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SYON CAPITAL LLC
FORM ADV PART 2A
BROCHURE
Item 1 – Cover Page
555 Montgomery St, Ste. 1250
San Francisco, CA
94111
415-520-7966
www.syoncap.com
telephone at
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Syon Capital LLC. If
you have any questions regarding the contents of this brochure, please do not hesitate to contact our Chief
Compliance Officer, Keith Dwyer, by
(513) 977-8196 or by email at
keith.dyer@dinsmorecomplianceservices.com. 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.
information about Syon Capital LLC
is available on
Syon Capital LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission or any state securities authority does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional
the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
March 26, 2025
Item 2 – Material Changes
Form ADV Part 2A requires registered investment advisers to amend their brochure when information
becomes materially inaccurate. If there are any material changes to an adviser’s disclosure brochure, the
adviser is required to notify you and provide you with a description of the material changes.
As part of this annual update, this Brochure was revised to reflect the following material change:
Item 10 was updated to disclose affiliation with Syon Capital Management I, LLC.
Item 10 was updated to include information regarding a new private fund offering Syon Capital Partners I,
LP and the conflict of interest presented in offering this fund.
While not material we are also updating our brochure to include the name of our new Chief Compliance
Officer, Keith Dwyer.
Item 3 - Table of Contents
Item 1 – Cover Page .........................................................................................................................................1
Item 2 – Material Changes ...............................................................................................................................2
Item 3 - Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................3
Item 4 - Advisory Business ..............................................................................................................................5
A.
Description of the Advisory Firm ........................................................................................................5
B.
Types of Advisory Services ................................................................................................................5
C.
Credit and Cash Management Solutions .............................................................................................5
D. Client-Tailored Advisory Services ..............................................................................................................6
E. Information Received From Clients .............................................................................................................6
F. Assets Under Management ...........................................................................................................................6
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation ......................................................................................................................6
A.
Investment Management Services Fees ...............................................................................................6
B.
Payment of Fees ..................................................................................................................................7
C.
Prepayment of Fees .............................................................................................................................7
D.
Outside Compensation for the Sale of Securities or Other Investment Products to Clients ................8
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ...................................................................8
Item 7 - Types of Clients ..................................................................................................................................8
Item 8 - Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss ..........................................................8
Methods of Analysis and Risk of Loss ................................................................................................8
A.
B.
Material Risks Involved ......................................................................................................................9
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information ..................................................................................................................12
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ......................................................................13
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions .....................................................14
A.
Description of Code of Ethics ...........................................................................................................14
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices ........................................................................................................................14
A.
Factors Used to Select Custodians and/or Broker-Dealers ................................................................14
B.
Trade Aggregation .............................................................................................................................17
Item 13 – Review of Accounts .......................................................................................................................17
A.
Periodic Reviews ...............................................................................................................................17
B.
Other Reviews and Triggering Factors ..............................................................................................18
C.
Regular Reports .................................................................................................................................18
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation ......................................................................................18
A.
Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice Rendered to Clients ................................18
B.
Compensation to Non-Supervised Persons for Client Referrals ........................................................18
Item 15 – Custody ..........................................................................................................................................19
Item 16 – Investment Discretion ....................................................................................................................19
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities .................................................................................................................19
Item 18 – Financial Information .....................................................................................................................19
Syon Capital LLC
Disclosure Brochure
Item 4 - Advisory Business
A. Description of the Advisory Firm
Syon Capital LLC (“Syon” or the “Firm”) is a limited liability company organized in the State of Delaware.
Syon is an investment advisory firm registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). Syon is wholly owned by Syon LLC. Ash Chopra serves as the Managing Member and Principal
of both Syon and Syon LLC. The Firm has been operating since September 16, 2022.
B. Types of Advisory Services
Syon offers investment management services on a discretionary basis and non-discretionary basis to
individuals, including high net worth individuals, families, family offices, trusts, businesses, charitable
foundations, and retirement/profit-sharing plans. All investment advice provided is customized to each
client’s investment objectives and financial needs. The information provided by the client, together with
any other information relating to the client’s overall financial circumstances, will be used by Syon to
determine the appropriate portfolio asset allocation and investment strategy for the client. Syon may also
provide financial planning services to a client, depending upon the agreement between the client and Syon.
Financial planning services, to the extent provided to a client, may include such things as: retirement
planning; educational planning; estate planning; cash flow planning; and tax planning. Syon does not
provide financial planning on a standalone basis.
The securities utilized by Syon for investment in client accounts consist of equity securities and funds and
equity derivatives, fixed income securities and funds and fixed income derivatives, alternative investments,
including, but not limited to, private equity, hedge funds, venture and debt securities and funds, real estate,
commodities, credit derivatives and foreign currency. Syon may further recommend to clients that all or a
portion of their investment portfolio be managed on a discretionary basis by one or more unaffiliated
money managers or investment platforms (“External Managers”). The client may be required to enter into
a separate agreement with the External Manager(s), which will set forth the terms and conditions of the
client’s engagement of the External Manager. Syon generally renders services to the client relative to the
discretionary selection of External Managers. Syon also assists in establishing the client’s investment
objectives for the assets managed by External Managers, monitors and reviews the account performance
and defines any restrictions on the account. The investment management fees charged by the designated
External Managers, together with the fees charged by the corresponding designated broker-
dealer/custodian of the client’s assets, are exclusive of, and in addition to, the annual advisory fee charged
by Syon.
Note for IRA and Retirement Plan Clients: When Syon provides investment advice to you regarding
your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, Syon is a fiduciary within the meaning of
Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable,
which are laws governing retirement accounts. The way Syon makes money creates some conflicts with
your interests, so Syon operates under a special rule that requires Syon to act in your best interest and not
put Syon’s interest ahead of yours.
C.
Credit and Cash Management Solutions
We offer clients the option of obtaining certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party financial
institutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC. These third party financial institutions are
banks and non-banks that offer credit and cash management solutions to our clients, as well as certain other
unaffiliated third parties that provide administrative and settlement services to facilitate UPTIQ’s cash
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management solutions. UPTIQ acts as an intermediary to facilitate our clients’ access to these credit and
cash management solutions.
D. Client-Tailored Advisory Services
Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on the management of their accounts if Syon determines, in its
sole discretion, that the conditions would not materially impact the performance of a management strategy
or prove overly burdensome for Syon’s management efforts.
E. Information Received From Clients
Syon will not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided by clients. Syon is
not obligated to verify any information received from a client or other professionals (e.g., attorney,
accountant) designated by a client, and Syon is expressly authorized by the client to rely on such information
provided. Under all circumstances, clients are responsible for promptly notifying Syon in writing of any
material changes to the client’s financial situation, investment objectives, time horizon, or risk tolerance.
F. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, Syon had approximately $1,767,122,302 in assets under management, of
which $1,539,434,943 was managed on a discretionary basis and $227,687,359 was managed on a non-
discretionary basis.
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation
Syon charges fees based on a percentage of assets under management. The specific fees charged by Syon
for services provided will be set forth in each client’s Agreement.
A. Investment Management Services Fees
Syon charges an annual advisory fee up to 1.50% of client assets under management. The annual advisory
fee payable by a client is set forth in the agreement executed by Syon and the client. The advisory fee is
paid monthly. The advisory fee for the initial month shall be paid, on a pro rata basis, in arrears, based on
the balance of the net billable assets in the client’s account on the last day of that month. For subsequent
months, the advisory fee shall be paid, in advance, based on the average daily balance of the client’s
accounts for the preceding month, as provided by third-party sources, such as pricing services, custodians,
fund administrators, and client-provided sources.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Syon and the client may choose to negotiate an annual advisory fee that
varies from the range set forth above. Factors upon which a different annual advisory fee may be based
include, but are not limited to, the size and nature of the relationship, the services rendered, the nature and
complexity of the products and investments involved, time commitments, and travel requirements. The
advisory fee charged by the Firm will apply to all of the client’s assets under management, unless
specifically excluded in the client agreement. The advisory fee includes, if and to the extent provided by
Syon, any financial planning services. Although Syon believes that its fees are competitive, clients should
understand that lower fees for comparable services may be available from other sources and firms.
The investment advisory agreement between Syon and the client may be terminated at will by either Syon
or the client upon written notice. Syon does not impose termination fees when the client terminates the
investment advisory relationship, except when agreed upon in advance. However, the client will be
responsible for any termination or transfer fees accessed by the custodian for closing or transferring an
account.
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B. Payment of Fees
Syon generally deducts its advisory fee from a client’s investment account(s) held at his/her custodian.
Upon engaging Syon to manage such account(s), a client grants Syon this limited authority through a written
instruction to the custodian of his/her account(s). The client is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the
calculation of the advisory fee; the custodian will not determine whether the fee is accurate or properly
calculated. See Section A herewith for further information on fee billing. A client may utilize the same
procedure for financial planning or consulting fees if the client has investment accounts held at a custodian.
Although clients generally are required to have their investment advisory fees deducted from their accounts,
in some cases, Syon will directly bill a client for investment advisory fees if it determines that such billing
arrangement is appropriate given the circumstances.
The custodian of the client’s accounts provides each client with a statement, at least quarterly, indicating
separate line items for all amounts disbursed from the client's account(s), including any fees paid directly
to Syon.
Clients may make additions to and withdrawals from their account at any time, subject to Syon’s right to
terminate an account. Additions may be in cash or securities provided that the Firm reserves the right to
liquidate transferred securities or decline to accept particular securities into a client’s account. Clients may
withdraw account assets at any time on notice to Syon, subject to the usual and customary securities
settlement procedures. However, the Firm generally designs its portfolios as long-term investments and the
withdrawal of assets may impair the achievement of a client’s investment objectives. Syon may consult
with its clients about the options and implications of transferring securities. Clients are advised that when
transferred securities are liquidated, they may be subject to transaction fees, short-term redemption fees,
fees assessed at the mutual fund level (e.g. contingent deferred sales charges) and/or tax ramifications.
Syon has a revenue sharing agreement with UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC. For those clients
who obtain certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party financial institutions through UPTIQ
Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC, we will offer a partial fee credit which will be applied to the client’s
next monthly billing cycle. Clients Responsible for Fees Charged by Financial Institutions and External
Money Managers
In connection with Syon’s management of an account, a client will incur fees and/or expenses separate from
and in addition to Syon’s advisory fee. These additional fees may include transaction charges and the
fees/expenses charged by any custodian, subadvisor, mutual fund, ETF, separate account manager (and the
manager’s platform manager, if any), limited partnership, or other advisor, transfer taxes, odd lot
differentials, exchange fees, interest charges, ADR processing fees, and any charges, taxes or other fees
mandated by any federal, state or other applicable law, retirement plan account fees (where applicable),
margin interest, brokerage commissions, mark-ups or mark-downs and other transaction-related costs,
electronic fund and wire fees, and any other fees that reasonably may be borne by a brokerage account. For
External Managers, clients should review each manager’s Form ADV 2A disclosure brochure and any
contract they sign with the External Manager (in a dual contract relationship). The client is responsible for
all such fees and expenses. Please see Item 12 of this brochure regarding brokerage practices.
C. Prepayment of Fees
As noted in Item 5(B) above, Syon’s advisory fees generally are paid in advance. Upon the termination of
a client’s advisory relationship, Syon will issue a refund equal to any unearned management fee for the
remainder of the month. The client may specify how he/she would like such refund issued (i.e., a check sent
directly to the client or a check sent to the client’s custodian for deposit into his/her account).
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D. Outside Compensation for the Sale of Securities or Other Investment Products to Clients
Syon does not buy or sell securities and does not receive any compensation for securities transactions in any
client account, other than the investment advisory fees noted above. However, as further described in Item
10, certain personnel of Syon, in their individual capacities, are also are licensed as insurance professionals.
Such persons earn commission-based compensation for selling insurance products to clients.
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
Syon does charge performance-based fees or participate in side-by-side management. Performance-based
fees are fees that are based on a share of a capital gains or capital appreciation of a client’s account. This
presents a conflict of interest in that Syon or its supervised persons have an incentive to favor accounts for
which it receives a performance based fee. This conflict is addressed by full disclosure to clients by way of
its ADV Part 3, Client Relationship Summary. Side-by-side management refers to the practice of managing
accounts that are charged performance-based fees while at the same time managing accounts that are not
charged performance-based fees.
Item 7 - Types of Clients
Syon offers investment advisory services to individuals, including high net worth individuals, families,
family offices, trusts, businesses, charitable foundations, and retirement/profit-sharing plans. Syon may
impose a minimum portfolio size or a minimum initial investment to open an account. However, Syon does
reserve the right to accept or decline a potential client for any reason in its sole discretion.
Item 8 - Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
A. Methods of Analysis and Risk of Loss
A primary step in Syon’s investment strategy is getting to know the clients – to understand their financial
condition, risk profile, investment goals, tax situation, liquidity constraints – and assemble a complete
picture of their financial situation. This comprehensive approach is integral to the way that Syon does
business. Once Syon has a true understanding of its clients’ needs and goals, the investment process can
begin, and the Firm can recommend strategies and investments that it believes are aligned with the client’s
goals and risk profile.
Syon primarily employs fundamental analysis methods in developing investment strategies for its clients.
Research and analysis from Syon is based on numerous sources, including third-party research materials
and publicly-available materials, such as company annual reports, prospectuses, and press releases.
Syon generally employs a long-term investment strategy for its clients, as consistent with their financial
goals. At times, the Firm may also buy and sell positions that are more short-term in nature, depending on
the goals of the client and/or the fundamentals of the security, sector or asset class.
Client portfolios with similar investment objectives and asset allocation goals may own different securities
and investments. The client’s portfolio size, tax sensitivity, desire for simplicity, income needs, long-term
wealth transfer objectives, time horizon and choice of custodian are all factors that influence Syon’s
investment recommendations.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss. A client can lose all or a substantial portion of his/her
investment. A client should be willing to bear such a loss. Some investments are intended only for
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sophisticated investors and can involve a high degree of risk.
B. Material Risks Involved
Investing in securities involves a significant risk of loss which clients should be prepared to bear. Syon’s
investment recommendations are subject to various market, currency, economic, political and business
risks, and such investment decisions will not always be profitable. Clients should be aware that there may
be a loss or depreciation to the value of the client’s account. There can be no assurance that the client’s
investment objectives will be obtained and no inference to the contrary should be made.
Generally, the market value of equity stocks will fluctuate with market conditions, and small- stock prices
generally will fluctuate more than large-stock prices. The market value of fixed income securities will
generally fluctuate inversely with interest rates and other market conditions prior to maturity. Fixed income
securities are obligations of the issuer to make payments of principal and/or interest on future dates, and
include, among other securities: bonds, notes and debentures issued by corporations; debt securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, or by a non-U.S.
government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities; municipal securities; and mortgage-backed and asset-
backed securities. These securities may pay fixed, variable, or floating rates of interest, and may include
zero coupon obligations and inflation-linked fixed income securities. The value of longer duration fixed
income securities will generally fluctuate more than shorter duration fixed income securities. Investments
in overseas markets also pose special risks, including currency fluctuation and political risks, and it may be
more volatile than that of a U.S. only investment. Such risks are generally intensified for investments in
emerging markets. In addition, there is no assurance that a mutual fund or ETF will achieve its investment
objective. Past performance of investments is no guarantee of future results.
Additional risks involved in the securities recommended by Syon include, among others:
• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. The market value of
equity securities will generally fluctuate with market conditions. Stock markets tend to move in
cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. Prices of equity securities tend to
fluctuate over the short term as a result of factors affecting the individual companies, industries or
the securities market as a whole. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed
income securities.
•
• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that
returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific
market sectors are often more extreme than fluctuations in the overall market.
Issuer risk, which is the risk that the value of a security will decline for reasons directly related to
the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, and reduced demand for the
issuer's goods or services.
• Non-diversification risk, which is the risk of focusing investments in a small number of issuers,
industries or foreign currencies, including being more susceptible to risks associated with a single
economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be.
• Value investing risk, which is the risk that value stocks not increase in price, not issue the
anticipated stock dividends, or decline in price, either because the market fails to recognize the
stock’s intrinsic value, or because the expected value was misgauged. If the market does not
recognize that the securities are undervalued, the prices of those securities might not appreciate as
anticipated. They also may decline in price even though in theory they are already undervalued.
Value stocks are typically less volatile than growth stocks, but may lag behind growth stocks in an
up market.
• Smaller company risk, which is the risk that the value of securities issued by a smaller company
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will go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably as compared to more widely held
securities. Investments in smaller companies are subject to greater levels of credit, market and
issuer risk.
•
• Foreign (non-U.S.) investment risk, which is the risk that investing in foreign securities result in
the portfolio experiencing more rapid and extreme changes in value than a portfolio that invests
exclusively in securities of U.S. companies. Risks associated with investing in foreign securities
include fluctuations in the exchange rates of foreign currencies that may affect the U.S. dollar value
of a security, the possibility of substantial price volatility as a result of political and economic
instability in the foreign country, less public information about issuers of securities, different
securities regulation, different accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and less
liquidity than in the U.S. markets.
Interest rate risk, which is the chance that prices of fixed income securities decline because of rising
interest rates. Similarly, the income from fixed income securities may decline because of falling
interest rates.
• Credit risk, which is the chance that an issuer of a fixed income security will fail to pay interest and
principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such
payments will cause the price of that fixed income security to decline.
• Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) risk, which is the risk of an investment in an ETF, including the
possible loss of principal. ETFs typically trade on a securities exchange and the prices of their
shares fluctuate throughout the day based on supply and demand, which may not correlate to their
net asset values. Although ETF shares will be listed on an exchange, there can be no guarantee that
an active trading market will develop or continue. Owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of
owning the underlying securities it is designed to track. ETFs are also subject to secondary market
trading risks. In addition, an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the index it seeks
to track for a number of reasons, including transaction costs incurred by the ETF, the temporary
unavailability of certain securities in the secondary market, or discrepancies between the ETF and
the index with respect to weighting of securities or number of securities held.
• Management risk, which is the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses applied by
Syon may not produce the desired results and that legislative, regulatory, or tax developments,
affect the investment techniques available to Syon. There is no guarantee that a client’s investment
objectives will be achieved.
•
• Real Estate risk, which is the risk that an investor’s investments in Real Estate Investment Trusts
(“REITs”) or real estate-linked derivative instruments will subject the investor to risks similar to
those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or
condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest
rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes and operating expenses. An
investment in REITs or real estate-linked derivative instruments subject the investor to management
and tax risks.
Investment Companies (“Mutual Funds”) risk, when an investor invests in mutual funds, the
investor will bear additional expenses based on his/her pro rata share of the mutual fund’s operating
expenses, including the management fees. The risk of owning a mutual fund generally reflects the
risks of owning the underlying investments the mutual fund holds.
• Commodity risk, generally commodity prices fluctuate for many reasons, including changes in
market and economic conditions or political circumstances (especially of key energy-producing
and consuming countries), the impact of weather on demand, levels of domestic production and
imported commodities, energy conservation, domestic and foreign governmental regulation
(agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control), international politics, policies of
OPEC, taxation and the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems and the
emotions of the marketplace. The risk of loss in trading commodities can be substantial.
• Cybersecurity risk, which is the risk related to unauthorized access to the systems and networks of
Syon and its service providers. The computer systems, networks and devices used by Syon and
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service providers to us and our clients to carry out routine business operations employ a variety of
protections designed to prevent damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures,
computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and security
breaches. Despite the various protections utilized, systems, networks or devices potentially can be
breached. A client could be negatively impacted as a result of a cybersecurity breach. Cybersecurity
breaches can include unauthorized access to systems, networks or devices; infection from computer
viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow or otherwise
disrupt operations, business processes or website access or functionality. Cybersecurity breaches
cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses to a client;
impediments to trading; the inability by us and other service providers to transact business;
violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage,
reimbursement or other compensation costs, or other compliance costs; as well as the inadvertent
release of confidential information. Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity
breaches affecting issues of securities in which a client invests; governmental and other regulatory
authorities; exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers and other
financial institutions; and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred by those
entities in order to prevent any cybersecurity breaches in the future.
• Alternative Investments / Private Funds risk, investing in alternative investments is speculative, not
suitable for all clients, and intended for experienced and sophisticated investors who are willing to
bear the high economic risks of the investment, which can include:
•
•
loss of all or a substantial portion of the investment due to leveraging, short-selling or other
speculative investment practices;
lack of liquidity in that there may be no secondary market for the investment and none expected
to develop;
restrictions on transferring interests in the investment;
• volatility of returns;
•
• potential lack of diversification and resulting higher risk due to concentration of trading
authority when a single adviser is utilized;
absence of information regarding valuations and pricing;
•
• delays in tax reporting;
•
•
less regulation and higher fees than mutual funds;
risks associated with the operations, personnel, and processes of the manager of the funds
investing in alternative investments.
• Closed-End Funds risk, Closed-end funds typically use a high degree of leverage. They may be
diversified or non-diversified. Risks associated with closed-end fund investments include liquidity
risk, credit risk, volatility and the risk of magnified losses resulting from the use of leverage.
Additionally, closed-end funds may trade below their net asset value.
• Structured Notes risk -
• Complexity. Structured notes are complex financial instruments. Clients should understand the
reference asset(s) or index(es) and determine how the note’s payoff structure incorporates such
reference asset(s) or index(es) in calculating the note’s performance. This payoff calculation
may include leverage multiplied on the performance of the reference asset or index, protection
from losses should the reference asset or index produce negative returns, and fees. Structured
notes may have complicated payoff structures that can make it difficult for clients to accurately
assess their value, risk and potential for growth through the term of the structured note.
Determining the performance of each note can be complex and this calculation can vary
significantly from note to note depending on the structure. Notes can be structured in a wide
variety of ways. Payoff structures can be leveraged, inverse, or inverse-leveraged, which may
result in larger returns or losses. Clients should carefully read the prospectus for a structured
note to fully understand how the payoff on a note will be calculated and discuss these issues
with Syon.
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•
• Market risk. Some structured notes provide for the repayment of principal at maturity, which
is often referred to as “principal protection.” This principal protection is subject to the credit
risk of the issuing financial institution. Many structured notes do not offer this feature. For
structured notes that do not offer principal protection, the performance of the linked asset or
index may cause clients to lose some, or all, of their principal. Depending on the nature of the
linked asset or index, the market risk of the structured note may include changes in equity or
commodity prices, changes in interest rates or foreign exchange rates, and/or market volatility.
Issuance price and note value. The price of a structured note at issuance will likely be higher
than the fair value of the structured note on the date of issuance. Issuers now generally disclose
an estimated value of the structured note on the cover page of the offering prospectus, allowing
investors to gauge the difference between the issuer’s estimated value of the note and the
issuance price. The estimated value of the notes is likely lower than the issuance price of the
note to investors because issuers include the costs for selling, structuring and/or hedging the
exposure on the note in the initial price of their notes. After issuance, structured notes may not
be re-sold on a daily basis and thus may be difficult to value given their complexity.
• Liquidity. The ability to trade or sell structured notes in a secondary market is often very
limited, as structured notes (other than exchange-traded notes known as ETNs) are not listed
for trading on securities exchanges. As a result, the only potential buyer for a structured note
may be the issuing financial institution’s broker-dealer affiliate or the broker-dealer distributor
of the structured note. In addition, issuers often specifically disclaim their intention to
repurchase or make markets in the notes they issue. Clients should, therefore, be prepared to
hold a structured note to its maturity date, or risk selling the note at a discount to its value at
the time of sale.
• Credit risk. Structured notes are unsecured debt obligations of the issuer, meaning that the
issuer is obligated to make payments on the notes as promised. These promises, including any
principal protection, are only as good as the financial health of the structured note issuer. If the
structured note issuer defaults on these obligations, investors may lose some, or all, of the
principal amount they invested in the structured notes as well as any other payments that may
be due on the structured notes.
There also are risks surrounding various insurance products that are recommended to Syon clients from
time to time. Such risks include, but are not limited to loss of premiums. Prior to purchasing any insurance
product, clients should carefully read the policy and applicable disclosure documents.
Clients are advised that they should only commit assets for management that can be invested for the long
term, that volatility from investing can occur, and that all investing is subject to risk. Syon does not
guarantee the future performance of a client’s portfolio, as investing in securities involves the risk of loss
that clients should be prepared to bear.
Past performance of a security or a fund is not necessarily indicative of future performance or risk of loss.
Use of External Managers
Syon may select certain External Managers to manage a portion of its clients’ assets. In these situations, the
success of such recommendations relies to a great extent on the External Managers’ ability to successfully
implement their investment strategies. In addition, Syon generally may not have the ability to supervise the
External Managers on a day-to-day basis.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or disciplinary
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events that would be material to a client’s evaluation of the adviser and the integrity of the adviser’s
management. Syon has no information applicable to this Item.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Recommendation of External Managers
Syon may recommend that clients use External Managers based on clients’ needs and suitability. Syon does
not receive separate compensation, directly or indirectly, from such External Managers for recommending
that clients use their services. Syon does not have any other business relationships with the recommended
External Managers.
Insurance Licensed Personnel
Advisory persons of Syon are licensed as insurance professionals. Such persons earn commission-based
compensation for selling insurance products to clients. Insurance commissions earned by advisory persons
who are insurance professionals are separate from and in addition to Syon’s advisory fee. This practice
presents a conflict of interest as an advisory person who is an insurance professional has an incentive to
recommend insurance products for the purpose of generating commissions rather than solely based on client
needs. Syon addresses this conflict through disclosure and strives to make recommendations which are in
the best interests of its clients. Clients are under no obligation to purchase insurance products through any
person affiliated with Syon. Syon clients should understand that lower fees and/or commissions for
comparable services may be available from other insurance providers.
Syon Capital Management I, LLC
Certain Firm personnel have an ownership interest in Syon Capital Management I, LLC (“Syon Capital
Management”). The purpose of Syon Capital Management is to serve as the General Partner of Syon Capital
Partners I, LP. Syon Capital Management earns a management fee for its services as manager and, therefore,
Firm personnel through their ownership interest in Syon Capital Management receives these fees. This
presents a conflict of interest in that Firm personnel have an incentive to recommend that Syon clients invest
with Syon Capital Management. Syon addresses this conflict through this disclosure.
Syon NBA Access I, LLC
The Firm is the managing member of Syon NBA Access I, LLC (“Syon NBA”), and certain Firm personnel
serve as officers of Syon NBA. The purpose of Syon NBA is to invest in Dyal HomeCourt Partners LP and
a co-investment opportunity in a National Basketball Association Franchise that has yet to be finalized. The
Firm’s status as managing member, as well as Firm personnel serving as officers of Syon NBA, presents a
conflict of interest in that Syon personnel have an incentive to recommend that Syon clients invest in Syon
NBA. The Firm addresses this conflict through this disclosure. In addition, investment in Syon NBA will
be recommended only to advisory clients for whom Syon determines that such an investment is suitable.
Syon Capital Partners I, LP
The Firm is the managing member of Syon Capital Partners I, LP (“Syon Cap I”), and certain Firm
personnel serve as officers of Syon Cap I. The purpose of Syon Cap I is to provide attractive risk-adjusted
returns through investments in venture capital funds, co-investments offered by venture capital funds and
private operating companies. The Firm’s status as an affiliate of the General Partner, Syon Capital
Management I, LLC, presents a conflict of interest in that Syon personnel have an incentive to recommend
that Syon clients invest in Syon Cap I. The Firm addresses this conflict through this disclosure. In addition,
investments in Syon Cap I will be recommended only to advisory clients for whom Syon determines that
such an investment is suitable.
UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC
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We offer clients the option of obtaining certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party financial
institutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC. These third party financial institutions are
banks and non-banks that offer credit and cash management solutions to our clients, as well as certain other
unaffiliated third parties that provide administrative and settlement services to facilitate UPTIQ’s cash
management solutions. UPTIQ acts as an intermediary to facilitate our clients’ access to these credit and
cash management solutions. Syon has a revenue sharing arrangement in place with UPTIQ. For those
clients who obtain certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party financial institutions through
UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC, we will offer a partial fee credit which will be applied to the
client’s next monthly billing cycle.
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
A. Description of Code of Ethics
Syon has a Code of Ethics (the “Code”) which requires Syon’s employees (“supervised persons”) to comply
with their legal obligations and fulfill the fiduciary duties owed to the Firm’s clients. Among other things,
the Code of Ethics sets forth policies and procedures related to conflicts of interest, outside business
activities, gifts and entertainment, compliance with insider trading laws and policies and procedures
governing personal securities trading by supervised persons. Syon employees are able to buy and sell
securities that which are recommended to clients. This conflict of interest is mitigated in that employee
transactions will trade after client transactions are made. In addition, should the firm aggregate orders, they
will do so in a fair and equitable manner in accordance with applicable rules promulgated under the Advisers
Act and guidance provided by the staff of the SEC and consistent with policies and procedures established
by the Firm.
Personal securities transactions of supervised persons present potential conflicts of interest with the price
obtained in client securities transactions or the investment opportunity available to clients. The Code
addresses these potential conflicts by prohibiting securities trades that would breach a fiduciary duty to a
client and requiring, with certain exceptions, supervised persons to report their personal securities holdings
and transactions to Syon for review by the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. The Code also requires
supervised persons to obtain pre-approval of certain investments, including initial public offerings and
limited offerings.
Syon will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon request.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
A. Factors Used to Select Custodians and/or Broker-Dealers
Syon generally recommends that its investment management clients utilize the custody and brokerage
services of an unaffiliated broker/dealer custodians (a “BD/Custodian”) with which Syon has an
institutional relationship. Currently, this includes Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), a FINRA
registered broker-dealer, member SIPC, which is a “qualified custodian” as that term is described in Rule
206(4)-2 of the Advisers Act. Each BD/Custodian provides custody of securities, trade execution, and
clearance and settlement of transactions placed on behalf of clients by Syon. If your accounts are custodied
at Schwab, Schwab will hold your assets in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities when we instruct
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them to. Clients will pay fees to Schwab for custody and the execution of securities transactions in their
accounts.
In making BD/Custodian recommendations, Syon will consider a number of judgmental factors, including,
without limitation: 1) clearance and settlement capabilities; 2) quality of confirmations and account
statements; 3) the ability of the BD/Custodian to settle the trade promptly and accurately; 4) the financial
standing, reputation and integrity of the BD/Custodian; 5) the BD/Custodian’s access to markets, research
capabilities, market knowledge, and any “value added” characteristics; 6) Syon’s past experience with the
BD/Custodian; and 7) Syon’s past experience with similar trades. Recognizing the value of these factors,
clients may pay a brokerage commission in excess of that which another broker might have charged for
effecting the same transaction.
In exchange for using the services of Schwab, Syon may receive, without cost, computer and related systems
support that allows Syon to monitor and service its clients’ accounts maintained with Schwab. Schwab also
makes available to the Firm products and services that benefit the Firm but may not directly benefit the
client or the client’s account. These products and services assist Syon in managing and administering client
accounts. They include investment research, both Schwab’s own and that of third parties. Syon may use
this research to service all or some substantial number of client accounts, including accounts not maintained
at Schwab. In addition to investment research, Schwab also makes available software and other technology
that:
• provide access to client account data (such as duplicate trade confirmations and account
statements);
facilitate trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts;
facilitate payment of our fees from our clients’ accounts; and
assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and client reporting.
•
• provide pricing and other market data;
•
•
Schwab also offers other services intended to help us manage and further develop our business enterprise.
These services include:
educational conferences and events;
technology, compliance, legal, and business consulting;
access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and insurance providers.
•
•
• publications and conferences on practice management and business succession; and
•
Schwab may provide some of these services itself. In other cases, it will arrange for third-party vendors to
provide the services to the Firm. Schwab may also discount or waive its fees for some of these services or
pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Schwab may also provide the Firm with other benefits such as
occasional business entertainment of Firm personnel.
In addition, Syon receives financial support from Schwab up to capped dollar amount to be used toward
qualifying marketing, technology, consulting and/or research expenses incurred by Syon in registering and
launching the operations of Syon. This financial support is available to Syon during the first 36 months
from the start of Syon clients having assets custodied at Schwab, and the ultimate amount payable by
Schwab is dependent upon the amount of Syon client assets custodied at Schwab. Furthermore, Schwab
has agreed to reimburse account termination fees charged to Syon clients by the former custodian of the
clients’ accounts up to a capped dollar amount. This reimbursement is available during an initial 12 month
period.
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The benefits received by Syon through its participation in the Schwab custodial platform do not depend on
the amount of brokerage transactions directed to Schwab. In addition, there is no corresponding
commitment made by Syon to Schwab to invest any specific amount or percentage of client assets in any
specific mutual funds, securities or other investment products as a result of participation in the program.
While as a fiduciary, we endeavor to act in our clients’ best interests, our recommendation that clients
maintain their assets in accounts at Schwab will be based in part on the benefit to Syon of the availability
of some of the foregoing products and services and not solely on the nature, cost or quality of custody and
brokerage services provided by Schwab. The receipt of these benefits creates a potential conflict of interest
and may indirectly influence Syon’s choice of Schwab for custody and brokerage services.
Syon will periodically review its arrangements with the BD/Custodians and other broker-dealers against
other possible arrangements in the marketplace as it strives to achieve best execution on behalf of its clients.
In seeking best execution, the determinative factor is not the lowest possible cost, but whether the
transaction represents the best qualitative execution, taking into consideration the full range of a broker-
dealer’s services, including, but not limited to, the following:
•
•
a broker-dealer’s trading expertise, including its ability to complete trades, execute and
settle difficult trades, obtain liquidity to minimize market impact and accommodate
unusual market conditions, maintain anonymity, and account for its trade errors and correct
them in a satisfactory manner;
a broker-dealer’s infrastructure, including order-entry systems, adequate lines of
communication, timely order execution reports, an efficient and accurate clearance and
settlement process, and capacity to accommodate unusual trading volume;
•
• a broker-dealer’s ability to minimize total trading costs while maintaining its financial
health, such as whether a broker-dealer can maintain and commit adequate capital when
necessary to complete trades, respond during volatile market periods, and minimize the
number of incomplete trades;
a broker-dealer’s ability to provide research and execution services, including advice as to
the value or advisability of investing in or selling securities, analyses and reports
concerning such matters as companies, industries, economic trends and political factors, or
services incidental to executing securities trades, including clearance, settlement and
custody; and
• a broker-dealer’s ability to provide services to accommodate special transaction needs,
such as the broker-dealer’s ability to execute and account for client-directed arrangements
and soft dollar arrangements, participate in underwriting syndicates, and obtain initial
public offering shares.
Syon’s clients may utilize qualified custodians other than Schwab for certain accounts and assets,
particularly where clients have a previous relationship with such qualified custodians.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
Syon does not select or recommend BD/Custodians based solely on whether or not it may receive client
referrals from a BD/Custodian or third party.
Client-Directed Brokerage
Generally, in the absence of specific instructions to the contrary, for brokerage accounts that clients engage
Syon to manage on a discretionary basis, Syon has full discretion with respect to securities transactions
placed in the accounts. This discretion includes the authority, without prior notice to the client, to buy and
sell securities for the client’s account and establish and affect securities transactions through the
BD/Custodian of the client’s account or other broker-dealers selected by Syon. In selecting a broker-dealer
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to execute a client’s securities transactions, Syon seeks prompt execution of orders at favorable prices.
A client, however, may instruct Syon to custody his/her account at a specific broker-dealer and/or direct
some or all of his/her brokerage transactions to a specific broker-dealer. In directing brokerage transactions,
a client should consider whether the commission expenses, execution, clearance, settlement capabilities,
and custodian fees, if any, are comparable to those that would result if Syon exercised its discretion in
selecting the broker-dealer to execute the transactions. Directing brokerage to a particular broker-dealer
may involve the following disadvantages to a directed brokerage client:
• Syon’s ability to negotiate commission rates and other terms on behalf of such clients could
•
be impaired;
such clients could be denied the benefit of Syon’s experience in selecting broker-dealers
that are able to efficiently execute difficult trades;
• opportunities to obtain lower transaction costs and better prices by aggregating (batching)
•
the client’s orders with orders for other clients could be limited; and
the client could receive less favorable prices on securities transactions because Syon may
place transaction orders for directed brokerage clients after placing batched transaction
orders for other clients.
In addition to accounts managed by Syon on a discretionary basis where the client has directed the brokerage
of his/her account(s), certain institutional accounts may be managed by Syon on a non- discretionary basis
and are held at custodians selected by the institutional client. The decision to use a particular custodian
and/or broker-dealer generally resides with the institutional client. Syon endeavors to understand the trading
and execution capabilities of any such custodian and/or broker-dealer, as well as its costs and fees. Syon
may assist the institutional client in facilitating trading and other instructions to the custodian and/or broker-
dealer in carrying out Syon’s investment recommendations.
Trade Errors
Syon’s goal is to execute trades seamlessly and in the best interests of the client. In the event a trade error
occurs, Syon endeavors to identify the error in a timely manner, correct the error so that the client’s account
is in the position it would have been had the error not occurred, and, after evaluating the error, assess what
action(s) might be necessary to prevent a recurrence of similar errors in the future.
Trade errors generally are corrected through the use of a “trade error” account or similar account at Schwab,
or another BD, as the case may be. In the event an error is made in a client account custodied elsewhere,
Syon works directly with the broker in question to take corrective action. In all cases, Syon will take the
appropriate measures to return the client’s account to its intended position.
B. Trade Aggregation
To the extent that the Firm determines to aggregate client orders for the purchase or sale of securities,
including securities in which the Firm’s supervised persons may invest, the Firm will generally do so in a
fair and equitable manner in accordance with applicable rules promulgated under the Advisers Act and
guidance provided by the staff of the SEC and consistent with policies and procedures established by the
Firm.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
A. Periodic Reviews
While investment management accounts are monitored on an ongoing basis, Syon’s investment adviser
representatives seek to have at least one annual meeting with each client to conduct a formal review of the
clients’ accounts. Accounts are reviewed for consistency with the investment strategy and other parameters
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set forth for the account and to determine if any adjustments need to be made. In addition, clients may hold
assets outside of the investment management services of Syon and, therefore, client accounts may deviate
from generally accepted plan parameters in recognition of the outside assets held by the individual client.
B. Other Reviews and Triggering Factors
In addition to the periodic reviews described above, reviews may be triggered by changes in an account
holder’s personal, tax or financial status. Other events that may trigger a review of an account are material
changes in market conditions as well as macroeconomic and company- specific events. Clients are
encouraged to notify Syon of any changes in his/her personal financial situation that might affect his/her
investment needs, objectives, or time horizon.
C. Regular Reports
Written brokerage statements are generated no less than quarterly and are sent directly from the qualified
custodian. These reports list the account positions, activity in the account over the covered period, and other
related information. Clients are also sent confirmations following each brokerage account transaction unless
confirmations have been waived.
Syon may also determine to provide account statements and other reporting to clients on a periodic basis.
Syon also provides account reports during client meetings.
Clients are urged to carefully review all custodial account statements and compare them to any statements
and reports provided by Syon. Syon statements and reports may vary from custodial statements based on
accounting procedures, reporting dates, or valuation methodologies of certain securities.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice Rendered to Clients
Syon does not receive benefits from third parties for providing investment advice to clients.
B. Compensation to Non-Supervised Persons for Client Referrals
Syon seeks to enter into agreements with individuals and organizations, some of whom may be affiliated or
unaffiliated with Syon for the referral of clients to us. All such agreements will be in writing and comply
with the applicable state and federal regulations. If a client is introduced to Syon by a solicitor, Syon will
pay that solicitor a fee in accordance with the applicable federal and state securities law requirements. While
the specific terms of each agreement may differ, generally, the compensation will be based upon Syon’s
engagement of new clients and the retention of those clients and would be calculated using a varying
percentage of the fees paid to Syon by such clients until the account is closed by written authorization from
the client. Any such fee shall be paid solely from Syon’s fees, and shall not result in any additional charge
to the client.
Each prospective client who is referred to Syon by a solicitor who is not affiliated with Syon will receive a
written disclosure document disclosing whether the solicitor is or is not a current client of Syon, the
compensation that will be paid by us to the third party, and a description of any material conflicts of interest
on the part of the solicitor in light of Syon’s relationship with the solicitor. In any case, applicable state
laws may require these persons to become licensed either as representatives of Syon or as an independent
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investment adviser.
Item 15 – Custody
All clients must utilize a “qualified custodian” as detailed in Item 12. Clients are required to engage the
custodian to retain their funds and securities and direct Syon to utilize the custodian for the client’s securities
transactions. Syon’s agreement with clients and/or the clients’ separate agreements with the B/D Custodian
may authorize Syon through such BD/Custodian to debit the clients’ accounts for the amount of Syon’s fee
and to directly remit that fee to Syon in accordance with applicable custody rules.
The BD/Custodian recommended by Syon has agreed to send a statement to the client, at least quarterly,
indicating all amounts disbursed from the account including the amount of management fees paid directly
to Syon. Syon encourages clients to review the official statements provided by the custodian, and to
compare such statements with any reports or other statements received from Syon. For more information
about custodians and brokerage practices, see “Item 12 - Brokerage Practices.”
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
Clients have the option of providing Syon with investment discretion on their behalf, pursuant to a grant of
a limited power of attorney contained in Syon’s client agreement. By granting Syon investment discretion,
a client authorizes Syon to direct securities transactions and determine which securities are bought and sold,
the total amount to be bought and sold, and the costs at which the transactions will be effected. Clients
may impose reasonable limitations in the form of specific constraints on any of these areas of discretion
with the consent and written acknowledgement of Syon if Syon determines, in its sole discretion, that the
conditions would not materially impact the performance of a management strategy or prove overly
burdensome for Syon. See also Item 4(C), Client-Tailored Advisory Services.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
Syon does not accept the authority to and does not vote proxies on behalf of clients. Clients retain the
responsibility for receiving and voting proxies for all and any securities maintained in client portfolios.
Item 18 – Financial Information
Syon is not required to disclose any financial information pursuant to this item due to the following:
a) Syon does not require or solicit the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees six months or
more in advance of rendering services;
b) Syon is unaware of any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to
meet its contractual commitments relating to its discretionary authority over certain client
accounts; and
c) Syon has never been the subject of a bankruptcy petition.
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