PLEASE READ THESE WEBSITE TERMS OF USE (“TERMS OF USE”) CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE, AS THEY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WAIVERS OF RIGHTS, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, AND YOUR INDEMNITY TO US.
THIS AGREEMENT REQUIRES THE USE OF ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES, RATHER THAN COURTS OR JURY TRIALS, CONTAINS CLASS ACTION WAIVERS, AND LIMITS THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE.
Welcome to the StoneCastle Partners website located at www.stonecastlepartners.com (the “Website”), owned and operated by StoneCastle Partners, LLC (collectively, “StoneCastle,” “we,”“us,” or “our”). We require that all visitors to our Website adhere to the following terms of use. By accessing the Website, you indicate your acknowledgment and agreement, and if acting as an agent or employee of any company, your company’s acknowledgement and agreement, to these terms of use. If you do not want to agree to these terms of use, you must not access or use this Website. By accessing or using this Website, you represent and warrant that you are of legal age to form a binding contract with StoneCastle.
You should also review our Privacy Policy, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement.
1. CHANGES TO TERMS OF USE
StoneCastle reserves the right to revise these Terms of Use at any time, and any revisions or modifications will be effective immediately when posted to this Website. Users are deemed to be apprised of and bound by any changes to these Terms of Use. StoneCastle will indicate that changes to these Terms of Use have been made by updating the date indicated after the ‘Last Modified’ section above. Your continued use of the Website after that date constitutes your agreement to the revised and modified Terms of Use. However, any changes to the dispute resolution provisions set forth in Section 3 (Governing Law and Jurisdiction) below will not apply to any disputes for which the parties have actual notice on or prior to the date the change is posted on the Website.
2. LAWS AND REGULATIONS
You agree to comply with all international, federal, state and local laws and regulations applicable to your access and use of the Website.
3. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
Users of this Website agree to submit to the laws of the State of New York, USA and applicable federal law without regard to conflicts of laws principles. Any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of, or related to, the Website or these Terms of Use shall be instituted exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, although we retain the right to bring any suit, action, or proceeding against you for breach of these Terms of Use in the federal or state courts of your place of residence. You waive any and all objections to the exercise of jurisdiction over you by such courts and to venue in such courts.
4. ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER
Please read this Arbitration Agreement (as defined below) carefully. It is part of your contract with StoneCastle and affects your rights. It contains procedures for MANDATORY BINDING ARBITRATION AND A CLASS ACTION WAIVER.
Scope of Arbitration Agreement (“Arbitration Agreement”)
You acknowledge and agree that any dispute or claim relating in any way to your access or use of the Website or to any other aspect of your relationship with StoneCastle related to these Terms of Use will be resolved by binding arbitration, rather than in court, except that (1) you may assert claims in small claims court if your claims qualify, so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis; and (2) you or StoneCastle may seek equitable relief in court for infringement or other misuse of intellectual property rights (such as trademarks, trade dress, domain names, trade secrets, copyrights, and patents). This Arbitration Agreement shall apply, without limitation, to all claims that arose before this or any prior agreement.
NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, THERE MAYBE LAWSUITS AGAINST STONECASTLE ALLEGING CLASS, COLLECTIVE, AND/OR REPRESENTATIVE CLAIMS. SUCH CLAIMS, IF SUCCESSFUL, COULD RESULT IN SOME MONETARY RECOVERY TO YOU. THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH CLASS, COLLECTIVE, AND/OR REPRESENTATIVE LAWSUITS DOES NOT MEAN THAT SUCH LAWSUITS WILL ULTIMATELY SUCCEED. BUT IF YOU AGREE TO ARBITRATION WITH STONECASTLE, YOU ARE AGREEING IN ADVANCE THAT YOU WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN OR SEEK TO RECOVERY MONETARY OR OTHER RELIEF UNDER SUCH CLASS, COLLECTIVE, AND/OR REPRESENTATIVE LAWSUITS. INSTEAD, BY AGREEING TO ARBITRATION, YOU MAY BRING YOUR CLAIMS AGAINST STONECASTLE IN AN INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION PROCEEDING. IF SUCCESSFUL ON SUCH CLAIMS, YOU COULD BE AWARDED MONEY OR OTHER RELIEF BY AN ARBITRATOR.
Arbitration Rules and Forum.
This Arbitration Agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act in all respects. The arbitration shall be conducted in New York, New York and the language of such arbitration shall be English. To begin an arbitration proceeding, you must send a letter requesting arbitration and describing your claim to our registered agent, United Corporate Services, Inc., 874 Walker Road, Suite C, Dover, Delaware, 19904. The arbitration will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its rules, including the AAA’s Supplementary Procedures for Consumer-Related Disputes. The AAA’s rules are available at www.adr.org or by calling the AAA at 1-800-778-7879. Payment of all filing, administration, and arbitration fees will be governed by the AAA’s rules. We will reimburse those fees for claims totaling less than $10,000 unless the arbitrator determines the claims are frivolous. Likewise, StoneCastle will not seek attorneys’ fees and costs in arbitration unless the arbitrator determines the claims are frivolous. If the AAA is not available to arbitrate, the parties will select an alternative arbitral forum.
Arbitrator Powers.
The arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Arbitration Agreement including, but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Arbitration Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration will decide the rights and liabilities, if any, of you and StoneCastle. The dispute will not be consolidated with any other matters or joined with any other cases or parties. The arbitrator will have the authority to grant motions dispositive of all or part of any claim or dispute. The arbitrator will have the authority to award monetary damages and to grant any non-monetary remedy or relief available to an individual under applicable law, the arbitral forum’s rules, and these Terms of Use. The arbitrator will issue a written award and statement of decision describing the essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based, including the calculation of any damages awarded. The arbitrator has the same authority to award relief on an individual basis that a judge in a court of law would have. The award of the arbitrator is final and binding on you and StoneCastle. Waiver of Jury Trial.
YOU AND STONECASTLE EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY RIGHTS TO SUE IN COURT AND RECEIVE A JUDGE OR JURY TRIAL. You and StoneCastle are instead electing to have claims and disputes resolved by arbitration. An arbitrator can award on an individual basis the same damages and relief as a court and must follow these Terms of Use as a court would. However, there is no judge or jury in arbitration, and court review of an arbitration award is limited. In any litigation between you and StoneCastle over whether to vacate or enforce an arbitration award, you and StoneCastle waive all rights to a jury trial, and elect instead to have a judge resolve the dispute.
Waiver of Class or Consolidated Actions.
ALL CLAIMS AND DISPUTES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT MUST BE ARBITRATED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT ON A CLASS BASIS. CLAIMS OF MORE THAN ONE CUSTOMER OR USER CANNOT BE ARBITRATED OR LITIGATED JOINTLY OR CONSOLIDATED WITH THOSE OF ANY OTHER CUSTOMER OR USER. If, however, this waiver of class or consolidated actions is deemed invalid or unenforceable, neither you nor StoneCastle is entitled to arbitration. Instead, all claims and disputes will then be resolved in a court as set forth in Section 3 (Governing Law and Jurisdiction) above.
Opt Out.
You may opt out of this Arbitration Agreement. If you do so, neither you nor StoneCastle can force the other to arbitrate. To opt out, you must notify StoneCastle in writing no later than 30 days after first becoming subject to this Arbitration Agreement. Your notice must include your name and address and an unequivocal statement that you want to opt out of this Arbitration Agreement. You must send your opt-out notice to: legal@stonecastlepartners.com. If you opt out of this Arbitration Agreement, all other parts of these Terms of Use will continue to apply to you. Opting out of this Arbitration Agreement has no effect on any previous, other, or future arbitration agreements that you may have with us.
5. INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless StoneCastle, its licensors, and service providers, and its and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, suppliers, successors, and assigns from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms of Use or your use of the Website. StoneCastle reserves the right to take over the exclusive defense of any claim for which we are entitled to indemnification under this Section. In such event, you shall provide StoneCastle with such cooperation as is reasonably requested by StoneCastle.
6. NO WARRANTIES
All content, products, and services on the Website, or obtained from a Linked Site, are provided to you “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind either express or implied.
WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS AND SATISFACTORY QUALITY.
StoneCastle does not endorse and is not responsible for: (a) the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, advice, or statement made through the Website by anyone; (b) any content provided on Linked Sites; or (c) the capabilities or reliability of any product or service obtained from a Linked Site.
Other than as required under applicable law, under no circumstance will StoneCastle be liable for any loss or damage caused by a user’s reliance on information obtained through a Website or a Linked Site, or a user’s reliance on any product or service obtained from a Linked Site. It is the responsibility of the user to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any opinion, advice, or other content available through the Website or obtained from a Linked Site. Please seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the evaluation of any specific opinion, advice, product, service, or other content.
7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR USE OF THE WEBSITE AND LINKED SITES
The information, software, products, and descriptions of services published on the WEBSite or a Linked Site may include inaccuracies or typographical errors, and StoneCastle specifically disclaims any liability for such inaccuracies or errors. StoneCastle does not warrant or represent that the content on the WEBSite is complete or up to date. StoneCastle is under no obligation to update any content on the WEBSite. StoneCastle may change the content on the WEBSite at any time without notice. StoneCastle may make improvements or changes to the WEBSite at any time.
EXCEPT IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE SUCH PROVISIONS ARE RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED, You agree that StoneCastle, its affiliates, and any of their respective officers, directors, employees, or agents will not be liable, whether in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise, for any indirect, punitive, special, consequential, incidental or indirect damages (including without limitation lost profits, cost of procuring substitute service(s), or lost opportunity) arising out of or in connection with the use of the WEBSite or a Linked Site, or with the delay or inability to use the WEBSite or a Linked Site, even if StoneCastle is made aware of the possibility of such damages. This limitation on liability includes, but is not limited to, the transmission of any viruses which may infect a user’s equipment, failure of mechanical or electronic equipment or communication lines, telephone or other interconnect problems (e.g., you cannot access your internet service provider), unauthorized access, theft, operator errors, strikes or other labor problems or any force majeure. StoneCastle cannot and does not guarantee continuous, uninterrupted, or secure access to its Website.
TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, OUR LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE ACTION, WILL AT ALL TIMES BE LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO US FOR THE PRODUCT AT ISSUE IN THE THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM AND $50. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IF NO FEES ARE PAID TO US FOR A SERVICE OR PRODUCT, YOU SHALL BE LIMITED TO, AT MOST, INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ONLY, UNLESS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY OTHER DAMAGES, REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE OF ACTION.
NOTHING IN THESE TERMS SHALL LIMIT OR EXCLUDE OUR LIABILITY FOR: (i) DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY RESULTING FROM OUR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT; (ii) FRAUD OR FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATIONS; OR (iii) ANY OTHER LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
8. Limitation of Liability for third party Services Through the WebSite
StoneCastle hereby disclaims any liability, whether based on contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise, including without limitation liability for any direct, punitive, special, consequential, incidental our indirect damages, in connection with the goods or services provided by any service provider, carrier, or other supplier through the WEBSite, including without limitation liability for any act, error, omission, injury, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be incurred through the fault, negligent or otherwise, of such service provider, carrier, or other supplier, and you hereby exonerate StoneCastle from any liability with respect to the same.
9. Copyright and Trademarks
The trademarks, logos, service marks, slogans, and designs (“Marks”) displayed on the Website are the property of StoneCastle and other parties. Users are prohibited from using any Marks for any purpose including, but not limited to, use as metatags on other pages or websites on the World Wide Web without written permission.
All information and content, including any software programs available on or through the Website (“Content”), is protected by copyright. Users are prohibited from modifying, copying, distributing, transmitting, displaying, publishing, selling, licensing, creating derivative works, or using any Content available on or through the Website for commercial or public purposes.
10. HYPERLINKS
The Website may provide links to other websites or digital properties by allowing the user to leave this Website to access third-party material or by bringing the third-party material into this Website via “inverse” hyperlinks and framing technology (a “Linked Site”). StoneCastle has no discretion to alter, update, or control the content on a Linked Site. The fact that StoneCastle has provided a link to a website is not an endorsement, authorization, sponsorship, or affiliation with respect to such website, its owners, or its providers. There are inherent risks in relying upon, using, or retrieving any information found on the Internet. StoneCastle urges you to make sure you understand these risks before relying upon, using, or retrieving any such information on a Linked Site.
11. LINKED INTERNET SITES
StoneCastle prohibits caching, unauthorized hypertext links to the Website and the framing of any Content available through the Website. StoneCastle reserves the right to disable any unauthorized links or frames and specifically disclaims any responsibility for the Content available on any other Internet sites linked to the Website. Access to any other Internet Sites Linked to the Website is at the user’s own risk.
12. Confidentiality of User Communications
Except as required by law and in accordance with the StoneCastle Privacy Policy, StoneCastle will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of all user communications which contain personal user information and which are transmitted directly to StoneCastle.
Postings by a user on any message board or in any chat room will not be protected as confidential or proprietary, and StoneCastle may use and provide information contained in any such postings (including any ideas, concepts, know-how or other intellectual property) to any of its parent company and affiliates fo rany purpose whatsoever and as deemed appropriate by StoneCastle. By posting to a Website, you grant StoneCastle and its affiliates an irrevocable, perpetual, sublicensable license and right to use, reproduce, modify, perform, publicly display, distribute, and otherwise fully exploit for any benefit and disclose to third parties any such material.
User should be aware that Linked Sites may contain confidentiality provisions that differ from the provisions provided herein. StoneCastle is not responsible for such provisions, and expressly disclaims any and all liability related to such provisions.
13. POSTINGS
StoneCastle is under no obligation to review any messages, information or content (“Postings”) posted on the Website by users and assumes no responsibility or liability relating to any such Postings. Notwithstanding the above, StoneCastle may from time to time monitor the Postings on the Website and may decline to accept and/or remove any Postings that contain:
Any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind, including, but not limited to, any material which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, gives rise to civil liability or otherwise violates any applicable local, state, national or international law.
Advertisements or solicitations of any kind.
Blog postings posted by users impersonating others.
Personal information such as messages which state phone numbers, social security numbers, account numbers, addresses, or employer references.
Messages by non-spokesperson employees of StoneCastle purporting to speak on behalf of StoneCastle or containing confidential information or expressing opinions concerning StoneCastle.
Messages that offer unauthorized downloads of any copyrighted or private information.
Multiple postings placed within individual articles by the same user restating the same point.
Chain letters of any kind.
14. Transmission of Personal Data
User acknowledges and agrees that by providing StoneCastle with any personal or proprietary user information through the Website, user consents to the transmission of such personal or proprietary user information as necessary for processing in accordance with StoneCastle’s standard business practices. All information we collect on this Website is subject to the StoneCastle Privacy Policy.
User should be aware that Linked Sites may contain transmission of personal data provisions that differ from the provisions provided herein. StoneCastle is not responsible for such provisions, and expressly disclaims any and all liability related to such provisions.
15. Your Contact with Affiliates
Your dealings or correspondence with, or participation in promotions of, affiliates found on or through the Website (including, without limitation, payment and delivery of related products or services, and any other terms, conditions, representations, or warranties associated with such dealings or correspondence) are solely between you and such affiliates. StoneCastle makes no representations or warranties with respect to any promotion content of, or any products or services that may be obtained from, such affiliates. You agree that StoneCastle will not be responsible or liable with respect to any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of: (a) any such dealings or correspondence between you and such affiliates, (b) content, products or services of such affiliates, or(c) the presence of such affiliates on the Website.
16. Access to Password Protected and Secure Areas
Access to and use of password protected and/or secure areas of the Website is restricted to authorized users only. Unauthorized individuals attempting to access these areas of the Website may be subject to prosecution. You agree to protect the confidentiality of your user identification and passwords, and to be responsible for any unauthorized use.
17. Use of “Cookie” File Features
StoneCastle reserves the right to store information on a user’s computer in the form of a “cookie” or similar file for purposes of modifying the Website to reflect users’ preferences. The StoneCastle Privacy Policy provides additional information regarding StoneCastle’s use of cookies as well as procedures for disabling cookies. You may disable or delete your cookies at your discretion, but it may have a negative impact on your use of the Website benefits and features.
18. No Investment Advice or Offers
Nothing in the Website constitutes investment advice. StoneCastle provides investor relations materials for convenience and information only. In addition, investor relations materials and other Website content are not offers to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any security.
19. Forward Looking Information
Certain information on this Website contains certain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “intend,” “aim,” “will,” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. StoneCastle undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.
20. Press Releases
All press releases and other materials presented or released that are contained on the Website were, to the best of StoneCastle’s knowledge, timely and accurate when issued. However, the passage of time can render information stale, and you should not rely on the continued accuracy of any such material beyond the date of issuance. StoneCastle has no responsibility to update any information contained in any such material. All viewers should carefully check the dates of issuance of the material contained in the Website.
21. Digital Millennium Copyright Act - Notification to StoneCastle Regarding Alleged Copyright Infringement
StoneCastle avails itself of the protections under the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the “Act”). StoneCastle reserves the right to remove any Content on the Website which allegedly infringes another person’s copyright. Notices to StoneCastle regarding any alleged copyright infringement on the Website should be directed to legal@stonecastlepartners.com.
22. Violations of Terms of use
StoneCastle reserves the right to seek all remedies available at law and in equity for violations of these Terms of Use, including the right to block access from a particular Internet address to a Website.
23. MISCELLANEOUS
The following sections survive after you leave the Website, and any termination of these Terms of Use: 3 – 9, and 18 – 23. Any notices required under these Terms of Use for StoneCastle should be sent in electronic format to legal@stonecastlepartners.com. The Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and if applicable, any written agreements that are active by and between you and StoneCastle related to these Terms of Use, constitute the sole and entire agreement between you and StoneCastle with respect to the Website and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to the Site. All persons using the StoneCastle Partners LLC, and its affiliates website (“Website”) expressly agree to the following disclaimer as a pre-condition to using this Website for any purpose whatsoever. The materials on the Website including, without limitation, news articles, informational materials and all other investment-specific information, have been prepared for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax or any other advice. It does not constitute an offer, solicitation or recommendation to purchase any security or investment advisory services nor shall any such security or investment advisory service be offered or sold to any person in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, recommendation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. In no event shall StoneCastle be responsible or liable for the correctness of any such material or for any damage or lost opportunities resulting from use of this data. StoneCastle Cash Management LLC ("SCCM"), StoneCastle Advisors, LLC and StoneCastle Asset Management LLC are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration with the SEC does not imply a particular level of skill or training. For more detailed information, please see each advisor’s Form ADV Parts I and 2A on file with the SEC. Assets quoted include Bulk Insurance Deposit Services (“BIDS”), a program where SCCM acts as a consultant and introduces banks to third party administrators. Assets in BIDS are not included in the calculation of SCCM’s regulatory assets under management noted in its Form ADV. The information and content of this Website is proprietary material owned by StoneCastle. While you may print a copy of the information contained on this Website for your own purposes, any other republication or redistribution of the text or graphics of this Website, including, without limitation, linking or framing, is expressly prohibited without prior written permission of StoneCastle. The unauthorized use of any material on the StoneCastle Website may violate numerous statutes, regulations and laws, including, but not limited to, copyright, trademark, trade secret or patent laws. Requests to link to our site must include the URL of your site and an explanation for the link to our site. ALL INFORMATION AND CONTENT ON THE STONECASTLE WEBSITE IS, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS, FURNISHED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. Neither StoneCastle nor any of its affiliates make any judgment or warranty with respect to the accuracy, timeliness or suitability of the content of any of the services herein provided. Please visit each portfolio company for terms and conditions with respect to any services or products offered.