SUPERVISORY METHOD
Mr. Francis M. Hogle, III is President and CEO of BASE. Mr. Hogle,
born in 1944, graduated with a BS in Physics from Carnegie Institute
of Technology in 1967. He has been a licensed professional in the
securities business since 1973. There are no other licensed personnel.
BASE requires of its personnel securities knowledge, securities
experience as well as a compatible investment philosophy. Because
BASE's investment philosophy is and has been supplied by Mr. Hogle,
he and(or) related entities may own securities or may trade in securities
that BASE clients own. BASE does not accept non-discretionary accounts
for an asset based fee, but it may charge an appropriate hourly
fee. BASE does not have a minimum account size, per se. BASE will
deal with a client only if, in the sole opinion of Mr. Hogle, it
can reasonably provide the services that the account requires, and
if, in the sole opinion of Mr. Hogle, that BASE and the prospective
client can conduct a mutually beneficial relationship.
Mr. Hogle conducts all reviews of client accounts either alone
on a continuing basis, or in conjunction with clients. Informal
reviews of accounts are triggered by a number of factors: price
action and news may trigger such reviews at any time; pricing and
the portfolio accounting process (usually on a daily cycle) may
trigger such reviews. Formal reviews occur jointly with the client
and are scheduled depending on the needs of the client. Formal reviews
typically occur annually but can occur at almost any reasonable
time or frequency. In addition to statements sent from independent
custodians all clients receive from BASE a full accounting of cash
and securities, sources and uses of funds as well as billing information
shortly after the end of each calendar quarter. Clients may receive
more informal information in a monthly mailing and can call and
receive information informally over the telephone. BASE will provide
preliminary tax or other information to clients or to their designated
agents; however, 1099's and other final tax information is provided
by custodians. BASE is not a custodian of client assets and does
not take possession of client assets unless it is acting in the
capacity of a trustee. Where custodians have the capability to allow
BASE to vote proxies, BASE will vote those proxies in the interests
of its clients. BASE maintains records of its proxy activities;
and, upon a client's request, will share its rationale as well as
specific votes on a client's behalf.
Brokers and custodians may be suggested to clients by BASE. Clients
are not required to follow such suggestions but must choose a custodian
that is reasonably compatible with BASE's computer systems and BASE's
operating procedures. BASE needs direct access to account and transaction
information on an electronic basis, and it needs the fluid ability
to cause transactions to be cleared. Clients may make non-binding
broker designations; however, BASE will deal with brokers and dealers
only if, in the sole opinion of Mr. Hogle, they are competitive
in 'net' executions for the trades to be done, or if such broker's
or dealer's research services are of material value to BASE's clients.
In all cases BASE attempts to operate in an economical manner on
behalf of its clients. Commissions and trading capability are inextricably
linked as 'net' execution capability is more important than commissions
alone. BASE will attempt to deal with brokers and dealers on a 'net'
execution basis. Valuable sources of information in the broker-dealer
community would be closed if they were not compensated. BASE does
not make commission compensation arrangements with brokers and dealers
(other than with Fidelity, see the Conflicts of Interest section
below); but instead, attempts to ration sparse resources in a manner
that benefits its clients most.
BASE by its nature is a generalist. BASE selects and follows securities
on its own and does not rely on others for those functions. Research
of value to BASE lies in suggesting structures of analysis and relationships
so that BASE can accomplish its own functions. Clients might pay
higher 'net' prices to these sources of information.
BASE bunches orders for its clients. When orders are bunched, BASE
will average execution prices for the aggregate each day. When bunched
orders take more than one day to fill, BASE will prorate executions
on a daily basis to round lots, where each, filled and unfilled
portions of an order, is roughly 1000 shares or more; then the unprorated
shares are used to fill the unfilled orders on a rotating basis,
favoring orders with the least percentage previously filled, and
attempting not to break orders for any account.
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