office Client at least
quarterly to discuss asset allocation, cash flow and other timely topics. BGA
performs other reviews, such as tax, insurance, and estate planning, as
needed, but typically at least annually. Reviews are conducted by the Family
Office Client’s service team, which consists of a member of the client service
team, a member of the investment team, and a member of the financial and
estate planning team. Often the Chief Investment Officer attends the reviews
as well.
The Chief Investment Officer reviews the investments, performance, and
asset allocations of the Private Funds daily.
Other than Periodic Reviews
BGA reviews client accounts on an other-than-periodic basis as a result of a
change in applicable laws, new investment information, changes in a
particular client’s circumstances, or upon request by a client.
Regular Reports
BGA typically prepares an asset allocation schedule and summary of liquid
assets for each Family Office Client’s periodic review (at least quarterly,
typically monthly). On an annual basis, BGA prepares a net worth statement,
tax projections, estate plan summary and insurance summary for Family
Office Client who request this service level. The above monthly/quarterly and
annual reports are written.
For each Private Fund, BGA provides audited US GAAP year-end financial
statements and Schedule K-1s to investors in the respective fund. If BGA is
unable to provide Schedule K-1s by April 15th, BGA often provides each
investor with an estimate of taxable income and loss allocated to their
investment. BGA has engaged a third-party administrator that distributes
capital account statements to investors in the Private Funds at least quarterly.
BGA periodically distributes asset allocation information, performance
commentary and market commentary to investors in the Private Funds in
such form and with such frequency as BGA may from time to time determine.
The above reports are written.
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Item 14 - Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Referrals
Not applicable.
Other Compensation
Not applicable.
Item 15 - Custody
Family Office Clients
Accounts over which BGA has custody are held at qualified custodians.
Those custodians provide account statements directly to Family Office Clients
at their address of record (or online if requested by the Client) at least
quarterly. Family Office Clients should carefully review those statements.
Family Office Clients may periodically receive statements of net worth or
other custom reporting from BGA and are urged to compare reports from
BGA to account statements provided by custodians, where applicable.
Private Funds
BGA has custody of the Private Funds’ assets because of the authority that
BGA has over those assets. BGA engages an auditor that meets the
requirements of Rule 206(4)-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to
conduct an annual financial statement audit of each Private Fund in
accordance with US GAAP. BGA distributes the audited financial statements
to all Investors in such Private Fund within 180 days after year end, provided
that for any Private Fund that does not invest at least ten percent of its assets
in other pooled investment vehicles not advised by a related person of BGA,
BGA distributes such audited financial statements within 120 days after year
end. BGA will also cause each Private Fund, upon liquidation, to distribute
US GAAP audited financial statements promptly after completion of such
financial statements.
Item 16 - Investment Discretion
Discretionary Authority for Trading
BGA accepts discretionary authority to manage investment accounts on
behalf of the Private Funds. Under these arrangements, BGA has the
authority to determine—without obtaining specific consent of the investors in
the Private Funds—the investments to be bought or sold, and the amount of
the investments to be bought or sold on behalf of the Private Funds. The
Private Funds do not currently place any limitations on this discretionary
authority.
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BGA has discretionary authority over certain of its Family Office Client
accounts. Family Office Clients may place any limits they desire over such
discretion.
Assumption of Authority
In order for BGA to assume discretionary authority over investments in its
Private Funds, investors in the Private Funds sign a limited power of attorney
by execution of the applicable Private Fund’s limited liability company
agreement. For Family Office Clients, a limited power of attorney granting
discretionary authority (and identifying the specific accounts for which the
discretionary authority is granted) is included in the Agreement.
Item 17 - Voting Client Securities
Proxy Voting
It is BGA’s policy to vote proxies on behalf of clients where the terms of the
client’s agreement with BGA grant BGA the authority to do so, subject to any
limitations or restrictions set forth, in the case of a Family Office Client, in the
client’s Agreement or, in the case of a Private Fund, the Private Fund’s
private placement memorandum, operating documents or other applicable
disclosure documents.
BGA does not exercise voting authority with respect to securities on behalf of
any Family Office Client but will forward proxy materials to enable such client
to vote on the applicable matters. If, in the future, BGA accepts authority to
vote proxies on behalf of a Family Office Client, BGA’s Agreement with such
client will set forth the proxy voting policies and procedures applicable to that
relationship.
The private placement memoranda or other applicable documents for BGA’s
Private Funds disclaim any obligation to vote proxies relating to any public
equity security. Accordingly, consistent with those disclosures, BGA
generally does not vote proxies for its Private Funds, although BGA may do
so in limited circumstances where BGA believes that voting is likely to result
in an enhancement of the value of the investment. BGA generally does vote
on matters submitted to a Private Fund for its consent or approval in its
capacity as an investor in a third-party private investment fund or private
company securities.
BGA reviews each proposal submitted for a vote on a case-by-case basis to
determine whether it is in the best interest of the applicable Private Fund. As
a result, depending on each Private Fund’s particular circumstances, BGA
may vote one client’s securities differently than it votes those of another
client, or may vote differently on various proposals, even though the securities
or proposals are similar (or identical). In some instances, BGA may
determine that it is in the client’s best interest to vote “abstain” or to not vote
at all and will process such matter accordingly. Decisions on how to vote
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client securities will be made by BGA’s Chief Investment Officer in
consultation with BGA’s Chief Compliance Officer as the Chief Investment
Officer determines necessary or appropriate.
Any conflict of interest that may arise in connection with the voting of client
securities due to business, personal or family relationships of BGA or its
personnel, on the one hand, and any client, on the other hand will be
discussed with BGA’s Chief Compliance Officer. If a conflict of interest exists,
BGA will ensure that its voting decision is in best interests of the applicable
client(s) and not a product of the conflict of interest. Upon request, BGA will
provide a client with a copy of its policies and procedures regarding proxy
voting and class actions and, if applicable, information about how BGA voted
the client’s securities. Clients should direct such requests to BGA’s Chief
Compliance Officer.
Class Actions
In the unusual circumstance that a class action lawsuit arises regarding
securities held in Private Funds and other accounts that are directly managed
by BGA, BGA expects that the cost of participating in such actions will most
likely outweigh the benefits of participation. Therefore, in general, BGA will
not participate in class actions on behalf of its clients.
Item 18 - Financial Information
Financial Condition
This section is not applicable because BGA does not collect fees six months
or more in advance, nor has BGA been the subject of a bankruptcy petition
during the past ten years.
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