REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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x | ||
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
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1
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x | |
Post-Effective Amendment No.
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o |
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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x | ||
Amendment No.
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1
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x |
David M. Churchill, President and Principal Executive Officer
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Brown Advisory Funds
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901 South Bond Street, Suite 400
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Baltimore, Maryland 21231
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Patrick W.D. Turley, Esq.
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Dechert LLP
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1775 I Street, NW
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Washington, DC 20006
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Prospectus
[June __], 2012
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Table of Contents
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Summary Section
This important section summarizes the Funds’ objectives, strategies, fees, risks, past performance, portfolio turnover, portfolio manager, your account and other information.
Details About the Funds’ Investment Strategies
This section provides details about the Funds’ investment strategies.
Table of Investment Terms
Principal Investment Risks
This section provides details about the Funds’ principal investment risks.
Management
Review this section for information about Brown Advisory, LLC (the “Adviser”) and people who manage the Funds.
Choosing a Share Class
This section explains the differences between each class of shares and the applicable fees and sales charges.
Your Account
This section explains how shares are valued and how you can purchase and sell Fund shares.
Distributions and Taxes
This section provides details about dividends, distributions and taxes.
Financial Highlights
Review this section for details on selected financial statements of the Funds.
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Summary Section
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1
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Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
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1
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Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
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5
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Additional Information about the Funds’ Principal Investment Strategies
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11
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Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
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11
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Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
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15
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Table of Investment Terms
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17
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Principal Risks
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20
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Management
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27
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The Adviser
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27
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Portfolio Managers
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28
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Other Service Providers
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29
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Fund Expenses
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29
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Prior Performance of the Adviser’s Comparable Accounts
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30
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Choosing a Share Class
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31
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Class Comparison
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31
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Rule 12b-1 Distribution Fees
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32
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Shareholder Service Fees
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32
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Additional Payments to Dealers
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33
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Your Account
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34
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How to Contact the Funds
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34
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General Information
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34
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How to Buy Shares
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37
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How to Sell Shares
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40
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Exchange Privileges
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42
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Account and Transaction Polices
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43
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Distributions and Taxes
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48
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Distributions
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48
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Taxes
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48
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Financial Highlights
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50
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Sum
mary Secti
on
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Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
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Institutional
Shares |
Investor
Shares |
Advisor
Shares |
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on Purchases (as a % of the offering price)
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None
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None
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None
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|||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) imposed on Redemptions (as a % of the sale price)
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None
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None
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None
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|||
Redemption Fee (as a % of amount redeemed on shares held for 14 days or less)
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1.00%
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1.00%
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1.00%
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|||
Exchange Fee (as a % of amount exchanged on shares held for 14 days or less)
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1.00%
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1.00%
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1.00%
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|||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
||||||
Management Fees
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0.60%
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0.60%
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0.60%
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|||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees
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None
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None
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0.25%
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|||
Other Expenses
(1)
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0.65%
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0.80%
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0.80%
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Shareholder Servicing Fee
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None
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0.15%
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0.15%
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Miscellaneous Expenses
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0.65%
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0.65%
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0.65%
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|||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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1.25%
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1.40%
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1.65%
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Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
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-0.25%
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-0.25%
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-0.30%
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|||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(2)
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1.00%
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1.15%
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1.35%
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Winslow Sustainability Fund |
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(1)
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Companies whose internal environmental strategies are driving tangible business benefits, such as revenue growth, cost improvements, enhanced franchise value, or risk mitigation;
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(2)
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Companies whose products have a competitive advantage as a result of environmentally-efficient design or manufacturing; or
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(3)
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Companies whose products or services offer solutions to environmental problems.
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•
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The fundamental investment or environmental thesis is violated;
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•
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A more attractively priced security is found; or
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Winslow Sustainability Fund |
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•
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The security becomes overvalued relative to the Adviser’s long-term expectations.
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●
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American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) Risk
.
ADRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the depositary’s transaction fees. Under an unsponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes no obligations and the depositary’s transaction fees are paid directly by the ADR holders. Because unsponsored ADR arrangements are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities, available information concerning the foreign issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs and voting rights with respect to the deposited securities are not passed through.
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●
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Environmental Policy Risk.
The Fund’s investment focus on environmental factors could cause it to make or avoid investments that could result in the Fund underperforming similar funds that do not have an environmental focus.
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●
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Equity and General Market Risk
. Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value. The stock market may experience declines or stocks in the Fund’s portfolio may not increase their earnings at the rate anticipated. The Fund’s NAV and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities.
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●
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Foreign Securities Risk.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities and is subject to risks associated with foreign markets, such as adverse political, social and economic developments, accounting standards or governmental supervision that is not consistent with that to which U.S. companies are subject, limited information about foreign companies, less liquidity in foreign markets and less protection to the shareholders in foreign markets.
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●
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Emerging Markets Risk.
The Fund may invest in emerging markets, which may carry more risk than investing in developed foreign markets. Risks associated with investing in emerging markets include limited information about companies in these countries, greater political and economic uncertainties compared to developed foreign markets, underdeveloped securities markets and legal systems, potentially high inflation rates, and the influence of foreign governments over the private sector.
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Winslow Sustainability Fund |
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●
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Growth Company Risk.
Securities of growth companies can be more sensitive to the company’s earnings and more volatile than the market in general.
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●
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Management Risk.
The Fund may not meet its investment objective based on the Adviser’s success or failure to implement investment strategies for the Fund.
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●
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New Fund Risk
. The Fund is new with no operating history and there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board may determine to liquidate the Fund.
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●
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Small and Medium Company Risk.
The Fund may invest in small and medium capitalization companies that may not have the size, resources and other assets of large capitalization companies. As a result, the securities of small and medium capitalization companies held by the Fund may be subject to greater market risks and fluctuations in value than large capitalization companies or may not correspond to changes in the stock market in general.
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Investment Advisor
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Portfolio Managers
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Brown Advisory, LLC
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Karina Funk, CFA, and David Powell, CFA have served as portfolio managers since the Fund’s inception in 2012.
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Type of Account
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Minimum
Initial Investment |
Minimum
Additional Investment |
||||||
Institutional Shares
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||||||||
– Standard Accounts
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$1,000,000 | $100 | ||||||
Investor Shares
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||||||||
– Standard Accounts
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$5,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
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$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
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$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
Advisor Shares
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||||||||
– Standard Accounts
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$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
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$1,000 | N/A | ||||||
– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
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$250 | $100 | ||||||
– Qualified Retirement Plans
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N/A | N/A |
Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Winslow Sustainability Fund |
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Summary Section
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Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment) |
Institutional
Shares |
Investor
Shares |
Advisor
Shares |
|||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on Purchases (as a % of the offering price)
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None
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None
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None
|
|||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) imposed on Redemptions (as a % of the sale price)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
|||
Redemption Fee (as a % of amount redeemed on shares held for 14 days or less)
|
1.00%
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1.00%
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1.00%
|
|||
Exchange Fee (as a % of amount exchanged on shares held for 14 days or less)
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1.00%
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1.00%
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1.00%
|
|||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
||||||
Management Fees
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0.30%
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0.30%
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0.30%
|
|||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees
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None
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None
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0.25%
|
|||
Other Expenses
(1)
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0.24%
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0.29%
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0.29%
|
|||
Shareholder Servicing Fee
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None
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0.05%
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0.05%
|
|||
Miscellaneous Expenses
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0.24%
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0.24%
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0.24%
|
|||
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
(1)
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0.01%
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0.01%
|
0.01%
|
|||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
0.55%
|
0.60%
|
0.85%
|
|||
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
|
-0.00%
|
-0.00%
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-0.04%
|
|||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(2)
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0.55%
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0.60%
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0.81%
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Tax Exempt Bond Fund |
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Tax Exempt Bond Fund |
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●
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Revised economic forecasts or interest rate outlook requires a repositioning of the portfolio;
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●
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The security subsequently fails to meet the investment criteria;
|
●
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A more attractive security is found; or
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●
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The Adviser believes that the security has reached its appreciated potential.
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●
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Credit Risk.
The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Individual issues of municipal obligations may be subject to the credit risk of the municipality. Therefore, the issuer may experience unanticipated financial problems and may be unable to meet its payment obligations. Municipal obligations held by the Fund may be adversely affected by political and economic conditions and developments (for example, legislation reducing federal and/or state aid to local governments). Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines. Credit ratings are essentially opinions of the credit quality of an issuer and may prove to be inaccurate.
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Tax Exempt Bond Fund |
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●
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Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk.
The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio of debt securities. Securities rated below investment grade (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater risk of loss of your money than higher rated securities. Issuers may (increase) decrease prepayments of principal when interest rates (fall) increase, affecting the maturity of the debt security and causing the value of the security to decline.
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●
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Interest Rate Risk.
An increase in interest rates typically causes a fall in the value of the fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest.
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●
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Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk.
Shareholders of the Fund will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the other investment companies in which the Fund invests. In addition, shareholders will be exposed to the investment risks associated with investments in the other investment companies.
|
●
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Maturity Risk.
Generally, a bond with a longer maturity will entail greater interest rate risk but have a higher yield. Conversely, a bond with a shorter maturity will entail less interest rate risk but have a lower yield.
|
●
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Liquidity Risk.
Certain fixed income securities held by the Fund may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Adviser would like. As a result, the Fund may have to hold these securities longer than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that the Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price.
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●
|
Management Risk.
The Fund may not meet its investment objective based on the Adviser’s success or failure to implement investment strategies for the Fund.
|
●
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Municipal Securities Risk.
Changes in economic, business or political conditions relating to a particular state, or states, or type of projects may have a disproportionate impact on the Fund. Municipalities continue to experience difficulties in the current economic and political environment. National governmental actions, such as the elimination of tax-exempt status, also could affect performance. In addition, a municipality or municipal project that relies directly or indirectly on national governmental funding mechanisms may be negatively affected by the national government’s current budgetary constraints. Municipal obligations that the Fund may acquire include municipal lease obligations, which are issued by a state or local government or authority to acquire land and a wide variety of equipment and facilities. If the funds are not appropriated for the following year’s lease payments, then the lease may terminate, with the possibility of default on the lease obligation and significant loss to the Fund. The repayment of principal and interest on some of the municipal securities in which the Fund may invest may be guaranteed or insured by a monoline insurance company or other financial institution. If a company insuring municipal securities in which the Fund invests experiences financial difficulties, the credit rating and price of the security may deteriorate. The credit and quality of private activity bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities and therefore such bonds are subject to the risks of the corporate user. The Fund may invest more heavily in bonds from certain cities, states or regions than others, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to losses resulting from economic, political, or regulatory occurrences impacting these particular cities, states or regions.
|
Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Tax Exempt Bond Fund |
|
●
|
New Fund Risk
. The Fund is new with no operating history and there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board may determine to liquidate the Fund.
|
●
|
Non-Diversification Risk.
Investment by the Fund in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential monetary losses than if its assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of issuers.
|
●
|
Tax Risk.
Municipal securities may decrease in value during times when tax rates are falling. The Fund’s investments are affected by changes in federal income tax rates applicable to, or the continuing federal tax-exempt status of, interest income on municipal obligations. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the liquidity, marketability and supply and demand for municipal obligations, which would in turn affect the Fund’s ability to acquire and dispose of municipal obligations at desirable yield and price levels.
|
●
|
Valuation Risk.
The prices provided by the Fund’s pricing services or independent dealers or the fair value determinations made by the valuation committee of the Adviser may be different from the prices used by other mutual funds or from the prices at which securities are actually bought and sold. The prices of certain securities provided by pricing services may be subject to frequent and significant change, and will vary depending on the information that is available.
|
Investment Advisor
|
Portfolio Manager
|
Brown Advisory, LLC
|
Stephen M. Shutz has been the portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2012.
|
Summary Section – Brown Advisory
Tax Exempt Bond Fund |
|
Type of Account
|
Minimum
Initial Investment |
Minimum
Additional Investment |
||||||
Institutional Shares
|
||||||||
– Standard Accounts
|
$1,000,000 | $100 | ||||||
Investor Shares
|
||||||||
– Standard Accounts
|
$5,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
|
$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
|
$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
Advisor Shares
|
||||||||
– Standard Accounts
|
$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
|
$1,000 | N/A | ||||||
– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
|
$250 | $100 | ||||||
– Qualified Retirement Plans
|
N/A | N/A |
Additional Information
about the Funds’ Principal Investment Strategies |
|
Additional Information about the Funds’
Principal Investment Strategies
|
|
•
|
The need to address a developing scenario of global scarcity in energy, water and other commodity markets;
|
•
|
Unsustainable trends in agriculture, with ever-increasing global demand creating a significant need to improve crop yields;
|
•
|
Population growth and the rising middle class around the world with voracious appetites for transportation fuel, clean and hot water, electricity, and other comforts that must be achieved in a sustainable way;
|
•
|
Increasing corporate demand for specialized services to meet a widening array of environmental regulations being implemented across the globe; and
|
•
|
Rapid advances in new technologies that are enabling cost-competitive solutions to environmental challenges.
|
•
|
Strong competitive position driven by proprietary product advantages, technology leadership, scale or other factors;
|
•
|
Reliable external growth drivers;
|
•
|
Diversified revenue streams, from multiple customer segments, geographies and business lines;
|
•
|
Management teams with a track record of effective capital allocation and strategic execution, as well as the ability to anticipate and adapt to change; and
|
•
|
Financial resources necessary to support long-term growth.
|
Additional Information about the Funds’
Principal Investment Strategies
|
|
•
|
Environmental impacts / benefits of the company’s operations, distribution systems and facilities;
|
•
|
Quality of the company’s environmental policy and management system;
|
•
|
The company’s compliance with federal, state and local environmental regulations;
|
•
|
Quality of the company’s resource management practices (level of consumption of raw materials, recycling and reuse of materials, effective management of waste streams); and
|
•
|
Environmental purchasing considerations.
|
•
|
The fundamental investment or environmental thesis is violated;
|
•
|
A more attractively priced security is found; or
|
•
|
The security becomes overvalued relative to the Adviser’s long-term expectations.
|
●
|
Need regular income or stability of principal;
|
Additional Information about the Funds’
Principal Investment Strategies
|
|
●
|
Are pursuing a short-term investment goal or investing emergency reserves; or
|
●
|
Can not tolerate fluctuation in the value of your investments.
|
Additional Information about the Funds’
Principal Investment Strategies
|
|
Additional Information about the Funds’
Principal Investment Strategies
|
|
●
|
Revised economic forecasts or interest rate outlook requires a repositioning of the portfolio;
|
●
|
The security subsequently fails to meet the Adviser’s investment criteria;
|
●
|
A more attractive security is found or funds are needed for another purpose; or
|
●
|
The Adviser believes that the security has reached its appreciation potential.
|
●
|
Are an income-oriented investor in a high tax bracket and desire tax-exempt income;
|
●
|
Seek income and more price stability than stocks offer; or
|
●
|
Are pursuing a long-term investment goal.
|
●
|
Are pursuing a short-term investment goal or are investing emergency reserves;
|
●
|
Are investing funds in a tax-deferred or tax-exempt account (such as an IRA); or
|
●
|
Do not desire tax-exempt income.
|
Table of Investment Terms
|
|
Brown
Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund |
Brown
Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund |
|
Equity Security
(1)
|
ü
|
|
ADRs
(2)
|
ü
|
|
Market Capitalization
(3)
|
ü
|
|
Company Fundamentals
(4)
|
ü
|
|
Price/Earnings Ratio
(5)
|
ü
|
|
Price/Sales
Ratio
(6)
|
ü
|
|
Price/
Cash Flow Ratio
(7)
|
ü
|
|
Debt/Fixed
Income
Securities
(8)
|
ü
|
|
Emerging or Developing Markets
(9)
|
ü
|
|
Bond
(10)
|
ü
|
|
Investment Grade
Security
(11)
|
ü
|
|
Municipal Security
(12)
|
ü
|
|
NRSRO
(13)
|
ü
|
|
U.S. Government Security
(14)
|
ü
|
|
Note
(15)
|
ü
|
|
Maturity
(16)
|
ü
|
|
Asset-Backed Security
(17)
|
ü
|
|
Yield Curve
(18)
|
ü
|
|
Stated Average Maturity
(19)
|
ü
|
|
Weighted Average
Maturity
(20)
|
ü
|
Table of Investment Terms
|
|
(1)
|
Equity Security means an equity or ownership interest in a company including common and preferred stock, warrants and securities convertible into common and preferred stock, listed American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), and private placements in these types of securities.
|
(2)
|
ADRs typically are issued by a U.S. bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign company, and are designed for use in U.S. securities markets.
|
(3)
|
Market Capitalization means the value of a company’s common stock in the stock market.
|
(4)
|
Company Fundamentals means factors reflective of a company’s financial condition including balance sheets and income statements, asset history, earnings history, product or service development and management productivity.
|
(5)
|
Price/Earnings Ratio means the price of a stock divided by the company’s earnings per share.
|
(6)
|
Price/Sales Ratio means the amount an investor is willing to pay for a dollar of revenue.
|
(7)
|
Price/Cash Flow Ratio means the price of a stock divided by free cash flow per share.
|
(8)
|
Debt/Fixed Income Securities means a security, such as a bond or note, that obligates the issuer to pay the security owner a specific sum of money (interest) at set intervals as well as to repay the principal amount of the security at its maturity.
|
(9)
|
Emerging or Developing Markets means generally countries other than Canada, the United States or those countries included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index (“MSCI EAFE”). As of May 31, 2012, the countries included in the EAFE Index are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
|
(10)
|
Bond means a fixed income security with a long-term maturity, usually 5 years or longer.
|
(11)
|
Investment Grade Security means a fixed income security rated in one of the four highest long-term or two short-term ratings categories by an NRSRO or unrated and determined to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s Adviser at the time of purchase.
|
(12)
|
Municipal Security means a fixed income security issued by or on behalf of a state, its local governments and public financing authorities, and by U.S. territories and possessions.
|
(13)
|
NRSRO means a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” such as Standard & Poor’s, that rates fixed income securities by relative credit risk.
|
(14)
|
U.S. Government Security means a fixed income security issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
|
(15)
|
Note means a fixed income security with a short-term maturity, usually less than 1 year.
|
(16)
|
Maturity means the date on which a fixed income security is (or may be) due and payable.
|
(17)
|
Asset-Backed Security means a fixed income security representing an interest in an underlying pool of assets such as automobile loans or credit card receivables.
|
(18)
|
Yield Curve means a graph that plots the yield of all fixed income securities of similar quality against the securities’ maturities.
|
(19)
|
Stated Average Maturity means the dollar weighted maturity of the portfolio without consideration for potential changes in cash flows of the portfolio’s securities.
|
Table of Investment Terms
|
|
(20)
|
Weighted Average Maturity refers to the dollar weighted average maturity of the portfolio, accounting for potential changes in cash flows of the portfolio’s securities due to prepayments on mortgage backed and asset backed securities, puts and calls, and other foreseen changes to stated cash flows.
|
Principal Risks
|
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
|
|
ADR Risk
|
ü
|
|
Credit Risk
|
ü
|
|
Debt/Fixed Income
Securities Risk
|
ü
|
|
Equity and General
Market Risk
|
ü
|
|
Foreign Securities/
Emerging Markets Risk
|
ü
|
|
Growth Company Risk
|
ü
|
|
Interest Rate Risk
|
ü
|
|
Investments in Other Investment
Companies Risk
|
ü
|
|
Liquidity Risk
|
ü
|
|
Management Risk
|
ü
|
ü
|
Municipal Securities Risk
|
ü
|
|
Medium Capitalization
Company Risk
|
ü
|
|
New Fund Risk
|
ü
|
ü
|
Non-Diversification Risk
|
ü
|
|
Non-Investment
Grade Securities Risk
|
ü
|
|
Prepayment/Extension Risk
|
ü
|
|
Private Placement Risk
|
ü
|
|
Smaller Company Risk
|
ü
|
Principal Risks
|
|
Principal Risks
|
|
●
|
Prices of a stock may fall over short or extended periods of time;
|
●
|
Cyclical movements of the equity markets may cause the value of the Fund’s securities to fluctuate drastically from day to day; and
|
●
|
Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and or economic trends and developments.
|
●
|
The market may not recognize what the Adviser believes to be the true value or growth potential of the stocks held by a Fund;
|
●
|
The earnings of the companies in which a Fund invests will not continue to grow at expected rates, thus causing the price of the underlying stocks to decline;
|
●
|
The smaller a company’s market capitalization, the greater the potential for price fluctuations and volatility of its stock due to lower trading volume for the stock, less publicly available information about the company and less liquidity in the market for the stock. The potential for price fluctuations in the stock of a medium capitalization company may be greater than that of a large capitalization company; and
|
●
|
A decline in investor demand for the stocks held by a Fund also may adversely affect the value of the securities.
|
●
|
Foreign securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in price than securities of U.S. companies because foreign markets may be smaller and less liquid than U.S. markets;
|
●
|
Changes in foreign tax laws, exchange controls, investment regulations and policies on nationalization and expropriation as well as political instability may affect the operations of foreign companies and the value of their securities;
|
●
|
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates and currency transfer restitution may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments in foreign securities, which are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar;
|
●
|
Foreign securities and their issuers are not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. issuers regarding information disclosure, insider trading and market manipulation. There may be less publicly available information on foreign companies and foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing, and financial standards as are U.S. companies;
|
●
|
Foreign securities registration, custody and settlements may be subject to delays or other operational and administrative problems;
|
Principal Risks
|
|
●
|
Certain foreign brokerage commissions and custody fees may be higher than those in the United States;
|
●
|
Dividends payable on the foreign securities contained in the Fund’s portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thus reducing the income available for distribution to the Fund’s shareholders; and
|
●
|
Prices for stocks or ADRs may fall over short or extended periods of time.
|
●
|
Information about the companies in emerging markets is not always readily available;
|
●
|
Stocks of companies traded in emerging markets may be less liquid and the prices of these stocks may be more volatile than the prices of the stocks in more established markets;
|
●
|
Greater political and economic uncertainties exist in emerging markets than in developed foreign markets;
|
●
|
The securities markets and legal systems in emerging markets may not be well developed and may not provide the protections and advantages of the markets and systems available in more developed countries;
|
●
|
Very high inflation rates may exist in emerging markets and could negatively impact a country’s economy and securities markets;
|
●
|
Emerging markets may impose restrictions on the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital and thus, may adversely affect the operations of the Fund;
|
●
|
Certain emerging markets impose constraints on currency exchange and some currencies in emerging markets may have been devalued significantly against the U.S. dollar;
|
●
|
Governments of some emerging markets exercise substantial influence over the private sector and may own or control many companies. As such, governmental actions could have a significant effect on economic conditions in emerging markets, which, in turn, could affect the value of the Fund’s investments; and
|
●
|
Emerging markets may be subject to less government supervision and regulation of business and industry practices, stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies.
|
Principal Risks
|
|
Principal Risks
|
|
●
|
Analysts and other investors typically follow these companies less actively and therefore information about these companies is not always readily available
|
●
|
Securities of many smaller companies are traded in the over-the-counter markets or on a regional securities exchange potentially making them thinly traded, less liquid and their prices more volatile than the prices of the securities of larger companies
|
●
|
Changes in the value of smaller company stocks may not mirror the fluctuation of the general market
|
Principal Risks
|
|
●
|
More limited product lines, markets and financial resources make these companies more susceptible to economic or market setbacks.
|
Principal Risks
|
|
Management
|
|
Annual
Advisory Fee |
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
0.60%
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
|
0.30%
|
Management – Other Service Providers/
Fund Expenses |
|
Management – Other Service Providers/
Fund Expenses |
|
Institutional
Shares |
Investor
Shares |
Advisor
Shares |
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
1.00%
|
1.15%
|
1.35%
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
|
0.55%
|
0.60%
|
0.80%
|
Management – Other Service Providers/
Fund Expenses |
|
Year
|
Large-Cap Sustainability
Composite
|
Russell 1000
®
Growth
Index†
|
2011
|
5.00%
|
2.60%
|
2010
|
23.10%
|
16.70%
|
†
|
The Russell 1000
®
Growth Index measures the performance of the large-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes the Russell 1000
®
companies with higher price-to-book and higher forecasted growth values.
|
Institutional Shares
|
Investor Shares
|
Advisor Shares
|
|
Eligible Shareholder
|
(i) Investors who meet the investment minimum for Institutional Shares;
(ii) Certain institutions (financial institutions, corporations, trusts, endowments, foundations, government entities, estates and religious and charitable organizations investing on their own behalf);
(iii) Certain fund of funds;
(iv) Certain pension plans whose sponsors and/or administrators have entered into arrangements with the Funds’ distributor;
(v) Certain investors investing through omnibus accounts held by financial intermediaries that charge transaction fees and have entered into arrangements with the Funds’ distributor to offer Institutional Shares;
(vi) Current and former trustees of the Funds; and
(vii) Certain other investors that have been approved by the Funds.
Notwithstanding the above, the Funds reserve the right to broaden or limit the eligible shareholders.
|
(i) Investors who meet the investment minimum for Investor Shares;
(ii) Certain investors investing through omnibus accounts held by financial intermediaries that do not charge transaction fees and have entered into arrangements with the Funds’ distributor to offer Investor Shares.
|
(i) Investors who meet the investment minimum for Advisor Shares;
(ii) Certain investors investing through omnibus accounts held by financial intermediaries that charge transaction fees and have entered into arrangements with the Funds’ distributor to offer Advisor Shares; and
(iii) Certain retirement plans whose sponsors and/or administrators have entered into arrangements with the Funds’ distributor.
|
Initial Sales Charge
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Institutional Shares
|
Investor Shares
|
Advisor Shares
|
Redemption/
Exchange Fee
|
1.00% if shares are redeemed 14 days or less from purchase
|
1.00% if shares are redeemed 14 days or less from purchase
|
1.00% if shares are redeemed 14 days or less from purchase
|
Ongoing distribution (12b-1) fees
|
None
|
None
|
0.25% of the class’ average
daily net assets for each Fund
|
Shareholder Service Fees
|
None
|
0.15% of the Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund’s class’ average daily net assets.
0.05% of the Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund’s class’ average daily net assets.
|
0.15% of the Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund’s class’ average daily net assets.
0.05% of the Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund’s class’ average daily net assets.
|
Annual Expenses
|
Lowest expense ratio because there is no Rule 12b-1 distribution/service fee or Shareholder Service Fees.
|
Higher fees than Institutional Shares because of Shareholder Service Fees and lower fees than Advisor Shares because no Rule 12b-1 distribution/service fee.
|
Highest expense ratio because of Rule 12b-1 distribution/service fee.
|
Initial Minimum Investment
|
$1,000,000
|
$5,000
|
$2,000
|
Advisor Shares
|
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
0.25%
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
|
0.25%
|
Your Account
|
|
How to Contact the Funds
|
General Information
|
|
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
Overnight address:
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 E. Michigan Street, Third Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202-5207
Telephone us at:
(800) 540-6807 (toll free)
Visit our Web site at:
www.brownadvisoryfunds.com
|
You may purchase shares of a Fund class or sell (redeem) such shares on each weekday that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open. Under unusual circumstances, a Fund class may accept and process shareholder orders when the NYSE is closed if deemed appropriate.
You may purchase shares of a Fund class or sell (redeem) such shares at the NAV of a share of that Fund class next calculated (or minus a redemption/exchange fee in the case of redemptions or exchanges) after the Transfer Agent receives your request in proper form (as described in this Prospectus on pages 37 through 40).
|
Your Account
– General Information
|
|
Type of Account
|
Requirement
|
|
Individual, Sole Proprietorship and Joint Accounts
Individual accounts and sole proprietorship accounts are owned by one person. Joint accounts have two or more owners (tenants).
|
●
Instructions must be signed by all persons required to sign exactly as their names appear on the account
●
Provide a power of attorney or similar document for each person that is authorized to open or transact business for the account if not a named account owner.
|
|
Gifts or Transfers to a Minor (UGMA, UTMA)
These custodial accounts provide a way to give money to a child and obtain tax benefits.
|
●
Depending on state laws, you can set up a custodial account under the UGMA or the UTMA
●
The custodian must sign instructions in a manner indicating custodial capacity.
|
|
Business Entities
|
●
Provide certified articles of incorporation, a government-issued business license or certificate, partnership agreement or similar document evidencing the identity and existence of the business entity
●
Submit a secretary’s (or similar) certificate listing the person(s) authorized to open or transact business for the account.
|
|
Trusts (including corporate pension plans)
|
●
The trust must be established before an account can be opened
●
You must supply documentation to substantiate existence of your organization (i.e. Articles of Incorporation/Formation/Organization, Trust Agreements, Partnership Agreement or other official documents).
●
Remember to include a separate sheet detailing the full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address for all authorized individuals.
|
Your Account
– General Information
|
|
Type of Account
|
Minimum Initial Investment
|
Minimum Additional Investment
|
||||||
Institutional Shares
|
||||||||
– Standard Accounts
|
$1,000,000 | $100 | ||||||
Investor Shares
|
||||||||
– Standard Accounts
|
$5,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
|
$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
|
$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
Advisor Shares
|
||||||||
– Standard Accounts
|
$2,000 | $100 | ||||||
– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
|
$1,000 | N/A | ||||||
– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
|
$250 | $100 | ||||||
– Qualified Retirement Plans
|
N/A | N/A |
Buying Shares
|
Opening an Account
|
Adding to an Account
|
|
Through a Financial Intermediary
|
Contact your Financial Intermediary
|
Contact your Financial Intermediary
|
|
By Mail (with Check)
|
●
Mail your completed application (along with other required documents) and a check to:
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
|
●
Write your account number on your check
●
Send your check with (a) a completed investment slip from a prior statement or confirmation or (b) letter of instruction to:
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
|
|
By Wire
|
●
Submit your completed application (and other required documents). An account will be established for you and you will be contacted with the account number.
●
Instruct your financial institution to wire your money using the instructions found on page 39 of this prospectus.
|
●
Call to notify us of your incoming wire
●
Instruct your financial institution to wire your money using the instructions found on page 39 of this prospectus.
|
|
By Telephone
|
Not accepted for initial purchases
|
●
If you have telephone purchase privileges on the account, you may purchase additional shares in the amount of $100 or more using the bank account on record by calling 800-540-6807.
|
|
By Automatic Investment Plan
|
Not accepted for initial purchases
|
●
Complete the Automatic Investment Plan section of the application or submit a letter of instruction if your account was opened without this being done.
●
Attach a voided check to your application or letter of instruction.
●
Mail the completed application or letter and voided check.
●
Your purchase will be electronically debited from the bank account on record as directed in your request.
|
Your Account – How to Buy Shares
|
|
●
|
Checks
for all accounts, including individual, sole proprietorship, joint, Uniform Gift to Minors Act (“UGMA”) or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (“UTMA”) accounts, the check must be made payable to “Brown Advisory Funds.” A $25 charge may be imposed on any returned payment; you will also be responsible for any losses suffered by the Fund as a result.
|
●
|
ACH
refers to the “Automated Clearing House” System maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank, which allows banks to process checks, transfer funds and perform other tasks. Your financial institution may charge you a fee for this service. A $25 charge may be imposed on any rejected transfers; you will also be responsible for any losses suffered by the Fund as a result.
|
●
|
Wires
instruct your financial institution with whom you have an account to make a Federal Funds wire payment to us. Your financial institution may charge you a fee for this service.
|
Your Account – How to Buy Shares
|
|
Instruct your bank to send the wire to:
|
U.S. Bank, N.A.
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
ABA #075000022
Credit: U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Account #112-952-137
Further Credit: Brown Advisory Funds, [Insert Fund Name and Class]
(Shareholder Name, Shareholder Account #)
|
Selling Shares
|
|
Through a Financial Intermediary
|
●
Contact your Financial Intermediary
|
By Mail
|
●
Prepare a written request including:
●
Your name(s) and signature(s)
●
Your account number
●
The Fund name and class
●
The dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell
●
How and where to send the redemption proceeds
●
Obtain a signature guarantee (if required) (See “Signature Guarantee Requirements below”)
●
Obtain other documentation (if required)
●
Mail us your request and documentation.
|
By Wire
|
●
Wire redemptions are only available if your redemption is for $2,500 or more and you did not decline wire redemption privileges on your account application
●
Call us with your request (unless you declined telephone redemption privileges on your account application) (See “By Telephone”) or
●
Mail us your request (See “By Mail”).
|
By Telephone
|
●
Call us with your request (unless you declined telephone redemption privileges on your account
application)
●
Provide the following information:
●
Your account number
●
Exact name(s) in which the account is registered
●
Additional form of identification
●
Redemption proceeds will be:
●
Mailed to you or
●
Electronically credited to your account at the financial institution identified on your account
application. |
Systematically
|
●
Complete the systematic withdrawal program section of the application
●
Attach a voided check to your application
●
Mail us your completed application
●
Redemption proceeds will be electronically credited to your account at the financial institution identified on your account application or sent by check to your address of record.
|
Your Account – How to Sell Shares |
|
Your Account – Exchange Privileges |
|
Exchanging Shares
|
|
Through a Financial Intermediary
|
●
Contact your Financial Intermediary
|
By Mail
|
●
Prepare a written request including:
●
Your name(s) and signature(s)
●
Your account number
●
The names of each fund (and class) you are exchanging
●
The dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell (and exchange)
●
Open a new account and complete an account application if you are requesting different shareholder privileges
●
Mail us your request and documentation.
|
By Telephone
|
●
Call us with your request (unless you declined telephone redemption privileges on your account application)
●
Provide the following information:
●
Your account number
●
Exact name(s) in which account is registered
●
Additional form of identification.
|
●
|
Redemptions in a deceased shareholder account if such an account is registered in the deceased’s name;
|
●
|
Redemptions in the account of a disabled individual (disability of the shareholder as determined by the Social Security Administration);
|
●
|
Redemptions of shares purchased through a dividend reinvestment program;
|
●
|
Redemptions pursuant to the Funds’ systematic programs; or
|
●
|
Redemptions in qualified retirement plans under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), and plans operating consistent with 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408(A), 457, 501(c) and 223(d) of the IRC.
|
Your Account – Account and
Transaction Policies |
|
●
|
For all redemption requests in excess of $100,000;
|
Your Account – Account and
Transaction Policies |
|
●
|
If a change of address request has been received by the Transfer Agent within the last 30 days;
|
●
|
When requesting a change in ownership on your account; and
|
●
|
When redemption proceeds are payable or sent to any person, address or bank account not on record.
|
Your Account – Account and
Transaction Policies |
|
Your Account – Account and
Transaction Policies |
|
Distributions and Taxes
|
|
Financial Highlights
|
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
Institutional Shares
Investor Shares
Advisor Shares
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Institutional Shares
Investor Shares
Advisor Shares
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
Institutional Shares (Ticker: BAFWX)
Investor Shares (Ticker: BIAWX)
Advisor Shares (Ticker: BAWAX)
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Institutional Shares
Investor Shares (Ticker: BIAEX)
Advisor Shares
|
2.
|
Concentration
|
3.
|
Diversification
|
4.
|
Underwriting Activities
|
5.
|
Making Loans
|
6.
|
Purchases and Sales of Real Estate
|
7.
|
Purchases and Sales of Commodities
|
8.
|
Issuance of Senior Securities
|
Name, Address
And Age
|
Position
with
the Trust
|
Term of Office and
Length of Time
Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
(2)
Overseen by
Trustees
|
Other Directorships
Held During
the Past 5
Years
|
Independent Trustees of the Trust
(1)
|
|||||
Henry H. Hopkins
Age: 69
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
Retired; Formerly, Vice
President and Chief Legal
Counsel, T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc.
(investment management
firm) (1998 to 2008)
|
2
|
None
|
Kyle P. Legg
Age: 60
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
Retired; Formerly
President and Chief
Executive Officer,
Legg Mason Capital
Management, LLC
(investment management
firm) (2006 to 2009)
|
2
|
Director,
SunTrust
Banks, Inc.
(bank holding
company)
(since 2011)
Director,
Eastman
Kodak Co.
(printing
equipment and
supplies
company)
(since 2010)
|
Thomas F. O’Neil III
Age: 55
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
President, Saranac Group
LLC (strategic
consulting firm) (since
2010)
Formerly, Executive Vice
Chairman (previously,
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and
Secretary) WellCare
Health Plans, Inc.
(managed healthcare organization) (2008 to
2009)
Formerly, Partner and
Joint Global Practice
Group Leader, DLA
Piper US LLP (law firm)
(2002 to 2008)
|
2
|
None
|
Neal F. Triplett, CFA
Age: 41
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
President, DUMAC, Inc.
(university endowment
investment organization)
(since 1999)
|
2
|
None
|
Interested Trustees and Officers of the Trust
|
|||||
Michael D. Hankin
(2)
Age: 54
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term
Since May 2012
|
President and Chief
Executive Officer, Brown
Advisory Incorporated
and affiliates (investment
management firm) (since
1993)
|
2
|
None
|
Joseph R. Hardiman
(2)
Age: 75
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Chairman and Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
Business Consultant
(financial services
industry consulting)(since
1997)
Formerly; Director of
Brown Advisory
Incorporated (investment
management firm) (2001 to
2012)
|
2
|
Director of
Franklin
Resources,
Inc.
(investment
management
firm) (since
2005)
|
Mark J. Kington
(3)
Age: 53
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
Managing Director, X-10
Capital Management, LLC (investment
management firm) (since
2004)
President, Kington
Management, LLC
(investment management
firm) (since 2000)
|
2
|
Director,
Dominion
Resources,
Inc.
(diversified
utility holding
company) (since
2005)
|
David M. Churchill
Age: 46
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
President / Principal Executive Officer
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
Chief Financial
Officer,
Brown Advisory
Incorporated and
affiliates (investment
management
firm) (since
1993)
|
Not
Applicable
|
Not
Applicable
|
Jason Meix
Age: 33
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Treasurer / Principal Financial Officer
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
Assistant Vice President,
U.S. Bancorp Fund
Services, LLC (fund
administrative services
firm) (since
2008)
Formerly, Senior
Associate,
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
LLP (independent
registered public
accounting firm) (2005 to
2008)
|
Not
Applicable
|
Not
Applicable
|
Tyler J. Mills
Age: 32
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Vice President
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
Mutual Fund Product
Manager, Brown
Advisory, LLC
(investment management
firm) (since 2009)
Senior Consultant,
Accenture LLP
(management consulting
firm) (2008 to
2009)
|
Not
Applicable
|
Not
Applicable
|
Edward L. Paz
Age: 41
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Secretary
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
|
Vice President and
Counsel, U.S. Bancorp
Fund Services, LLC
(fund administrative
services
firm) (since
2007)
Formerly, Associate,
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
(law firm) (2005 to 2007)
|
Not
Applicable
|
Not
Applicable
|
Brett D. Rogers
Age: 36
c/o Brown Advisory, LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Chief
Compliance
Officer
Anti-
Money
Laundering
Officer
|
Indefinite Term;
Since May 2012
Indefinite Term:
Since May 2012
|
Chief Compliance
Officer, Brown Advisory
Incorporated and
affiliates (investment
management firm) (since
2009)
Formerly, Director,
Compliance and Risk,
Deutsche Asset
Management (investment
management firm) (2003
to 2009)
|
Not
Applicable
|
Not
Applicable
|
(1)
|
The Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”).
|
( 2)
|
Mr. Hankin is considered an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, because of his current position with Brown Advisory Incorporated, the parent company of the Adviser, and Mr. Hardiman is considered an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, because of his previous position with Brown Advisory Incorporated.
|
( 3)
|
Mr. Kington is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act, because he is Managing Director of a private investment fund with which Brown Advisory Incorporated and/or its affiliates may have a business or professional relationship.
|
Name of Person/Position
|
Aggregate
Compensation
from the
Funds
1
|
Pension or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as
Part of Fund
Expenses
|
Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
|
Total
Compensation
from the Funds and Fund Complex
Paid to
Trustees
|
Henry H. Hopkins, Trustee
|
$43,750
|
None
|
None
|
$43,750
|
Kyle P. Legg, Trustee
|
$45,000
|
None
|
None
|
$45,000
|
Thomas F. O’Neil III, Trustee
|
$43,750
|
None
|
None
|
$43,750
|
Neal F. Triplett, Trustee
|
$43,750
|
None
|
None
|
$43,750
|
Michael D. Hankin, Trustee
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Joseph R. Hardiman, Trustee
|
$50,000
|
None
|
None
|
$50,000
|
Mark J. Kington, Trustee
|
$40,000
|
None
|
None
|
$40,000
|
Number of Other Accounts Managed and Assets by Account Type
|
Number of Accounts and Assets for which Advisory Fee is Performance Based
|
|||||
Registered
Investment
Companies
(excluding the
Funds)
|
Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
|
Other
Accounts
|
Registered
Investment
Companies
|
Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
|
Other
Accounts
|
|
Karina Funk
|
1
$172 million
|
0
$0
|
32
$48 million
|
0
$0
|
0
$0
|
0
$0
|
David Powell
|
1
$172 million
|
0
$0
|
32
$48 million
|
0
$0
|
0
$0
|
0
$0
|
Stephen Shutz
|
0
$0
|
0
$0
|
74
$255 million
|
0
$0
|
0
$0
|
0
$0
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
Russell 1000 Growth Index
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
|
Barclays 1-10 Year Blended Municipal Bond Index
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
||
Institutional Shares
|
Investor Shares
|
Advisor Shares
|
1.00%
|
1.15%
|
1.35%
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
|
||
Institutional Shares
|
Investor Shares
|
Advisor Shares
|
0.55%
|
0.60%
|
0.80%
|
·
|
The Fund must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest, if any, each tax year (certain distributions made by the Fund after the close of its tax year
|
·
|
The Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities, or other income (including gains from options and futures contracts) derived from its business of investing in securities and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.
|
·
|
The Fund must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash, cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), or in two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
|
ASSETS:
|
||||
Cash
|
$ |
25,000
|
||
Total assets
|
25,000
|
|||
NET ASSETS
|
$ |
25,000
|
||
COMPONENTS OF NET ASSETS:
|
||||
Paid-in capital
|
$ |
25,000
|
||
NET ASSETS
|
$ |
25,000
|
||
COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE:
|
||||
Investor Shares:
|
||||
Net assets
|
$25,000
|
|||
Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized with no par value)
|
2,500
|
|||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share
|
$10.00
|
|||
ASSETS:
|
||||
Cash
|
$ |
75,000
|
||
Total assets
|
75,000
|
|||
NET ASSETS
|
$ |
75,000
|
||
COMPONENTS OF NET ASSETS:
|
||||
Paid-in capital
|
$ |
75,000
|
||
NET ASSETS
|
$ |
75,000
|
||
COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE:
|
||||
Institutional Shares:
|
||||
Net assets
|
$25,000
|
|||
Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized with no par value)
|
2,500
|
|||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share
|
$10.00
|
|||
Investor Shares:
|
||||
Net assets
|
$25,000
|
|||
Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized with no par value)
|
2,500
|
|||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share
|
$10.00
|
|||
Advisor Shares:
|
||||
Net assets
|
$25,000
|
|||
Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized with no par value)
|
2,500
|
|||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share
|
$10.00
|
Fund
|
Annual Advisory Fee
(As Percent of Average
Net Assets)
|
|
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund
|
0.30%
|
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
0.60%
|
Aaa
|
Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.
|
Aa
|
Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
|
A
|
Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
|
Baa
|
Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
|
Ba
|
Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.
|
B
|
Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
|
Caa
|
Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
|
Ca
|
Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
|
C
|
Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
|
·
|
Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
|
·
|
Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
|
·
|
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.
|
AAA
|
An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
|
AA
|
An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
|
A
|
An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
|
BBB
|
An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
|
Note
|
Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
|
BB
|
An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
|
B
|
An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
|
CCC
|
An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
|
CC
|
An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
|
C
|
A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument's terms.
|
D
|
An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
|
Note
|
Plus (+) or minus (-). The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
|
NR
|
This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
|
AAA
|
Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
|
AA
|
Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
|
A
|
High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
|
BBB
|
Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that there are currently expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment grade category.
|
BB
|
Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
|
B
|
Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
|
CCC
|
Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions.
|
CC
|
Default of some kind appears probable.
|
C
|
Default is imminent.
|
RD
|
Indicates an entity that has failed to make due payments (within the applicable grace period) on some but not all material financial obligations, but continues to honor other classes of obligations.
|
D
|
Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations. Default generally is defined as one of the following:
|
·
|
Failure of an obligor to make timely payment of principal and/or interest under the contractual terms of any financial obligation;
|
·
|
The bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other winding-up or cessation of business of an obligor;
|
·
|
The distressed or other coercive exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation.
|
Note
|
The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-term rating category, to categories below ‘CCC’, or to Short-term ratings other than ‘F1’. (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)
|
B. Preferred Stock Ratings
|
|
1. Moody’s Investors Service
|
|
Aaa
|
An issue which is rated “aaa” is considered to be a top-quality preferred stock. This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks.
|
Aa
|
An issue which is rated “aa” is considered a high-grade preferred stock. This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance the earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well-maintained in the foreseeable future.
|
A
|
An issue which is rated “a” is considered to be an upper-medium grade preferred stock. While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the “aaa” and “aa” classification, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels.
|
Baa
|
An issue which is rated “baa” is considered to be a medium-grade preferred stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time.
|
Ba
|
An issue which is rated “ba” is considered to have speculative elements and its future cannot be considered well assured. Earnings and asset protection may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods. Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class.
|
B
|
An issue which is rated “b” generally lacks the characteristics of a desirable investment. Assurance of dividend payments and maintenance of other terms of the issue over any long period of time may be small.
|
Caa
|
An issue which is rated “caa” is likely to be in arrears on dividend payments. This rating designation does not purport to indicate the future status of payments.
|
Ca
|
An issue which is rated “ca” is speculative in a high degree and is likely to be in arrears on dividends with little likelihood of eventual payments.
|
C
|
This is the lowest rated class of preferred or preference stock. Issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
|
Note
|
Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each rating classification; The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.
|
C. Short Term Ratings
|
|
1. Moody’s Investors Service
|
|
2. Standard and Poor’s
|
|
A-1
|
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
|
A-2
|
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
|
A-3
|
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
|
B
|
A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of ‘B-1’, ‘B-2’, and ‘B-3’ may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the ‘B’ category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
|
B-1
|
A short-term obligation rated ‘B-1’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
|
B-2
|
A short-term obligation rated ‘B-2’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
|
F1
|
Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
|
F2
|
Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
|
F3
|
Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non investment grade.
|
B
|
Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
|
C
|
High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
|
D
|
Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.
|
Note
|
The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-term rating category, to categories below ‘CCC’, or to Short-term ratings other than ‘F1’. (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)
|
(a)
|
(1)
|
Certificate of Trust was previously filed with the Registrant’s Initial Registration on Form N-1A on May 7, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
|
(2)
|
Declaration of Trust dated May 1, 2012 was previously filed with the Registrant’s Initial Registration on Form N-1A on May 7, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
|
|
(b)
|
By-Laws was previously filed with the Registrant’s Initial Registration on Form N-1A on May 7, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
|
|
(c)
|
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders – See relevant portions of Certificate of Trust, Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.
|
|
(d)
|
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory, LLC – filed herewith.
|
|
(e)
|
Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Quasar Distributor, LLC – filed herewith.
|
|
(f)
|
Bonus, profit sharing contracts – None
|
|
(g)
|
Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association – filed herewith.
|
|
(h)
|
(i)
|
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC – filed herewith.
|
(ii)
|
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC – filed herewith.
|
|
(iii)
|
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC – filed herewith.
|
|
(iv)
|
Business Management Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory, LLC – filed herewith.
|
|
(v)
|
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory, LLC – filed herewith.
|
|
(vi)
|
Shareholder Servicing Plan – filed herewith.
|
|
(i)
|
Opinion and consent of counsel – to be filed by amendment.
|
|
(j)
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
– filed herewith.
|
(k)
|
Financial statements omitted from prospectus – None
|
|
(l)
|
Initial Capital Agreement – filed herewith.
|
|
(m)
|
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 – filed herewith.
|
|
(n)
|
Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan – filed herewith.
|
|
(o)
|
Reserved
|
|
(p)
|
(i)
|
Code of Ethics of Brown Advisory Funds – filed herewith.
|
(ii)
|
Code of Ethics of Brown Advisory, LLC – filed herewith.
|
|
(iii)
|
Powers of Attorney was previously filed with the Registrant’s Initial Registration on Form N-1A on May 7, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
|
a)
|
Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Registrant’s principal underwriter, acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:
|
Academy Funds Trust
|
Jensen Portfolio, Inc.
|
Advisors Series Trust
|
Keystone Mutual Funds
|
Allied Asset Advisors Funds
|
Kiewit Investment Fund, LLLP
|
Alpine Equity Trust
|
Kirr Marbach Partners Funds, Inc.
|
Alpine Income Trust
|
Litman Gregory Funds Trust
|
Alpine Series Trust
|
LKCM Funds
|
Artio Global Funds
|
LoCorr Investment Trust
|
Brandes Investment Trust
|
MainGate Trust
|
Brandywine Blue Funds, Inc.
|
Managed Portfolio Series
|
Bridges Investment Fund, Inc.
|
Matrix Advisors Value Fund, Inc.
|
Buffalo Funds
|
Monetta Fund, Inc.
|
Country Mutual Funds Trust
|
Monetta Trust
|
Cushing MLP Funds Trust
|
Nicholas Family of Funds, Inc.
|
DoubleLine Funds Trust
|
Permanent Portfolio Family of Funds, Inc.
|
Empiric Funds, Inc.
|
Perritt Funds, Inc.
|
Evermore Funds Trust
|
Perritt Microcap Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
First American Funds, Inc.
|
PineBridge Mutual Funds
|
First American Investment Funds, Inc.
|
PRIMECAP Odyssey Funds
|
First American Strategy Funds, Inc.
|
Professionally Managed Portfolios
|
Fort Pitt Capital Funds
|
Prospector Funds, Inc.
|
Glenmede Fund, Inc.
|
Purisima Funds
|
Glenmede Portfolios
|
Quaker Investment Trust
|
Greenspring Fund, Inc.
|
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
|
Guinness Atkinson Funds
|
RBC Funds Trust
|
Harding Loevner Funds, Inc.
|
SCS Financial Funds
|
Hennessy Funds Trust
|
Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc.
|
Hennessy Funds, Inc.
|
TIFF Investment Program, Inc.
|
Hennessy Mutual Funds, Inc.
|
Trust for Professional Managers
|
Hennessy SPARX Funds Trust
|
USA Mutuals Funds
|
Hotchkis & Wiley Funds
|
Wall Street Fund
|
Intrepid Capital Management Funds Trust
|
Wexford Trust
|
IronBridge Funds, Inc.
|
Wisconsin Capital Funds, Inc.
|
Jacob Funds, Inc.
|
WY Funds
|
b)
|
The directors and executive officers of Quasar Distributors, LLC are as follows:
|
Name and Principal
Business Address
|
Position and Offices with
Quasar Distributors, LLC |
Positions and Offices
with Registrant |
James R. Schoenike
(1)
|
President, Board Member
|
None
|
Andrew M. Strnad
(2)
|
Secretary
|
None
|
Joe D. Redwine
(1)
|
Board Member
|
None
|
Robert Kern
(1)
|
Board Member
|
None
|
Eric W. Falkeis
(1)
|
Board Member
|
None
|
Susan LaFond
(1)
|
Treasurer
|
None
|
c)
|
Not applicable.
|
Brown Advisory Funds
|
|||
|
By:
|
/s/ David M. Churchill | |
David M. Churchill
|
|||
President
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
||
/s/ David M. Churchill
|
President
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
David M. Churchill
|
|||||||
/s/ Jason T. Meix
|
Treasurer
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
Jason T. Meix
|
|||||||
Michael D. Hankin*
|
Trustee
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
Michael D. Hankin
|
|||||||
Joseph R. Hardiman*
|
Trustee and Chairman of the Board
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
Joseph R. Hardiman
|
|||||||
Henry H. Hopkins*
|
Trustee
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
Henry H. Hopkins
|
|||||||
Mark J. Kington, Sr.*
|
Trustee
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
Mark J. Kington, Sr.
|
|||||||
Kyle P. Legg*
|
Trustee
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
Kyle P. Legg
|
|||||||
Thomas F. O’Neil III*
|
Trustee
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
Thomas F. O’Neil III
|
|||||||
Neal F. Triplett*
|
Trustee
|
June 22, 2012
|
|||||
Neal F. Triplett
|
Exhibit No
.
|
Description of Exhibit
|
|
|
(d)
|
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory, LLC
|
||
(e)
|
Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Quasar Distributor, LLC
|
||
(g)
|
Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association
|
||
(h)(i)
|
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
|
||
(h)(ii)
|
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
|
||
(h)(iii)
|
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
|
||
(h)(iv)
|
Business Management Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory, LLC
|
||
(h)(v)
|
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory, LLC
|
||
(h)(vi)
|
Shareholder Servicing Plan
|
||
(j) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | ||
(l) | Intitial Capital Agreement | ||
(m)
|
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1
|
||
(n)
|
Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan
|
||
(p)(i)
|
Code of Ethics of Brown Advisory Funds
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||
(p)(ii)
|
Code of Ethics of Brown Advisory, LLC
|
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS
on behalf of each series of the Trust listed on Schedule A
|
BROWN ADVISORY, LLC
|
By:
/s/ Brett D. Rogers
|
By:
/s/ D.M. Churchill
|
Name:
Brett D. Rogers
|
Name:
D.M. Churchill
|
Title:
CCO
|
Title:
CFO
|
Fund
|
Annual
Advisory Fee
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Brown Advisory Growth Equity Fund
|
0.60%
|
Brown Advisory Value Equity Fund
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0.60%
|
Brown Advisory Flexible Value Fund
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0.70%
|
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Growth Fund
|
0.85%
|
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Fundamental Value Fund
|
0.85%
|
Brown Advisory Opportunity Fund
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0.85%
|
Brown Advisory Maryland Bond Fund
|
0.30%
|
Brown Advisory Intermediate Income Fund
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0.30%
|
Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund
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0.60%
|
Brown Advisory Equity Income Fund
|
0.60%
|
Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
|
0.30%
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
0.60%
|
1.
|
Appointment of Quasar as Distributor
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2.
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Services and Duties of the Distributor
|
A.
|
The Distributor agrees to sell Shares on a best efforts basis as agent for the Trust upon the terms and at the current offering price (plus sales charge, if any) described in the Prospectus. As used in this Agreement, the term “Prospectus” shall mean the current prospectus, including the statement of additional information, as both may be amended or supplemented, relating to the Fund and included in the currently effective registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) of the Trust filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and the 1940 Act. The Trust shall in all cases receive the net asset value per Share on all sales. If a sales charge is in effect, the Distributor shall remit the sales charge (or portion thereof) to broker-dealers who have sold Shares, as described in Section 2(G), below.
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B.
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During the continuous public offering of Shares, the Distributor will hold itself available to receive orders, satisfactory to the Distributor, for the purchase of Shares and will accept such orders on behalf of the Trust. Such purchase orders shall be deemed effective at the time and in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.
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C.
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The Distributor, with the operational assistance of the Trust’s transfer agent, shall make Shares available for sale and redemption through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Fund/SERV System.
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D.
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The Distributor acknowledges and agrees that it is not authorized to provide any information or make any representations other than as contained in the Prospectus and any sales literature specifically approved by the Trust.
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E.
|
The Distributor agrees to cooperate with the Trust or its agent in the development of all proposed advertisements and sales literature (“Communications with the Public”) relating to the Fund. The Distributor agrees to review all proposed Communications with the Public for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and shall file with appropriate regulators those Communications with the Public it believes are in compliance with such laws and regulations. The Distributor agrees to furnish to the Trust any comments provided by regulators with respect to such materials and to use its best efforts to obtain the approval of the regulators to such materials.
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F.
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The Distributor, at its sole discretion, may repurchase Shares offered for sale by shareholders of the Fund. Repurchase of Shares by the Distributor shall be at the price determined in accordance with, and in the manner set forth in, the Prospectus. At the end of each business day, the Distributor shall notify the Trust and its transfer agent, by any appropriate means, of the orders for repurchase of Shares received by the Distributor since the last report, the amount to be paid for such Shares and the identity of the shareholders offering Shares for repurchase. The Trust reserves the right to suspend such repurchase right upon written notice to the Distributor. The Distributor further agrees to act as agent for the Trust to receive and transmit promptly to the Trust’s transfer agent, shareholder requests for redemption of Shares.
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G.
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The Distributor may, in its discretion, enter into agreements with such qualified broker-dealers as it may select, in order that such broker-dealers also may sell Shares of the Fund. The form of any dealer agreement shall be approved by the Trust. To the extent there is a sales charge in effect, the Distributor shall pay the applicable sales charge (or portion thereof), or allow a discount, to the selling broker-dealer, as described in the Prospectus.
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H.
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The Distributor shall devote its best efforts to effect sales of Shares of the Fund but shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of Shares.
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I.
|
The Distributor shall prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested by the Board, including reports regarding the use of any 12b-1 payments received by the Distributor.
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J.
|
The Distributor agrees to advise the Trust promptly in writing of the initiation of any proceedings against it by the SEC or its staff, FINRA or any state regulatory authority.
|
K.
|
The Distributor shall monitor amounts paid under Rule 12b-1 plans and pursuant to sales loads to ensure compliance with applicable FINRA rules.
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3.
|
Representations and Covenants of the Trust
|
A.
|
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to the Distributor, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
|
(1)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
(2)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;
|
(3)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;
|
(4)
|
All Shares to be sold by it, including those offered under this Agreement, are validly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the description in the Prospectus, will be fully paid and nonassessable;
|
(5)
|
The Registration Statement, and Prospectus included therein, have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and
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(6)
|
The Registration Statement (at the time of its effectiveness) and any advertisements and sales literature prepared by the Trust or its agent (excluding statements relating to the Distributor and the services it provides that are based upon written information furnished by the Distributor expressly for inclusion therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that all statements or information furnished to the Distributor pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects.
|
B.
|
The Trust, or its agent, shall take or cause to be taken, all necessary action to register Shares of the Fund under the 1933 Act, qualify such shares for sale in such states as the Trust and the Distributor shall approve, and maintain an effective Registration Statement for such Shares in order to permit the sale of Shares as herein contemplated. The Trust authorizes the Distributor to use the Prospectus, in the form furnished to the Distributor from time to time, in connection with the sale of Shares.
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C.
|
The Trust agrees to advise the Distributor promptly in writing:
|
D.
|
The Trust shall notify the Distributor in writing of the states in which the Shares may be sold and shall notify the Distributor in writing of any changes to such information.
|
E.
|
The Trust agrees to file from time to time such amendments to its Registration Statement and Prospectus as may be necessary in order that its Registration Statement and Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
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F.
|
The Trust shall fully cooperate in the efforts of the Distributor to sell and arrange for the sale of Shares and shall make available to the Distributor a statement of each computation of net asset value. In addition, the Trust shall keep the Distributor fully informed of its affairs and shall provide to the Distributor, from time to time, copies of all information, financial statements and other papers that the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Shares, including without limitation, certified copies of any financial statements prepared for the Trust by its independent public accountants and such reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus and annual and interim reports to shareholders as the Distributor may request. The Trust shall forward a copy of any SEC filings, including the Registration Statement, to the Distributor within one business day of any such filings. The Trust represents that it will not use or authorize the use of any Communications with the Public unless and until such materials have been approved and authorized for use by the Distributor. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the sharing or provision of materials protected by privilege or limitation of disclosure, including any applicable attorney-client privilege or trade secret materials.
|
G.
|
The Trust has reviewed and is familiar with the provisions of FINRA Rule 2830(k) prohibiting directed brokerage. In addition, the Trust agrees not to enter into any agreement (whether orally or in writing) under which the Trust directs or is expected to direct its brokerage transactions (or any commission, markup or other payment from such transactions) to a broker or dealer for the promotion or sale of Fund Shares or the shares of any other investment company. In the event the Trust fails to comply with the provisions of FINRA Rule 2830(k), the Trust shall promptly notify the Distributor.
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4.
|
Additional Representations and Covenants of the Distributor
|
(1)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
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(2)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Distributor in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Distributor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;
|
(3)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;
|
(4)
|
It is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing of FINRA;
|
(5)
|
It: (i) has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program (“AML Program”) that satisfies the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations; (ii) undertakes to carry out its AML Program to the best of its ability; (iii) will promptly notify the Trust and the Advisor if an inspection by the appropriate regulatory authorities of its AML Program identifies any material deficiency; and (vi) will promptly remedy any material deficiency of which it learns; and
|
(6)
|
In connection with all matters relating to this Agreement, it will comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the regulations of FINRA and all other applicable federal or state laws and regulations.
|
5.
|
Compensation
|
6.
|
Expenses
|
A.
|
The Trust shall bear all costs and expenses in connection with the registration of its Shares with the SEC and its related compliance with state securities laws, as well as all costs and expenses in connection with the offering of the Shares and communications with shareholders, including but not limited to: (i) fees and disbursements of its counsel and independent public accountants; (ii) costs and expenses of the preparation, filing, printing and mailing of Registration Statements and Prospectuses, as well as related advertising and sales literature; (iii) costs and expenses of the preparation, printing and mailing of annual and interim reports, proxy materials and other communications to shareholders; and (iv) fees required in connection with the offer and sale of Shares in such jurisdictions as shall be selected by the Trust pursuant to Section 3(D) hereof.
|
B.
|
The Distributor shall bear the expenses of registration or qualification of the Distributor as a dealer or broker under federal or state laws and the expenses of continuing such registration or qualification. The Distributor does not assume responsibility for any expenses not expressly assumed hereunder.
|
7.
|
Indemnification
|
A.
|
The Trust shall indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor and each of its managers, officers, employees, representatives and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Distributor Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (collectively, “Losses”) that the Distributor Indemnitees may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against a Distributor Indemnitee by any person (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus, or in any annual or interim report to shareholders, or in any advertisements or sales literature prepared by the Trust or its agent, or (ii) arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) based upon the Trust’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Trust’s obligation to indemnify the Distributor Indemnitees shall not be deemed to cover any Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, annual or interim report, or any advertisement or sales literature in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to the Distributor and furnished to the Trust or its counsel by the Distributor for the purpose of, and used in, the preparation thereof. The Trust’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor Indemnitees is expressly conditioned upon the Trust being notified of such action or claim of loss brought against the Distributor Indemnitees within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Distributor Indemnitees, unless the failure to give notice does not prejudice the Trust; provided, that the failure so to notify the Trust of any such action shall not relieve the Trust from any liability which the Trust may have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of the Trust’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(A).
|
B.
|
The Trust shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such Losses, but if the Trust elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Trust and approved by the Distributor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Distributor Indemnitees in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Distributor does not, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, approve of counsel chosen by the Trust, or if under prevailing law or legal codes of ethics, the same counsel cannot effectively represent the interests of both the Trust and the Distributor Indemnitees, the Trust will reimburse the Distributor Indemnitees for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Trust’s indemnification agreement contained in Sections 7(A) and 7(B) herein shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Distributor Indemnitees and shall survive the delivery of any Shares and the termination of this Agreement. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to the benefit of the Distributor Indemnitees and their successors. The Trust agrees promptly to notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of its officers or trustees in connection with the offer and sale of any of the Shares.
|
C.
|
The Trust shall advance attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by any Distributor Indemnitee in defending any claim, demand, action or suit which is the subject of a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law.
|
D.
|
The Distributor shall indemnify, defend and hold the Trust and each of its trustees, officers, employees, representatives and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Trust Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and against any and all Losses that the Trust Indemnitees may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against a Trust Indemnitee by any person (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus, or in any annual or interim report to shareholders, or in any advertisements or sales literature prepared by the Distributor, or (ii) arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement not misleading, or (iii) based upon the Distributor’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), above, the Distributor’s obligation to indemnify the Trust Indemnitees shall only be deemed to cover Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, annual or interim report, or any advertisement or sales literature in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to the Distributor and furnished to the Trust or its counsel by the Distributor for the purpose of, and used in, the preparation thereof. The Distributor’s agreement to indemnify the Trust Indemnitees is expressly conditioned upon the Distributor being notified of any action or claim of loss brought against the Trust Indemnitees within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Trust Indemnitees, unless the failure to give notice does not prejudice the Distributor; provided, that the failure so to notify the Distributor of any such action shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability which the Distributor may have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, otherwise than on account of the Distributor’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(D).
|
E.
|
The Distributor shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such Losses, but if the Distributor elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Distributor and approved by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event the Distributor elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Trust Indemnitees in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Trust does not, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, approve of counsel chosen by the Distributor, or if under prevailing law or legal codes of ethics, the same counsel cannot effectively represent the interests of both the Trust Indemnitees and the Distributor, the Distributor will reimburse the Trust Indemnitees for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Distributor’s indemnification agreement contained in Sections 7(D) and 7(E) herein shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Trust Indemnitees and shall survive the delivery of any Shares and the termination of this Agreement. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to the benefit of the Trust Indemnitees and their successors. The Distributor agrees promptly to notify the Trust of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Distributor or any of its officers or directors in connection with the offer and sale of any of the Shares.
|
F.
|
The Distributor shall advance attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by any Trust Indemnitee in defending any claim, demand, action or suit which is the subject of a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law.
|
G.
|
No party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other parties for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement.
|
H.
|
No person shall be obligated to provide indemnification under this Section 7 if such indemnification would be impermissible under the 1940 Act, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or the rules of FINRA; provided, however, in such event indemnification shall be provided under this Section 7 to the maximum extent so permissible.
|
8.
|
Proprietary and Confidential Information
|
9.
|
Records
|
10.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
11.
|
Term of Agreement; Amendment; Assignment
|
A.
|
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Fund hereof as of the date hereof. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date hereof. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect automatically as to each Fund for successive one-year periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by: (i) the Trust’s Board, or (ii) the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of a Fund, and provided that in either event, the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Trust’s Board who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
|
B.
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated, without the payment of any penalty, with respect to a particular Fund: (i) through a failure to renew this Agreement at the end of a term, (ii) upon mutual consent of the parties, or (iii) upon not less than 60 days’ written notice, by either the Trust upon the vote of a majority of the members of its Board who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Agreement, or by vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of a Fund, or by the Distributor. The terms of this Agreement shall not be waived, altered, modified, amended or supplemented in any manner whatsoever except by a written instrument signed by the Distributor and the Trust. If required under the 1940 Act, any such amendment must be approved by the Trust’s Board, including a majority of the Trust’s Board who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement, by a vote cast in person at a meeting for the purpose of voting on such amendment. In the event that such amendment affects the Advisor, the written instrument shall also be signed by the Advisor. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment.”
|
C.
|
As used in this Section, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested person,” and “assignment” shall have the same meaning as such terms have in the 1940 Act.
|
D.
|
Sections 7 and 8 shall survive termination of this Agreement.
|
12.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS | QUASAR DISTRIBUTORS, LLC |
By: /s/ David M. Churchill | By : /s/ James R. Schoenike |
Name: David M. Churchill | Name: James R. Schoenike |
Title: President | Title: President |
BROWN ADVISORY, LLC | |
(with respect to section 5 only) | |
By:
/s/ David M. Churchill
|
|
Name:
David M. Churchill
|
|
Title:
CFO
|
QUASAR DISTRIBUTORS, LLC REGULATORY DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
ANNUAL FEE SCHEDULE at July 1, 2012
|
Basic Distribution Services Per Fund Complex*
·
$[ ] per year
·
Additional funds – $[ ] per fund per year
Advertising Compliance Review/FINRA Filings
·
$[ ] per job for the first [ ] pages (minutes if tape or video); $[ ] per page (minute if tape or video) thereafter, 2 day turnaround
·
Non-FINRA filed materials, e.g. Internal Use Only Materials
$[ ] per job for the first [ ] pages (minutes if tape or video); $[ ] per page (minutes if tape or video) thereafter, 2 day turnaround
·
FINRA Expedited Service for 3 Day Turnaround from the FINRA after Quasar’s same-day review
$[ ] for the first [ ] pages (minutes if audio or video); $[ ] per page (minute if audio or video) thereafter. (Comments are faxed. The FINRA may not accept an expedited request.)
Licensing of Investment Advisor’s Staff (if desired)
·
$[ ] per year per registered representative (“RR”).
·
Quasar is limited to these licenses for sponsorship: Series, 6, 7, 24, 26, 27, 63, 66
·
$[ ] per FINRA designated branch location
·
Plus all associated FINRA and State fees for Registered Representatives, including license and renewal fees.
CCO Support Charges
$[ ] /year
Fund Fact Sheets
·
Design - $[ ] per fact sheet, includes first production
·
Production - $[ ] per fact sheet per production period
·
All printing costs are out-of-pocket expenses, and in addition to the design fee and production fee.
·
Web sites, brochures and other sales support materials – Project priced via Quasar proposal.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection with activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares, including, without limitation:
·
typesetting, printing and distribution of Prospectuses and shareholder reports
·
production, printing, distribution and placement of advertising and sales literature and materials
·
engagement of designers, free-lance writers and public relations firms
·
long-distance telephone lines, services and charges
·
postage
·
overnight delivery charges
·
FINRA registration fees
(FINRA advertising filing fees are included in Advertising Compliance Review section above)
·
record retention
·
travel, lodging and meals
Fees are billed monthly.
* Subject to CPI increase, Milwaukee MSA.
|
(a)
|
A copy of the Trust’s declaration of trust, certified by the Secretary;
|
(b)
|
A copy of the Trust’s bylaws, certified by the Secretary;
|
(c)
|
A copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust appointing the Custodian, certified by the Secretary;
|
(d)
|
A copy of the current prospectuses of the Fund (the “Prospectus”);
|
(e)
|
A certification of the Chairman or the President and the Secretary of the Trust setting forth the names and signatures of the current Officers of the Trust and other Authorized Persons; and
|
(f)
|
An executed authorization required by the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985, attached hereto as
Exhibit C
.
|
(a)
|
In its discretion, the Custodian may appoint one or more Sub-Custodians to establish and maintain arrangements with (i) Eligible Securities Depositories or (ii) Eligible Foreign Custodians who are members of the Sub-Custodian’s network to hold Securities and cash of the Fund and to carry out such other provisions of this Agreement as it may determine; provided, however, that the appointment of any such agents and maintenance of any Securities and cash of the Fund shall be at the Custodian's expense and shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement. The Custodian shall be liable for the actions of any Sub-Custodians (regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Sub-Custodian, a member of its network or an Eligible Securities Depository) appointed by it as if such actions had been done by the Custodian.
|
(b)
|
If, after the initial appointment of Sub-Custodians by the Board of Trustees in connection with this Agreement, the Custodian wishes to appoint other Sub-Custodians to hold property of the Fund, it will so notify the Trust and make the necessary determinations as to any such new Sub-Custodian's eligibility under Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act.
|
(c)
|
In performing its delegated responsibilities as foreign custody manager to place or maintain the Fund’s assets with a Sub-Custodian, the Custodian will determine that the Fund’s assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Fund’s assets will be held by that Sub-Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).
|
(d)
|
The agreement between the Custodian and each Sub-Custodian acting hereunder shall contain the required provisions set forth in Rule 17f-5(c)(2) under the 1940 Act.
|
(e)
|
At the end of each calendar quarter, the Custodian shall provide written reports notifying the Board of Trustees of the withdrawal or placement of the Securities and cash of the Fund with a Sub-Custodian and of any material changes in the Fund’s arrangements. Such reports shall include an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with any Eligible Securities Depositories. The Custodian shall promptly take such steps as may be required to withdraw assets of the Fund from any Sub-Custodian arrangement that has ceased to meet the requirements of Rule 17f-5 or Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act, as applicable.
|
(f)
|
With respect to its responsibilities under this Section 3.3, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of property of the Fund. The Custodian further warrants that the Fund's assets will be subject to reasonable care if maintained with a Sub-Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation: (i) the Sub-Custodian's practices, procedures, and internal controls for certificated securities (if applicable), its method of keeping custodial records, and its security and data protection practices; (ii) whether the Sub-Custodian has the requisite financial strength to provide reasonable care for Fund assets; (iii) the Sub-Custodian's general reputation and standing and, in the case of a Securities Depository,
|
|
the Securities
Depository's operating history and number of participants; and (iv) whether the Fund will have jurisdiction over and be able to enforce judgments against the Sub-Custodian, such as by virtue of the existence of any offices of the Sub-Custodian in the United States or the Sub-Custodian's consent to service of process in the United States.
|
(g)
|
The Custodian shall establish a system or ensure that its Sub-Custodian has established a system to monitor on a continuing basis (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Fund’s assets with a Sub-Custodian or Eligible Foreign Custodians who are members of a Sub-Custodian’s network; (ii) the performance of the contract governing the Fund’s arrangements with such Sub-Custodian or Eligible Foreign Custodian’s members of a Sub-Custodian’s network; and (iii) the custody risks of maintaining assets with an Eligible Securities Depository. The Custodian must promptly notify the Fund or its investment adviser of any material change in these risks.
|
(h)
|
The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to Foreign Securities to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Trust. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Trust and Custodian shall consult as to the measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.
|
(a)
|
The Custodian, on an on-going basis, shall deposit in a Securities Depository or Book-Entry System all Securities eligible for deposit therein and shall make use of such Securities Depository or Book-Entry System to the extent possible and practical in connection with its performance hereunder, including, without limitation, in connection with settlements of purchases and sales of Securities, loans of Securities, and deliveries and returns of collateral consisting of Securities.
|
(b)
|
Securities of the Fund kept in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall be kept in an account (“Depository Account”) of the Custodian in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository which includes only assets held by the Custodian as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers.
|
(c)
|
The records of the Custodian with respect to Securities of the Fund maintained in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall, by book-entry, identify such Securities as belonging to the Fund.
|
(d)
|
If Securities purchased by the Fund are to be held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall pay for such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities Depository that such Securities have been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. If Securities sold by the Fund are held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall transfer such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities Depository that payment for such Securities has been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund.
|
(e)
|
The Custodian shall provide the Trust with copies of any report (obtained by the Custodian from a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository in which Securities of the Fund are kept) on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities deposited in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository.
|
(f)
|
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Custodian shall be liable to the Trust for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from (i) the use of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository by reason of any negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian, or (ii) failure of the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository. At its election, the Trust shall be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository or any other person from any loss or damage to the Fund arising from the use of such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage.
|
(g)
|
With respect to its responsibilities under this Section 3.05 and pursuant to Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to (i) exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain such assets, (ii) provide, promptly upon request by the Trust, such reports as are available concerning the Custodian’s internal accounting controls and financial strength, and (iii) require any Sub-Custodian to exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain assets corresponding to the security entitlements of its entitlement holders.
|
(a)
|
For the purchase of Securities for the Fund but only in accordance with Section 4.01 of this Agreement and only (i) in the case of Securities (other than options on Securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts), against the delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of such Securities registered as provided in Section 3.09 below or in proper form for transfer, or if the purchase of such Securities is effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the conditions set forth
|
|
in Section 3.05 above; (ii) in the case of options on Securities, against delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of such receipts as are required by the customs prevailing among dealers in such options; (iii) in the case of futures contracts and options on futures contracts, against delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of evidence of title thereto in favor of the Fund or any nominee referred to in Section 3.09 below; and (iv) in the case of repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements entered into between the Trust and a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System or between the Trust and a primary dealer in U.S. Government securities, against delivery of the purchased Securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian's account at a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository with such Securities;
|
(b)
|
In connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender, as set forth in Section 3.07(f) below, of Securities owned by the Fund;
|
(c)
|
For the payment of any dividends or capital gain distributions declared by the Fund;
|
(d)
|
In payment of the redemption price of Shares as provided in Section 5.01 below;
|
(e)
|
For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including, but not limited to, the following payments for the account of the Fund: interest; taxes; administration, investment advisory, accounting, auditing, transfer agent, custodian, trustee and legal fees; and other operating expenses of the Fund; in all cases, whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or in part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
|
(f)
|
For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
|
(g)
|
For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;
|
(h)
|
For the funding of any uncertificated time deposit or other interest-bearing account with any banking institution (including the Custodian), which deposit or account has a term of one year or less; and
|
(i)
|
For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, specifying the amount and purpose of such payment, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
|
(a)
|
Upon the sale of Securities for the account of the Fund but only against receipt of payment therefor in cash, by certified or cashiers check or bank credit;
|
(b)
|
In the case of a sale effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.05 above;
|
(c)
|
To an offeror’s depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for Securities of the Fund; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;
|
(d)
|
To the issuer thereof or its agent (i) for transfer into the name of the Fund, the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian, or any nominee or nominees of any of the foregoing, or (ii) for exchange for a different number of certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;
|
(e)
|
To the broker selling the Securities, for examination in accordance with the “street delivery” custom;
|
(f)
|
For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the issuer of such Securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such Securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement, including surrender or receipt of underlying Securities in connection with the issuance or cancellation of depository receipts; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
|
(g)
|
Upon receipt of payment therefor pursuant to any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement entered into by the Fund;
|
(h)
|
In the case of warrants, rights or similar Securities, upon the exercise thereof, provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
|
(i)
|
For delivery in connection with any loans of Securities of the Fund, but only against receipt of such collateral as the Trust shall have specified to the Custodian in Proper Instructions;
|
(j)
|
For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Trust, but only against receipt by the Custodian of the amounts borrowed;
|
(k)
|
Pursuant to any authorized plan of liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of the Trust;
|
(l)
|
For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
|
(m)
|
For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;
|
(n)
|
For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, specifying the Securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such Securities shall be made; or
|
(o)
|
To brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct.
|
(a)
|
Subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis all income and other payments to which the Fund is entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business;
|
(b)
|
Present for payment and, subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis the amount payable upon all Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, or retired, or otherwise become payable;
|
(c)
|
Endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments;
|
(d)
|
Surrender interim receipts or Securities in temporary form for Securities in definitive form;
|
(e)
|
Execute, as custodian, any necessary declarations or certificates of ownership under the federal income tax laws or the laws or regulations of any other taxing authority now or hereafter in effect, and prepare and submit reports to the IRS and the Trust at such time, in such manner and containing such information as is prescribed by the IRS;
|
(f)
|
Hold for the Fund, either directly or, with respect to Securities held therein, through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to Securities of the Fund; and
|
(g)
|
In general, and except as otherwise directed in Proper Instructions, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with Securities and other assets of the Fund.
|
(a)
|
The Custodian shall maintain complete and accurate records with respect to Securities, cash or other property held for the Fund, including (i) journals or other records of original entry containing an itemized daily record in detail of all receipts and deliveries of Securities and all receipts and disbursements of cash; (ii) ledgers (or other records) reflecting (A) Securities in transfer, (B) Securities in physical possession, (C) monies and Securities borrowed and monies and Securities loaned (together with a record of the collateral therefor and substitutions of such collateral), (D) dividends and interest received, and (E) dividends receivable and interest receivable; (iii) canceled checks and bank records related thereto; and (iv) all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement. The Custodian shall keep such other books and records of the Fund as the Trust shall reasonably request, or as may be required by the 1940 Act, including, but not limited to, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and Rule 31a-2 promulgated thereunder.
|
(b)
|
All such books and records maintained by the Custodian shall (i) be maintained in a form acceptable to the Trust and in compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, (ii) be the property of the Trust and at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be made available upon request for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Trust and employees or agents of the SEC, and (iii) if required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, be preserved for the periods prescribed in Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
|
(a)
|
in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
|
(b)
|
for purposes of segregating cash or Securities in connection with securities options purchased or written by the Fund or in connection with financial futures contracts (or options thereon) purchased or sold by the Fund;
|
(c)
|
which constitute collateral for loans of Securities made by the Fund;
|
(d)
|
for purposes of compliance by the Fund with requirements under the 1940 Act for the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies in connection with reverse repurchase agreements and when-issued, delayed delivery and firm commitment transactions; and
|
(e)
|
for other proper corporate purposes, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, setting forth the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes.
|
(a)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
(b)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
|
(c)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
|
(a)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
(b)
|
It is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5.
|
(c)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Custodian in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Custodian, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
|
(d)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
|
(a)
|
Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement.
|
(b)
|
The indemnity provisions of this Article shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.
|
(c)
|
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Article X shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this Article X. The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.
|
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS | U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||||
By : |
/s/ David M. Churchill
|
By : |
/s/ Michael R. McVoy
|
||
Name : |
David M. Churchill
|
Name: |
Michael R. McVoy
|
||
Title : |
President
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President
|
Name
|
Telephone/Fax Number
|
Signature
|
||
______________________
|
||||
______________________
|
||||
______________________
|
||||
______________________
|
||||
______________________
|
§
|
Fee is expressed in basis points per annum where one basis point equals one hundredth of one percent (.01%) and is calculated based upon month-end market value, unless stated otherwise.
|
§
|
A transaction is defined as a receipt or delivery versus payment, a free receive or deliver, maturities, or security transaction related to corporate events.
|
§
|
Euroclear – Eurobonds only. Eurobonds are held in Euroclear at a standard rate, but other types of securities (including but not limited to equities, domestic market debt and mutual funds) will be subject to a surcharge. In addition, certain transactions that are delivered within Euroclear or from a Euroclear account to a third party depository or settlement system, will be subject to a surcharge (surcharge schedule available upon request).
|
−
|
For all other markets specified above, surcharges may apply if a security is held outside of the local market.
|
______ YES
|
U.S. Bank is authorized to provide the Trust’s name, address and security position to requesting companies whose stock is owned by the Trust.
|
|
______ NO
|
U.S. Bank is NOT authorized to provide the Trust’s name, address and security position to requesting companies whose stock is owned by the Trust.
|
1.
|
Appointment of USBFS as Administrator
|
2.
|
Services and Duties of USBFS
|
A.
|
General Fund Management:
|
(1)
|
Act as liaison among Fund service providers.
|
(2)
|
Supply:
|
a.
|
Office facilities (which may be in USBFS’, or an affiliate’s, or Fund’s own offices).
|
b.
|
Non-investment-related statistical and research data as requested.
|
(3)
|
Coordinate the Trust’s board of trustees’ (the “Board of Trustees” or the “Trustees”) communications, such as:
|
a.
|
Prepare meeting agendas and resolutions, with the assistance of Fund counsel.
|
b.
|
Prepare reports for the Board of Trustees based on financial and administrative data.
|
c.
|
Assist with the selection of the independent auditor.
|
d.
|
Secure and monitor fidelity bond and director and officer liability coverage, and make the necessary Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filings relating thereto.
|
e.
|
Prepare minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees and Fund shareholders.
|
f.
|
Recommend dividend declarations to the Board of Trustees and prepare and distribute to appropriate parties notices announcing declaration of dividends and other distributions to shareholders.
|
g.
|
Attend Board of Trustees meetings and present materials for Trustees’ review at such meetings.
|
(4)
|
Audits:
|
a.
|
For the annual Fund audit, prepare appropriate schedules and materials. Provide requested information to the independent auditors, and facilitate the audit process.
|
b.
|
For SEC or other regulatory audits, provide requested information to the SEC or other regulatory agencies and facilitate the audit process.
|
c.
|
For all audits, provide office facilities, as needed.
|
(5)
|
Assist with overall operations of the Fund.
|
(6)
|
Pay Fund expenses upon written authorization from the Trust.
|
(7)
|
Keep the Trust’s governing documents, including its charter, bylaws and minute books, but only to the extent such documents are provided to USBFS by the Trust or its representatives for safe keeping.
|
B.
|
Compliance:
|
(1)
|
Regulatory Compliance:
|
a.
|
Monitor compliance with the 1940 Act requirements, including:
|
|
(i)
|
Asset and diversification tests.
|
|
(ii)
|
Total return and SEC yield calculations.
|
|
(iii)
|
Maintenance of books and records under Rule 31a-3.
|
|
(iv)
|
Code of ethics requirements under Rule 17j-1 for the disinterested Trustees.
|
b.
|
Monitor Fund's compliance with the policies and investment limitations as set forth in its prospectus (the “Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (the “SAI”).
|
c.
|
Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the Trust in connection with (i) any certification required
|
|
of the Trust pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOX Act”) or any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, and (ii) the operation of USBFS’ compliance program as it relates to the Trust, provided the same shall not be deemed to change USBFS’ standard of care as set forth herein.
|
d.
|
Monitor applicable regulatory and operational service issues, and update Board of Trustees periodically.
|
(2)
|
Blue Sky Compliance:
|
a.
|
Prepare and file with the appropriate state securities authorities any and all required compliance filings relating to the qualification of the securities of the Fund so as to enable the Fund to make a continuous offering of its shares in all states and applicable U.S. territories.
|
b.
|
Monitor status and maintain registrations in each state and applicable U.S. territories.
|
c.
|
Provide updates regarding material developments in state securities regulation.
|
(3)
|
SEC Registration and Reporting:
|
a.
|
Assist Fund counsel in annual update of the Registration Statement.
|
b.
|
Prepare and file annual and semiannual shareholder reports, Form N-SAR, Form N-CSR, Form N-Q filings and Rule 24f-2 notices. As requested by the Trust, prepare and file Form N-PX filings.
|
c.
|
Coordinate the printing, filing and mailing of Prospectuses and shareholder reports, and amendments and supplements thereto.
|
d.
|
File fidelity bond under Rule 17g-1.
|
e.
|
Monitor sales of Fund shares and ensure that such shares are properly registered or qualified, as applicable, with the SEC and the appropriate state authorities.
|
f.
|
Assist Fund counsel in preparation of proxy statements and information statements, as requested by the Trust.
|
(4)
|
IRS Compliance:
|
a.
|
Monitor the Trust’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), including without limitation, review of the following:
|
|
(i)
|
Diversification requirements.
|
|
(ii)
|
Qualifying income requirements.
|
|
(iii)
|
Distribution requirements.
|
b.
|
Calculate required annual excise distribution amounts for the review and approval of Fund management and/or its independent accountant.
|
C.
|
Financial Reporting:
|
(1)
|
Provide financial data required by the Prospectus and SAI.
|
(2)
|
Prepare financial reports for officers, shareholders, tax authorities, performance reporting companies, the Board of Trustees, the SEC, and the independent auditor.
|
(3)
|
Supervise the Fund’s custodian and fund accountants in the maintenance of the Fund’s general ledger and in the preparation of the Fund’s financial statements, including oversight of expense accruals and payments, the determination of net asset value and the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders.
|
(4)
|
Compute the yield, total return, expense ratio and portfolio turnover rate of the Fund.
|
(5)
|
Monitor expense accruals and make adjustments as necessary; notify the Trust’s management of adjustments expected to materially affect the Fund’s expense ratio.
|
(6)
|
Prepare financial statements, which include, without limitation, the following items:
|
a.
|
Schedule of Investments.
|
b.
|
Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
|
c.
|
Statement of Operations.
|
d.
|
Statement of Changes in Net Assets.
|
e.
|
Statement of Cash Flows (if applicable).
|
f.
|
Financial Highlights.
|
(7)
|
Pursuant to Rule 31a-1(b)(9) of the 1940 Act, prepare quarterly broker security transaction summaries.
|
D.
|
Tax Reporting:
|
(1)
|
Prepare for the review of the independent accountants and/or Fund management the federal and state tax returns including without limitation, Form 1120 RIC and applicable state returns including any necessary schedules. USBFS will prepare annual Fund federal and state income tax return filings as authorized by and based on the instructions received by Fund management and/or its independent accountant file on a timely basis appropriate federal and state tax returns including, without limitation, Forms 1120/8613, with any necessary schedules.
|
(2)
|
Provide the Fund’s management and independent accountant with tax reporting information pertaining to the Fund and available to USBFS as required in a timely manner.
|
(3)
|
Prepare Fund financial statement tax footnote disclosures for the review and approval of Fund Management and/or its independent accountant.
|
(4)
|
Prepare and file on behalf of Fund management Form 1099 MISC Forms for payments to disinterested Trustees and other qualifying service providers.
|
(5)
|
Monitor wash sale losses.
|
(6)
|
Calculate Qualified Dividend Income (“QDI”) for qualifying Fund shareholders.
|
3.
|
License of Data; Warranty; Termination of Rights
|
|
A
.
|
USBFS has entered into an agreement with MSCI index data services (“MSCI”) and Standard & Poor Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) which obligates USBFS to include a list of required provisions in this Agreement attached hereto as
Exhibit A
. The index data services being provided to the Trust by USBFS pursuant hereto (collectively, the “Data”) are being licensed, not sold, to the Trust. The provisions in
Exhibit A
shall not have any affect upon the standard of care and liability USBFS has set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
|
|
B.
|
The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless USBFS, its information providers, and any other third party involved in or related to the making or compiling of the Data, their affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, as incurred, arising in and any manner out of the Trust’s or any third party’s use of, or inability to use, the Data or any breach by the Trust of any provision contained in this Agreement. The immediately preceding sentence shall not have any effect upon the standard of care and liability of USBFS as set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
|
4.
|
Compensation
|
5.
|
Representations and Warranties
|
A.
|
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to USBFS, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
|
|
(1)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
|
(2)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
|
|
(3)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
|
B.
|
USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
|
|
(1)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
|
(2)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by USBFS in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of USBFS, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
|
|
(3)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
|
6.
|
Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
|
A.
|
USBFS shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. USBFS shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond USBFS’ control, except a loss arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if USBFS has exercised reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless USBFS from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that USBFS may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against USBFS by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to USBFS by any duly authorized officer of the Trust, as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Trust, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’ directors, officers and employees.
|
B.
|
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section. The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.
|
C.
|
The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 6 shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.
|
D.
|
If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Trust pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve USBFS of any of its obligations in such other capacity.
|
E.
|
In conjunction with the tax services provided to each Fund by USBFS hereunder, USBFS shall not be deemed to act as an income tax return preparer for any purpose including as such term is defined under Section 7701(a)(36) of the IRC, or any successor thereof. Any information provided by USBFS to a Fund for income tax reporting purposes with respect to any item of income, gain, loss, or credit will be performed solely in USBFS’ administrative capacity. USBFS shall not be required to determine, and shall not take any position with respect to whether, the reasonable belief standard described in Section 6694 of the IRC has been satisfied with respect to any income tax item. Each Fund, and any appointees thereof, shall have the right to inspect the transaction summaries produced and aggregated by USBFS, and any supporting documents thereto, in
|
|
connection with the tax reporting services provided to each Fund by USBFS. USBFS shall not be liable for the provision or omission of any tax advice with respect to any information provided by USBFS to a Fund. The tax information provided by USBFS shall be pertinent to the data and information made available to us, and is neither derived from nor construed as tax advice.
|
7.
|
Data Necessary to Perform Services
|
8.
|
Proprietary and Confidential Information
|
9.
|
Records
|
10.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
11.
|
Terms of Agreement; Amendment
|
12.
|
Early Termination
|
13.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
14.
|
Assignment
|
15.
|
Governing Law
|
16.
|
No Agency Relationship
|
17.
|
Services Not Exclusive
|
18.
|
Invalidity
|
19.
|
Legal-Related Services
|
20.
|
Notices
|
21.
|
Multiple Originals
|
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS | U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ David M. Churchill
|
By: |
/s/ Michael R. McVoy
|
||
Name: |
David M. Churchill
|
Name: |
Michael R. McVoy
|
||
Title: |
President
|
Title: |
Executive Vice President
|
·
|
The Trust shall represent that it will use the Data solely for internal purposes and will not redistribute the Data in any form or manner to any third party.
|
·
|
The Trust shall represent that it will not use or permit anyone else to use the Data in connection with creating, managing, advising, writing, trading, marketing or promoting any securities or financial instruments or products, including, but not limited to, funds, synthetic or derivative securities (e.g., options, warrants, swaps, and futures), whether listed on an exchange or traded over the counter or on a private-placement basis or otherwise or to create any indices (custom or otherwise).
|
·
|
The Trust shall represent that it will treat the Data as proprietary to MSCI and S&P. Further, the Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI and S&P are the sole and exclusive owners of the Data and all trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in or to the Data.
|
·
|
The Trust shall represent that it will not (i) copy any component of the Data, (ii) alter, modify or adapt any component of the Data, including, but not limited to, translating, decompiling, disassembling, reverse engineering or creating derivative works, or (iii) make any component of the Data available to any other person or organization (including, without limitation, the Trust’s present and future parents, subsidiaries or affiliates) directly or indirectly, for any of the foregoing or for any other use, including, without limitation, by loan, rental, service bureau, external time sharing or similar arrangement.
|
·
|
The Trust shall be obligated to reproduce on all permitted copies of the Data all copyright, proprietary rights and restrictive legends appearing on the Data.
|
·
|
The Trust shall acknowledge that it assumes the entire risk of using the Data and shall agree to hold MSCI or S&P harmless from any claims that may arise in connection with any use of the Data by the Trust.
|
·
|
The Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI or S&P may, in its sole and absolute discretion and at any time, terminate USBFS’ right to receive and/or use the Data.
|
·
|
The Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI and S&P are third party beneficiaries of the Customer Agreement between S&P, MSCI and USBFS, entitled to enforce all provisions of such agreement relating to the Data.
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Domestic Equities, Options, ADRs
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Domestic Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency Bonds, Foreign Equities, Futures, Forwards, Currency
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- CMOs, Municipal Bonds, Money Market Instruments, Foreign Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Bank Loans
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Credit Default Swaps
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Swaptions, Index Swaps
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Interest Rate Swaps, Foreign Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Total Return Bullet Swaps
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/Foreign Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/Domestic Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/Month Manual Security Pricing (>
[ ]
/day)
|
§
|
$
[ ]
on the First
[ ]
Securities
|
§
|
$
[ ]
on the Balance of Securities
|
INTERNET SERVICES
|
VISION MUTUAL FUND GATEWAY
– Permits broker/dealers, financial planners, and RIAs to us a web-based system to perform order and account inquiry, execute trades, print applications, review prospectuses, and establish new accounts.
Inquiry Only
·
Inquiry - $
[ ]
per event
·
Per broker ID - $
[ ]
per month per ID
Transaction Processing
·
Implementation - $
[ ]
per management company
·
Transaction – purchase, redeem, exchange, literature order - $
[ ]
per event
·
New Account Set-up – may contain multiple fund/accounts - $
[ ]
per event
·
Monthly Minimum Charge - $
[ ]
per month
|
FAN WEB
– Shareholder internet access to account information and transaction capabilities through a transparent link at the fund group web site. Shareholders access account information, portfolio listing fund family, transaction history, purchase additional shares through ACH, etc.
1.
FAN Web Select “Hybrid” (Fund Groups under
[ ]
open accounts) – Standard Web services
·
Implementation - $
[ ]
per fund group – includes up to
[ ]
hours of technical/BSA support
·
Annual Base Fee - $
[ ]
per year (annual base fee increases to $
[ ]
per year when the fund group exceeds
[ ]
open accounts)
2.
Customization - $
[ ]
per hour
3.
Activity (Session) Fees:
·
Inquiry - $
[ ]
per event
·
Account Maintenance - $
[ ]
per event
·
Transaction – financial transactions, reorder statements, etc. - $
[ ]
per event
·
New Account Set-up - $
[ ]
per event (Typically not available with FAN Web Select, but Winslow Green Growth and Brown Advisory Funds are using a Hybrid of FAN Web Select.)
·
Strong Authentication:
$
[ ]
/month per active FAN Web ID (Any ID that has had activity within the
[ ]
-day period prior to the billing cycle)
FAN Web Mobile
Access to account information and transaction capabilities through mobile internet devices. Shareholders
can access portfolio summary, account balances, account history, and conduct financial transaction
requests such as purchases, redemptions, and exchanges.
Initial Implementation Site Setup Fee - $
[ ]
Monthly Base Fee - $
[ ]
Transaction Fees:
-
Inquiry - $
[ ]
event
-
Maintenance - $
[ ]
/event
-
Transaction - $
[ ]
/event
-
New Account Establishment Setup - $
[ ]
/event
|
INFORMA ELECTRONIC SHAREHOLDER STATEMENT SERVICES
FEE SCHEDULE at July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015
|
Electronic Confirm Presentation
eCDLY will load shareowner daily confirmations (financial transactions only, does not include maintenance confirmations) and send notification to consented shareowners of a new document to view.
§
Document Loading, Storage, and Access - $
[ ]
/statement
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression, and Notification - $
[ ]
/suppressed statement
§
Development & Implementation of Electronic Confirm Statements - $
[ ]
initial setup fee
Note: Quarterly minimum fee of $
[ ]
.
Electronic Investor Statement Presentation
eStatements will load shareowner investor statements in a PDF format and send notification to the consented shareowners of a new document to view.
§
Document Loading, Storage, and Access - $
[ ]
/statement
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression, and Notification - $
[ ]
/suppressed statement
§
Development & Implementation of Electronic Investor Statements - $
[ ]
($
[ ]
is the std. initial setup fee)
Electronic Tax Presentation
eTax will load TA2000 tax forms and send notification to the consented shareowners of a new document to view.
§
Document Loading, Storage, and Access - $
[ ]
/statement
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression, and Notification - $
[ ]
/suppressed statement
§
Development & Implementation of Electronic Tax Statements - $
[ ]
($
[ ]
is the std initial setup fee)
Electronic Compliance Presentation
eCompliance allows consented users to receive an email containing a link to the respective compliance material for each compliance run.
§
Document Loading, Storage, and Access
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression, and Notification - $
[ ]
/suppressed statement
§
Development & Implementation of Electronic Compliance Documents - $
[ ]
initial setup fee
Note: Annual compliance minimum fee of $
[ ]
.
FAN Web Transaction Fees
§
View Consent Enrollment - $
[ ]
/transaction
§
Consent Enrollment - $
[ ]
/transaction
§
View Statements - $
[ ]
/view
Notes:
All pricing based upon contractual three-year term. Proposal is rough estimate based upon client request. Rates subject to change once formal business requirements are received and reviewed. Estimate is valid for
[ ]
days based on the following conditions:
§
Document Loading, Storage and Access - Statements presented as PDF documents. Includes data preparation for web-based presentment, document loading, hot storage for
[ ]
years (
[ ]
) on primary DASD and WORM-media and unlimited access. Statements will be loaded for all accounts, regardless of consent.
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression & Notification – On-line consent registration, paper suppression, processing, quality control and email notification of document availability to an ISP address. Suppression and Notification volume will be determined by customer consent. Email notification of document availability to an ISP address. Notification volume will be determined by customer consent.
§
Document Setup & Development Fees-- Includes gathering business requirements and creation of functional specification document with record types II, AS, and AT, utilizing a DST OUTPUT MIMS data feed. Applies to major classes of documents (e.g. daily confirm, investor, and tax documents) and significantly different documents within a class (e.g. a high net worth statement). Document setup fees will be determined upon requirements gathering and defining project scope.
§
Consent options will be reflected on TA2000; Email tracking and reporting on TA2000 Electronic Media reports
§
Standard Development Fee- Fee assessed for any additional programming outside of the initial implementation scope or any additional post-production enhancements. $
[ ]
per hour.
|
§
|
On-site at USBFS - $
[ ]
/day
|
§
|
At client location - $
[ ]
/day plus travel and out-of-pocket expenses if required
|
§
|
[ ]
days or less: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
[ ]
-
[ ]
days: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
[ ]
-
[ ]
days: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
[ ]
days –
[ ]
year: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
[ ]
year –
[ ]
years: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/direct open account per year
|
§
|
$
[ ]
setup /fund group of
[ ]
-
[ ]
funds, $
[ ]
setup /fund group of over
[ ]
funds
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/account per year
|
§
|
$
[ ]
setup /fund group
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/month administration
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/received email correspondence
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/fund group per month
|
§
|
Setup - $
[ ]
/fund group
|
§
|
Annual Fee - $
[ ]
/open and closed account
|
§
|
Account Management
|
−
|
$
[ ]
/month (account management, lead reporting and database administration)
|
§
|
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
|
−
|
Included but not limited to kit and order processing expenses, postage, and printing.
|
§
|
Inbound Teleservicing Only
|
−
|
Account Management - $[ ] /month
|
−
|
Call Servicing - $[ ] /minute
|
§
|
Lead Conversion Reporting (Closed Loop)
|
−
|
Account Management- $[ ] /month
|
−
|
Database Installation, Setup -$[ ] /fund group
|
−
|
Specialized Programming - (Separate Quote)*
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/money market share class per year
|
§
|
Out-of-pocket expenses (see Transfer Agent Fee Schedule)
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/qualified plan account or Coverdell ESA account (Cap at $
[ ]
/SSN)
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/transfer to successor trustee
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/participant distribution (Excluding SWPs)
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/refund of excess contribution
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/reconversion/recharacterization
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/outgoing wire transfer or overnight delivery
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/telephone exchange
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/return check or ACH or stop payment
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/research request per account (Cap at $
[ ]
/request) (This fee applies to requests for statements older than the prior year)
|
§
|
Setup: $
[ ]
(Access via Internet VPN)
|
§
|
Service: $
[ ]
/user per month
|
§
|
Implementation (one time charge) & Recurring Charges (monthly)
|
-
|
[ ]
Users – $
[ ]
|
-
|
[ ]
Users – $
[ ]
|
-
|
[ ]
Users – $
[ ]
|
-
|
[ ]
Users – $
[ ]
|
-
|
[ ]
Users – $
[ ]
|
-
|
[ ]
Users – $[ ]
|
§
|
Training
|
§
|
WebEx - $[ ] /user
|
§
|
On Site at USBFS - $[ ] /day
|
§
|
At Client Location - $[ ] /day plus travel and out-of-pocket expenses if required
|
§
|
Real Time Data Feeds
|
-
|
Implementation (per feed) - $[ ] /hour ([ ] hour estimate)
|
-
|
Recurring (per feed) - $[ ] /month
|
§
|
Subsequent CUSIP Setup - $[ ] /CUSIP
|
§
|
Expedited CUSIP Setup - $[ ] /CUSIP (Less than [ ] days)
|
§
|
$[ ] /monthly report
|
1.
|
Appointment of USBFS as Transfer Agent
|
2.
|
Services and Duties of USBFS
|
A.
|
Receive and process all orders for the purchase, exchange, and/or redemption of Fund shares in accordance with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act, other applicable regulations, and as specified in the Fund’s prospectus (the “Prospectus”).
|
B.
|
Process purchase orders with prompt delivery, where appropriate, of payment and supporting documentation to the shareholder based on the shareholder’s or the Trust’s custodian instructions, and record the appropriate number of shares being held in the appropriate shareholder account.
|
C.
|
Process redemption requests received in good order and, where relevant, deliver appropriate documentation to the Trust’s custodian.
|
D.
|
Pay proceeds upon receipt from the Trust’s custodian, where relevant, in accordance with the instructions of redeeming shareholders.
|
E.
|
Process transfers of shares in accordance with the shareholder’s instructions, after receipt of appropriate documentation from the shareholder as specified in the Prospectus.
|
F.
|
Prepare and transmit payments, or apply reinvestments for income dividends and capital gains distributions declared by the Trust with respect to a Fund, after deducting any amount required to be withheld by any applicable laws, rules and regulations and in accordance with shareholder instructions.
|
G.
|
Serve as the Fund’s agent in connection with systematic plans including, but not limited to, systematic withdrawal plans and systematic exchange plans.
|
H.
|
Make changes to shareholder records, including, but not limited to, address and plan changes (e.g., systematic investment and withdrawal, dividend reinvestment).
|
I.
|
Handle load and multi-class processing, including rights of accumulation and purchases by letters of intent in accordance with the Prospectus.
|
J.
|
Record the issuance of shares of each Fund and maintain, pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), a record of the total number of shares of each Fund which are authorized, issued and outstanding.
|
K.
|
Prepare ad-hoc reports as necessary at prevailing rates.
|
L.
|
Mail shareholder reports and Prospectuses to current shareholders.
|
M.
|
Prepare and file U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate information returns required with respect to dividends and distributions for all shareholders.
|
N.
|
Provide shareholder account information upon shareholder or Trust requests and prepare and mail confirmations and statements of account to shareholders for all purchases, redemptions and other confirmable transactions as agreed upon with the Trust.
|
O.
|
Mail and/or obtain shareholders’ certifications under penalties of perjury and pay on a timely basis to the appropriate federal authorities any taxes to be withheld on dividends and distributions paid by the Trust, all as required by applicable federal and state tax laws and regulations.
|
P.
|
Provide the total number of shares of each Fund sold in each state to enable the Trust to monitor such sales for blue sky purposes; provided that the Trust, not USBFS, is responsible for ensuring that shares are not sold in violation of any requirement under the securities laws or regulations of any state.
|
Q.
|
Answer correspondence from shareholders, securities brokers and others relating to USBFS’s duties hereunder within required time periods established by applicable regulation.
|
R.
|
Reimburse the Fund for all material losses resulting from “as of” processing errors for which USBFS is responsible in accordance with the “as of” processing guidelines set forth on
Exhibit A
hereto.
|
S.
|
Calculate average assets held in shareholder accounts for purposes of paying Rule 12b-1 and/or shareholder servicing fees as directed by a Fund.
|
T.
|
Provide service and support to financial intermediaries including but not limited to trade placements, settlements and corrections.
|
3.
|
Additional Services to be Provided by USBFS
|
|
A.
|
If the Trust so elects, by including the service it wishes to receive in its fee schedule, USBFS shall provide the following services that are further described and that may be subject to additional terms and conditions specified in their respective exhibits, as such may be amended from time to time:
|
|
B.
|
USBFS shall allow the Trust access to various fund data, systems, industry information and processes as the parties may agree to from time to time, through Mutual Fund eXchange (“MFx”), subject to the terms of this Agreement and the additional terms and conditions contained in the on-line MFx access agreement to be entered into upon accessing MFx for the first time. USBFS shall enable the Trust to access MFx services by supplying the Trust with necessary software, training, information and connectivity support as mutually agreed upon, all of which shall constitute confidential knowledge and information of USBFS and shall be used by
|
|
|
the Trust only as necessary to access MFx services pursuant to this Agreement. The Trust shall provide for the security of all codes and system access mechanisms relating to MFx provided to it by USBFS and implement such security procedures and/or devices to ensure the integrity of MFx. The Trust hereby understands that USBFS will perform periodic maintenance to the MFx hardware and software being accessed, which may cause temporary service interruptions. USBFS shall notify the Trust of all planned outages and, to the extent possible, will perform any necessary maintenance during non-business hours.
|
|
The Trust hereby acknowledges that all programs, software, manuals and other written information relating to MFx access provided by USBFS pursuant to this Agreement shall remain the exclusive property of USBFS at all times.
|
4.
|
Lost Shareholder Due Diligence Searches and Servicing
|
5.
|
Anti-Money Laundering and Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Programs
|
A.
|
Prompt written notification of any transaction or combination of transactions that USBFS believes, based on the Procedures, evidence money laundering or identity theft activities in connection with the Trust or any shareholder of the Fund;
|
B.
|
Prompt written notification of any customer(s) that USBFS reasonably believes, based upon the Procedures, to be engaged in money laundering or identity theft activities, provided that the Trust agrees not to communicate this information to the customer;
|
C.
|
Any reports received by USBFS from any government agency or applicable industry self-regulatory organization pertaining to USBFS’s anti-money laundering monitoring or the Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Program on behalf of the Trust;
|
D.
|
Prompt written notification of any action taken in response to anti-money laundering violations or identity theft activity as described in (a), (b) or (c); and
|
E.
|
Certified annual and quarterly reports of its monitoring and customer identification activities on behalf of the Trust.
|
6.
|
Compensation
|
7.
|
Representations and Warranties
|
A.
|
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to USBFS, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
|
|
(1)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
|
(2)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;
|
|
(3)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or
|
|
|
affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and
|
|
(4)
|
A registration statement under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, will be made effective prior to the effective date of this Agreement and will remain effective during the term of this Agreement, and appropriate state securities law filings will be made prior to the effective date of this Agreement and will continue to be made during the term of this Agreement as necessary to enable the Trust to make a continuous public offering of its shares.
|
B.
|
USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
|
|
(1)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
|
(2)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by USBFS in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of USBFS, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;
|
|
(3)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and
|
|
(4)
|
It is a registered transfer agent under the Exchange Act.
|
8.
|
Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
|
A.
|
USBFS shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. USBFS shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond USBFS’s control, except a loss arising out of or relating to USBFS’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if USBFS has exercised reasonable care in the
|
|
performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless USBFS from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that USBFS may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against USBFS by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to USBFS by any duly authorized officer of the Trust, as approved by the Board of Directors of the Trust (the “Board of Directors”), except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to USBFS’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Trust, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’s directors, officers and employees.
|
B.
|
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this Section. The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.
|
C.
|
The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 8, and in
Exhibit B
, if applicable, shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.
|
D.
|
If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Trust pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve USBFS of any of its obligations in such other capacity.
|
9.
|
Data Necessary to Perform Services
|
10.
|
Proprietary and Confidential Information
|
11.
|
Records
|
12.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
13.
|
Term of Agreement; Amendment
|
14.
|
Early Termination
|
15.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS | U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ David M. Churchill
|
By: |
/s/ Michael R. McVoy
|
||
Name: |
David M. Churchill
|
Name: |
Michael R. McVoy
|
||
Title: |
President
|
Title: |
Executive Vice President
|
1.
|
Services Covered
|
|
A.
|
Fan Web
– Shareholder internet access by shareholders to their shareholder account information and investment transaction capabilities. Internet service is connected directly to the Trust group’s web site(s) through a transparent hyperlink. Shareholders can access, among other information, account information and portfolio listings within the Trust’s Funds, view their transaction history, and purchase additional shares through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”).
|
|
B.
|
Vision Mutual Fund Gateway
– Permits broker/dealers, financial planners, and registered investment advisors to use a web-based system to perform order and account inquiry, execute trades, print applications, review Prospectuses, and establish new accounts.
|
2.
|
Duties and Responsibilities of USBFS
|
|
USBFS shall:
|
A.
|
Make Electronic Services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, subject to scheduled maintenance and events outside of USBFS’s reasonable control. Unless an emergency is encountered, no routine maintenance will occur during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central Time.
|
B.
|
Provide installation services, which shall include review and approval of the Trust’s network requirements, recommending method of establishing (and, as applicable, cooperate with the Trust to implement and maintain) a hypertext link between the Electronic Services site and the Trust’s web site(s) and testing the network connectivity and performance.
|
C.
|
Maintain and support the Electronic Services, which shall include providing error corrections, minor enhancements and interim upgrades to the Electronic Services that are made generally available to the Electronic Services customers and providing help desk support to provide assistance to the Trust’s employees and agents with their use of the Electronic Services. Maintenance and support, as used herein, shall not include (i) access to or use of any substantial added
|
|
functionality, new interfaces, new architecture, new platforms, new versions or major development efforts, unless made generally available by USBFS to the Electronic Services customers, as determined solely by USBFS or (ii) maintenance of customized features.
|
D.
|
Establish systems to guide, assist and permit End Users (as defined below) who access the Electronic Services site from the Trust’s web site(s) to electronically perform inquiries and create and transmit transaction requests to USBFS.
|
E.
|
Address and mail, at the Trust’s expense, notification and promotional mailings and other communications provided by the Trust to shareholders regarding the availability of the Electronic Services.
|
F.
|
Issue to each shareholder, financial adviser or other person or entity who desires to make inquiries concerning the Trust or perform transactions in accounts with the Trust using any of the Electronic Services (the “End User”) a unique personal identification number (“PIN”) for authentication purposes, which may be changed upon an End User’s reasonable request in accordance with policies to be determined by USBFS and the Trust. USBFS will require the End User to provide his/her PIN in order to access the Electronic Services.
|
G.
|
Prepare and process new account applications received through the Electronic Services from shareholders determined by the Trust to be eligible for such services and in connection with such, the Trust agrees as follows:
|
(1)
|
to permit the establishment of shareholder bank account information over the Internet in order to facilitate purchase activity through ACH; and
|
(2)
|
the Trust shall be responsible for any resulting gain/loss liability associated with the ACH process.
|
H.
|
Provide the End User with a transaction confirmation number for each completed purchase, redemption, or exchange of the Trust’s shares upon completion of the transaction.
|
I.
|
Utilize encryption and secure transport protocols intended to prevent fraud and ensure confidentiality of End User accounts and transactions. In no event shall USBFS use encryption weaker than 128-bit or any stronger technology industry standard that becomes common for used in similar applications. USBFS will take reasonable actions, including periodic scans of Internet interfaces and the Electronic Services, to protect the Internet web site that provides the Electronic Services and related network, against viruses, worms and other data corruption or disabling devices, and unauthorized, fraudulent or illegal use, by using appropriate anti-virus and intrusion detection software and by adopting such other security procedures as may be necessary.
|
J.
|
Inform the Trust promptly of any malfunctions, problems, errors or service interruptions with respect to the Electronic Services of which USBFS becomes aware.
|
K.
|
Exercise reasonable efforts to maintain all on-screen disclaimers and copyright, trademark and service mark notifications, if any, provided by the Trust to USBFS in writing from time to time, and all “point and click” features of the Electronic Services relating to shareholder acknowledgment and acceptance of such disclaimers and notifications.
|
L.
|
Establish and provide to the Trust written procedures, which may be amended from time to time by USBFS with the written consent of the Trust, regarding End User access to the Electronic Services. Such written procedures shall establish security standards for the Electronic Services, including, without limitation:
|
(1)
|
Encryption/secure transport protocols.
|
(2)
|
End User lockout standards (e.g., lockout after three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the Electronic Services).
|
(3)
|
PIN issuance and reissuance standards.
|
(4)
|
Access standards, including limits on access to End Users whose accounts are coded for privilege.
|
(5)
|
Automatic logoff standards (e.g., if the session is inactive for longer than 15 minutes).
|
M.
|
Provide the Trust with daily reports of transactions listing all purchases or transfers made by each End User separately. USBFS shall also furnish the Trust with monthly reports summarizing shareholder inquiry and transaction activity without listing all transactions.
|
N.
|
Annually engage a third party to audit its internal controls for the Electronic Services and compliance with all guidelines for the Electronic Services included herein and provide the Trust with a copy of the auditor’s report promptly.
|
O.
|
Maintain its systems and perform its duties and obligations hereunder in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
|
3.
|
Duties and Responsibilities of the Trust
|
|
Also, the Trust shall:
|
A.
|
Revise and update the applicable Prospectus(es) and other pertinent materials, such as user agreements with End Users, to include the appropriate consents, notices and disclosures for Electronic Services, including disclaimers and information reasonably requested by USBFS.
|
B.
|
Be responsible for designing, developing and maintaining one or more web sites for the Trust through which End Users may access the Electronic Services, including provision of software necessary for access to the Internet, which must be acquired from a third-party vendor. Such web sites shall have the functionality necessary to facilitate, implement and maintain the hypertext links to the Electronic Services and the various inquiry and transaction web pages. The Trust shall provide USBFS with the name of the host of the Trust’s web site server and shall notify USBFS of any change to the Trust’s web site server host.
|
C.
|
Provide USBFS with such information and/or access to the Trust’s web site(s) as is necessary for USBFS to provide the Electronic Services to End Users.
|
D.
|
Promptly notify USBFS of any problems or errors with the applicable Electronic Services of which the Trust becomes aware or any changes in policies or procedures of the Trust requiring changes to the Electronic Services.
|
4.
|
Additional Representation and Warranty
|
5.
|
Proprietary Rights
|
A.
|
Each party acknowledges and agrees that it obtains no rights in or to any of the software, hardware, processes, trade secrets, proprietary information or distribution and communication networks of the other hereunder. Any software, interfaces or other programs a party provides to the other hereunder shall be used by such receiving party only in accordance with the provisions of this
Exhibit B
. Any interfaces, other software or other programs developed by one party shall not be used directly or indirectly by or for the other party or any of its affiliates to connect such receiving party or any affiliate to any other person, without the first
|
|
party’s prior written approval, which it may give or withhold in its sole discretion. Except in the normal course of business and in conformity with Federal copyright law or with the other party’s consent, neither party nor any of its affiliates shall disclose, use, copy, decompile or reverse engineer any software or other programs provided to such party by the other in connection herewith.
|
B.
|
The Trust’s web site(s) and the Electronic Services site may contain certain intellectual property, including, but not limited to, rights in copyrighted works, trademarks and trade dress that is the property of the other party. Each party retains all rights in such intellectual property that may reside on the other party’s web site, not including any intellectual property provided by or otherwise obtained from such other party. To the extent the intellectual property of one party is cached to expedite communication, such party grants to the other a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to such intellectual property for a period of time no longer than that reasonably necessary for the communication. To the extent that the intellectual property of one party is duplicated within the other party’s web site to replicate the “look and feel,” “trade dress” or other aspect of the appearance or functionality of the first site, that party grants to the other a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to such intellectual property for the period during which this
Exhibit B
is in effect. This license is limited to the intellectual property needed to replicate the appearance of the first site and does not extend to any other intellectual property owned by the owner of the first site. Each party warrants that it has sufficient right, title and interest in and to its web site and its intellectual property to enter into these obligations, and that to its knowledge, the license hereby granted to the other party does not and will not infringe on any U.S. patent, copyright or other proprietary right of a third party.
|
C.
|
Each party agrees that the nonbreaching party would not have an adequate remedy at law in the event of the other party’s breach or threatened breach of its obligations under this Section of this
Exhibit B
and that the nonbreaching party would suffer irreparable injury and damage as a result of any such breach. Accordingly, in the event either party breaches or threatens to breach the obligations set forth in this Section of this
Exhibit B
, in addition to and not in lieu of any legal or other remedies a party may pursue hereunder or under applicable law, each party hereby consents to the granting of equitable relief (including the issuance of a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or permanent injunction) against it by a court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting any bond or other security therefor, prohibiting any such breach or threatened breach. In any proceeding upon a motion for such equitable relief, a party’s ability to answer in damages shall not be interposed as a defense to the granting of such equitable relief. The provisions of this Section relating to equitable relief shall survive termination of the provision of services set forth in this
Exhibit B
.
|
6.
|
Compensation
|
7.
|
Additional Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
|
A.
|
Subject to Section 2(A), USBFS CANNOT AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE AVAILABILITY OF THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES. Accordingly, USBFS’s sole liability to the Trust or any third party (including End Users) for any claims, notwithstanding the form of such claims (e.g., contract, negligence, or otherwise), arising out of the delay of or interruption in the Electronic Services to be provided by USBFS hereunder shall be to use its best reasonable efforts to commence or resume the Electronic Services as promptly as is reasonably possible.
|
|
B.
|
USBFS shall, at its sole cost and expense, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Trust and its directors, officers and employees from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to (a) any infringement, or claim of infringement, of any United States patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary rights based on the use or potential use of the Electronic Services and (b) the provision of the Trust Files (as defined below) or Confidential Information (as defined below) to a person other than a person to whom such information may be properly disclosed hereunder.
|
C.
|
If an injunction is issued against the Trust’s use of the Electronic Services by reason of infringement of a patent, copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights of a third party, USBFS shall, at its own option and expense, either (i) procure for the Trust the right to continue to use the Electronic Services on substantially the same terms and conditions as specified hereunder, or (ii) after notification to the Trust, replace or modify the Electronic Services so that they become non-infringing, provided that, in the Trust’s judgment, such replacement or modification does not materially and adversely affect the performance of the Electronic Services or significantly lessen their utility to the Trust. If in the Trust’s judgment, such replacement or modification does materially adversely affect the performance of the Electronic Services or significantly lessen their utility to the Trust, the Trust may terminate all rights and responsibilities under this
Exhibit C
immediately on written notice to USBFS.
|
D.
|
Because the ability of USBFS to deliver Electronic Services is dependent upon the Internet and equipment, software, systems, data and services provided by various telecommunications carriers, equipment manufacturers, firewall providers and encryption system developers and other vendors and third parties, USBFS shall not be liable for delays or failures to perform its obligations hereunder to the extent that such delays or failures are attributable to circumstances beyond its reasonable control which interfere with the delivery of the Electronic Services by
|
|
means of the Internet or any of the equipment, software and services which support the Internet provided by such third parties. USBFS shall also not be liable for the actions or omissions of any third party wrongdoers (i.e., hackers not employed by USBFS or its affiliates) or of any third parties involved in the Electronic Services and shall not be liable for the selection of any such third party, unless USBFS selected the third party in bad faith or in a grossly negligent manner.
|
E.
|
USBFS shall not be responsible for the accuracy of input material from End Users nor the resultant output derived from inaccurate input. The accuracy of input and output shall be judged as received at USBFS’s data center as determined by the records maintained by USBFS.
|
F.
|
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, USBFS shall not be obligated to ensure or verify the accuracy or actual receipt, or the transmission, of any data or information contained in any transaction via the Electronic Services or the consummation of any inquiry or transaction request not actually reviewed by USBFS.
|
8.
|
File Security and Retention; Confidentiality
|
A.
|
USBFS and its agents will provide reasonable security provisions to ensure that unauthorized third parties do not have access to the Trust’s data bases, files, and other information provided by the Trust to USBFS for use with the Electronic Services, the names of End Users or End User transaction or account data (collectively, “Trust Files”). USBFS’s security provisions with respect to the Electronic Services, the Trust’s web site(s) and the Trust Files will be no less protected than USBFS’s security provisions with respect to its own proprietary information. USBFS agrees that any and all Trust Files maintained by USBFS for the Trust hereunder shall be available for inspection by the Trust’s regulatory authorities during regular business hours, upon reasonable prior written notice to USBFS, and will be maintained and retained in accordance with applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. USBFS will take such actions as are necessary to protect the intellectual property contained within the Trust’s web site(s) or any software, written materials, or pictorial materials describing or creating the Trust’s web site(s), including all interface designs or specifications. USBFS will take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect all rights to the source code and interface of the Trust’s web site(s). In addition, USBFS will not use, or permit the use of, names of End Users for the purpose of soliciting any business, product, or service whatsoever except where the communication is necessary and appropriate for USBFS’s delivery of the Electronic Services.
|
B.
|
USBFS shall treat as confidential and not disclose or otherwise make available any of the Trust’s lists, information, trade secrets, processes, proprietary data, information or documentation (collectively, the “Confidential Information”), in any form, to any person other than agents, employees or consultants of USBFS.
|
|
USBFS will instruct its agents, employees and consultants who have access to the Confidential Information to keep such information confidential by using the same care and discretion that USBFS uses with respect to its own confidential property and trade secrets. Upon termination of the rights and responsibilities described in this
Exhibit B
for any reason and upon the Trust’s request, USBFS shall return to the Trust, or destroy and certify that it has destroyed, any and all copies of the Confidential Information which are in its possession.
|
C.
|
Notwithstanding the above, USBFS will not have an obligation of confidentiality under this Section with regard to information that (1) was known to it prior to disclosure hereunder, (2) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach hereof, (3) is disclosed to it by a third party not subject to a duty of confidentiality, or (4) is required to be disclosed under law or by order of court or governmental agency.
|
9.
|
Warranties
|
10.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Domestic Equities, Options, ADRs
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Domestic Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency Bonds, Foreign Equities, Futures, Forwards, Currency
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- CMOs, Municipal Bonds, Money Market Instruments, Foreign Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Bank Loans
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Credit Default Swaps
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Swaptions, Index Swaps
|
§
|
$
[ ]
- Interest Rate Swaps, Foreign Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Total Return Bullet Swaps
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/Foreign Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/Domestic Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/Month Manual Security Pricing (>
[ ]
/day)
|
§
|
$
[ ]
on the First
[ ]
Securities
|
§
|
$
[ ]
on the Balance of Securities
|
INTERNET SERVICES
|
INFORMA ELECTRONIC SHAREHOLDER STATEMENT SERVICES
FEE SCHEDULE at July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015
|
§
|
On-site at USBFS - $
[ ]
/day
|
§
|
At client location - $
[ ]
/day plus travel and out-of-pocket expenses if required
|
§
|
[ ]
days or less: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
[ ]
-
[ ]
days: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
[ ]
-
[ ]
days: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
[ ]
days –
[ ]
year: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
[ ]
year –
[ ]
years: $
[ ]
/open account
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/direct open account per year
|
§
|
$
[ ]
setup /fund group of
[ ]
-
[ ]
funds, $
[ ]
setup /fund group of over
[ ]
funds
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/account per year
|
§
|
$
[ ]
setup /fund group
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/month administration
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/received email correspondence
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/fund group per month
|
§
|
Setup - $
[ ]
/fund group
|
§
|
Annual Fee - $
[ ]
/open and closed account
|
§
|
Account Management
|
−
|
$[ ] /month (account management, lead reporting and database administration)
|
§
|
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
|
−
|
Included but not limited to kit and order processing expenses, postage, and printing.
|
§
|
Inbound Teleservicing Only
|
−
|
Account Management - $[ ] /month
|
−
|
Call Servicing - $[ ] /minute
|
§
|
Lead Conversion Reporting (Closed Loop)
|
−
|
Account Management- $[ ] /month
|
−
|
Database Installation, Setup -$[ ] /fund group
|
−
|
Specialized Programming - (Separate Quote)*
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/money market share class per year
|
§
|
Out-of-pocket expenses (see Transfer Agent Fee Schedule)
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/qualified plan account or Coverdell ESA account (Cap at $
[ ]
/SSN)
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/transfer to successor trustee
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/participant distribution (Excluding SWPs)
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/refund of excess contribution
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/reconversion/recharacterization
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/outgoing wire transfer or overnight delivery
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/telephone exchange
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/return check or ACH or stop payment
|
§
|
$
[ ]
/research request per account (Cap at $
[ ]
/request) (This fee applies to requests for statements older than the prior year)
|
§
|
Setup: $
[ ]
(Access via Internet VPN)
|
§
|
Service: $
[ ]
/user per month
|
§
|
Implementation (one time charge) & Recurring Charges (monthly)
|
-
|
[ ]
Users – $
[ ]
|
-
|
[ ]
Users – $[ ]
|
-
|
[ ] Users – $[ ]
|
-
|
[ ] Users – $[ ]
|
-
|
[ ] Users – $[ ]
|
-
|
[ ] Users – $[ ]
|
§
|
Training
|
§
|
WebEx - $[ ] /user
|
§
|
On Site at USBFS - $[ ] /day
|
§
|
At Client Location - $[ ] /day plus travel and out-of-pocket expenses if required
|
§
|
Real Time Data Feeds
|
-
|
Implementation (per feed) - $[ ] /hour ([ ] hour estimate)
|
-
|
Recurring (per feed) - $[ ] /month
|
§
|
Subsequent CUSIP Setup - $[ ] /CUSIP
|
§
|
Expedited CUSIP Setup - $[ ] /CUSIP (Less than [ ] days)
|
§
|
$[ ] /monthly report
|
1.
|
Appointment of USBFS as Fund Accountant
|
2.
|
Services and Duties of USBFS
|
(1)
|
Maintain portfolio records on a trade date+1 basis using security trade information communicated from the Fund’s investment adviser.
|
(2)
|
For each valuation date, obtain prices from a pricing source approved by the board of trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees”) and apply those prices to the portfolio positions. For those securities where market quotations are not readily available, the Board of Trustees shall approve, in good faith, procedures for determining the fair value for such securities.
|
(3)
|
Identify interest and dividend accrual balances as of each valuation date and calculate gross earnings on investments for each accounting period.
|
(4)
|
Determine gain/loss on security sales and identify them as short-term or long-term; account for periodic distributions of gains or losses to shareholders and maintain undistributed gain or loss balances as of each valuation date.
|
(5)
|
On a daily basis, reconcile cash of the Fund with the Fund’s custodian.
|
(6)
|
Transmit a copy of the portfolio valuation to the Fund’s investment adviser daily.
|
(7)
|
Review the impact of current day’s activity on a per share basis, and review changes in market value.
|
(1)
|
For each valuation date, calculate the expense accrual amounts as directed by the Trust as to methodology, rate or dollar amount.
|
(2)
|
Process and record payments for Fund expenses upon receipt of written authorization from the Trust.
|
(3)
|
Account for Fund expenditures and maintain expense accrual balances at the level of accounting detail, as agreed upon by USBFS and the Trust.
|
(4)
|
Provide expense accrual and payment reporting.
|
(1)
|
Account for Fund share purchases, sales, exchanges, transfers, dividend reinvestments, and other Fund share activity as reported by the Fund’s transfer agent on a timely basis.
|
(2)
|
Apply equalization accounting as directed by the Trust.
|
(3)
|
Determine net investment income (earnings) for the Fund as of each valuation date. Account for periodic distributions of earnings to shareholders and maintain undistributed net investment income balances as of each valuation date.
|
(4)
|
Maintain a general ledger and other accounts, books, and financial records for the Fund in the form as agreed upon.
|
(5)
|
Determine the net asset value of the Fund according to the accounting policies and procedures set forth in the Fund's current prospectus.
|
(6)
|
Calculate per share net asset value, per share net earnings, and other per share amounts reflective of Fund operations at such time as required by the nature and characteristics of the Fund.
|
(7)
|
Communicate to the Trust, at an agreed upon time, the per share net asset value for each valuation date.
|
(8)
|
Prepare monthly reports that document the adequacy of accounting detail to support month-end ledger balances.
|
(9)
|
Prepare monthly security transactions listings.
|
(1)
|
Maintain accounting records for the investment portfolio of the Fund to support the tax reporting required for “regulated investment companies” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
|
(2)
|
Maintain tax lot detail for the Fund’s investment portfolio.
|
(3)
|
Calculate taxable gain/loss on security sales using the tax lot relief method designated by the Trust.
|
(4)
|
Provide the necessary financial information to calculate the taxable components of income and capital gains distributions to support tax reporting to the shareholders.
|
(1)
|
Support reporting to regulatory bodies and support financial statement preparation by making the Fund's accounting records available to the Trust, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and the independent accountants.
|
(2)
|
Maintain accounting records according to the 1940 Act and regulations provided thereunder.
|
(3)
|
Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the Trust in connection with any certification required of the Trust pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOX Act”) or any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, provided the same shall not be deemed to change USBFS’s standard of care as set forth herein.
|
(4)
|
Cooperate with the Trust’s independent accountants and take all reasonable action in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement to ensure that the necessary information is made available to such accountants for the expression of their opinion on the Fund’s financial statements without any qualification as to the scope of their examination.
|
3.
|
License of Data; Warranty; Termination of Rights
|
A.
|
The valuation information and evaluations being provided to the Trust by USBFS pursuant hereto (collectively, the “Data”) are being licensed, not sold, to the Trust. The Trust has a limited license to use the Data only for purposes necessary to valuing the Trust’s assets and reporting to regulatory bodies (the “License”). The Trust does not have any license nor right to use the Data for purposes beyond the intentions of this Agreement including, but not limited to, resale to other users or use to create any type of historical database. The License is non-transferable and not sub-licensable. The Trust’s right to use the Data cannot be passed to or shared with any other entity.
|
B.
|
THE TRUST HEREBY ACCEPTS THE DATA AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER MATTER.
|
C.
|
USBFS may stop supplying some or all Data to the Trust if USBFS’s suppliers terminate any agreement to provide Data to USBFS. Also, USBFS may stop supplying some or all Data to the Trust if USBFS reasonably believes that the Trust is using the Data in violation of the License, or breaching its duties of confidentiality provided for hereunder, or if any of USBFS’s suppliers demand that the Data be withheld from the Trust. USBFS will provide notice to the Trust of any termination of provision of Data as soon as reasonably possible.
|
4.
|
Pricing of Securities
|
A.
|
For each valuation date, USBFS shall obtain prices from a pricing source recommended by USBFS and approved by the Board of Trustees and apply those prices to the portfolio positions of the Fund. For those securities where market quotations are not readily available, the Board of Trustees shall approve, in good faith, procedures for determining the fair value for such securities.
|
B.
|
In the event that the Trust at any time receives Data containing evaluations, rather than market quotations, for certain securities or certain other data related to such securities, the following provisions will apply: (i) evaluated securities are typically complicated financial instruments. There are many methodologies (including computer-based analytical modeling and individual security evaluations) available to generate approximations of the market value of such securities, and there is significant professional disagreement about which method is best. No evaluation method, including those used by USBFS and its suppliers, may consistently generate approximations that correspond to actual “traded” prices of the securities; (ii) methodologies used to provide the pricing portion of certain Data may rely on evaluations; however, the Trust acknowledges that there may be errors or defects in the software, databases, or methodologies generating the evaluations that may cause resultant evaluations to be inappropriate for use in certain applications; and (iii) the Trust assumes all responsibility for edit checking, external verification of evaluations, and ultimately the appropriateness of using Data containing evaluations, regardless of any efforts made by USBFS and its suppliers in this respect.
|
5.
|
Changes in Accounting Procedures
|
6.
|
Changes in Equipment, Systems, Etc.
|
7.
|
Compensation
|
8.
|
Representations and Warranties
|
A.
|
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to USBFS, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
|
|
(1)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
|
(2)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
|
|
(3)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
|
B.
|
USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
|
|
(1)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
|
(2)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by USBFS in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of USBFS, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
|
|
(3)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
|
9.
|
Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
|
A.
|
USBFS shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Neither USBFS nor its suppliers shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or any third party in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond USBFS’s control, except a loss arising out of or relating to USBFS’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if USBFS has exercised reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless USBFS and its suppliers from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that USBFS or its suppliers may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against USBFS or its suppliers by any person arising out of or related to (X) any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to USBFS by any duly authorized officer of the Trust, as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, or (Y) the Data, or any information, service, report, analysis or publication derived therefrom, except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to USBFS’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Trust, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’s directors, officers and employees.
|
B.
|
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section. The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.
|
C.
|
The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 9 shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.
|
D.
|
If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Trust pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve USBFS of any of its obligations in such other capacity.
|
10.
|
Notification of Error
|
11.
|
Data Necessary to Perform Services
|
12.
|
Proprietary and Confidential Information
|
A.
|
USBFS agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Trust (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where USBFS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or (iii) when so requested by the Trust. Records and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of USBFS or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of USBFS prior to receipt thereof from the Trust or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
|
B.
|
The Trust, on behalf of itself and its trustees, officers, and employees, will maintain the confidential and proprietary nature of the Data and agrees to protect it using the same efforts, but in no case less than reasonable efforts, that it uses to protect its own proprietary and confidential information.
|
13.
|
Records
|
14.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
15.
|
Term of Agreement; Amendment
|
16.
|
Early Termination
|
17.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS | U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC |
By: /s/ David M. Churchill | By : /s/ Michael R. McVoy |
Name: David M. Churchill | Name: Michael R. McVoy |
Title: President | Title: Executive Vice President |
INTERNET SERVICES
|
VISION MUTUAL FUND GATEWAY
– Permits broker/dealers, financial planners, and RIAs to us a web-based system to perform order and account inquiry, execute trades, print applications, review prospectuses, and establish new accounts.
Inquiry Only
·
Inquiry - $
[ ]
per event
·
Per broker ID - $
[ ]
per month per ID
Transaction Processing
·
Implementation - $
[ ]
per management company
·
Transaction – purchase, redeem, exchange, literature order - $
[ ]
per event
·
New Account Set-up – may contain multiple fund/accounts - $
[ ]
per event
·
Monthly Minimum Charge - $
[ ]
per month
|
FAN WEB
– Shareholder internet access to account information and transaction capabilities through a transparent link at the fund group web site. Shareholders access account information, portfolio listing fund family, transaction history, purchase additional shares through ACH, etc.
1.
FAN Web Select “Hybrid” (Fund Groups under
[ ]
open accounts) – Standard Web services
·
Implementation - $
[ ]
per fund group – includes up to
[ ]
hours of technical/BSA support
·
Annual Base Fee - $
[ ]
per year (annual base fee increases to $
[ ]
per year when the fund group exceeds
[ ]
open accounts)
2. Customization - $[ ] per hour
3.
Activity (Session) Fees:
·
Inquiry - $
[ ]
per event
·
Account Maintenance - $
[ ]
per event
·
Transaction – financial transactions, reorder statements, etc. - $
[ ]
per event
·
New Account Set-up - $
[ ]
per event (Typically not available with FAN Web Select, but Winslow Green Growth and Brown Advisory Funds are using a Hybrid of FAN Web Select.)
·
Strong Authentication:
$
[ ]
/month per active FAN Web ID (Any ID that has had activity within the
[ ]
-day period prior to the billing cycle)
FAN Web Mobile
Access to account information and transaction capabilities through mobile internet devices. Shareholders
can access portfolio summary, account balances, account history, and conduct financial transaction
requests such as purchases, redemptions, and exchanges.
Initial Implementation Site Setup Fee - $
[ ]
Monthly Base Fee - $
[ ]
Transaction Fees:
-
Inquiry - $
[ ]
/event
-
Maintenance - $
[ ]
/event
-
Transaction - $
[ ]
/event
-
New Account Establishment Setup - $
[ ]
/event
|
INFORMA ELECTRONIC SHAREHOLDER STATEMENT SERVICES
FEE SCHEDULE at July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015
|
Electronic Confirm Presentation
eCDLY will load shareowner daily confirmations (financial transactions only, does not include maintenance confirmations) and send notification to consented shareowners of a new document to view.
§
Document Loading, Storage, and Access - $
[ ]
/statement
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression, and Notification - $
[ ]
/suppressed statement
§
Development & Implementation of Electronic Confirm Statements - $
[ ]
initial setup fee
Note: Quarterly minimum fee of $
[ ]
.
Electronic Investor Statement Presentation
eStatements will load shareowner investor statements in a PDF format and send notification to the consented shareowners of a new document to view.
§
Document Loading, Storage, and Access - $
[ ]
/statement
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression, and Notification - $
[ ]
/suppressed statement
§
Development & Implementation of Electronic Investor Statements - $
[ ]
($
[ ]
is the std. initial setup fee)
Electronic Tax Presentation
eTax will load TA2000 tax forms and send notification to the consented shareowners of a new document to view.
§
Document Loading, Storage, and Access - $
[ ]
/statement
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression, and Notification - $
[ ]
/suppressed statement
§
Development & Implementation of Electronic Tax Statements - $
[ ]
($
[ ]
is the std initial setup fee)
Electronic Compliance Presentation
eCompliance allows consented users to receive an email containing a link to the respective compliance material for each compliance run.
§
Document Loading, Storage, and Access
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression, and Notification - $
[ ]
/suppressed statement
§
Development & Implementation of Electronic Compliance Documents - $
[ ]
initial setup fee
Note: Annual compliance minimum fee of $
[ ]
.
FAN Web Transaction Fees
§
View Consent Enrollment - $
[ ]
/transaction
§
Consent Enrollment - $
[ ]
/transaction
§
View Statements - $
[ ]
/view
Notes:
All pricing based upon contractual three-year term. Proposal is rough estimate based upon client request. Rates subject to change once formal business requirements are received and reviewed. Estimate is valid for
[ ]
days based on the following conditions:
§
Document Loading, Storage and Access - Statements presented as PDF documents. Includes data preparation for web-based presentment, document loading, hot storage for
[ ]
years (
[ ]
) on primary DASD and WORM-media and unlimited access. Statements will be loaded for all accounts, regardless of consent.
§
Document Consent Processing, Suppression & Notification – On-line consent registration, paper suppression, processing, quality control and email notification of document availability to an ISP address. Suppression and Notification volume will be determined by customer consent. Email notification of document availability to an ISP address. Notification volume will be determined by customer consent.
§
Document Setup & Development Fees-- Includes gathering business requirements and creation of functional specification document with record types II, AS, and AT, utilizing a DST OUTPUT MIMS data feed. Applies to major classes of documents (e.g. daily confirm, investor, and tax documents) and significantly different documents within a class (e.g. a high net worth statement). Document setup fees will be determined upon requirements gathering and defining project scope.
§
Consent options will be reflected on TA2000; Email tracking and reporting on TA2000 Electronic Media reports
§
Standard Development Fee- Fee assessed for any additional programming outside of the initial implementation scope or any additional post-production enhancements. $
[ ]
per hour.
|
|
(a)
|
supervising all aspects of the management and operations of the Trust, which shall be deemed to include the monitoring of the Trust’s relationships with those third-party service providers that may be retained from time to time by the Trust, including, but not necessarily limited to, such custodians, transfer agents, distributors (including any dealers utilized by such distributors), administrators, accounting agents, dividend disbursing agents, securities lending agents, independent registered public accounting firms, law firms, and such other agents and service providers as may be engaged to provide services to the Trust;
|
|
(b)
|
providing such officers to the Trust as are deemed necessary and appropriate for carrying out the executive functions of the Trust;
|
|
(c)
|
supervising the preparation of such periodic reports to shareholders of the Funds that are required under the 1940 Act;
|
|
(d)
|
supervising compliance by each of the Funds with the recordkeeping requirements imposed under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any similar applicable state laws, rules or regulations with respect to recordkeeping;
|
|
(e)
|
monitoring the Trust’s compliance with the provisions of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and either providing the Trust with or procuring for the Trust the services of a Chief Compliance Officer in accordance with Rule 38a-1, in the event so requested;
|
|
(f)
|
assisting with providing necessary and appropriate services to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including, but not necessarily limited to, assistance with: (i) the preparation of certain Board meeting materials for use by the members of the Board and (ii) liaisoning with the members of the Board in order to facilitate the Board meeting and planning process and assisting with Board management functions;
|
|
(g)
|
assisting with the procurement of such insurance coverage for the Trust as is required under the 1940 Act and assisting with the procurement of such insurance coverage as the Board of Trustees may deemed necessary and advisable for the ongoing protection of the interests of the Board members and the officers of the Trust; and
|
|
(h)
|
providing such other business management services as are deemed incidental to carrying out the above services as the Board of Trustees may request of the Manager from time to time.
|
|
4.
Compensation of the Manager
.
|
|
BROWN ADVISORY, LLC
|
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS
|
BROWN ADVISORY, LLC
|
By:
/s/ Brett D. Rogers
|
By:
/s/ D.M. Churchill
|
Name:
Brett D. Rogers
|
Name:
D.M. Churchill
|
Title:
CCO
|
Title:
CFO
|
Fund Name and Class of Shares |
Maximum Operating
Expense Limit
*
|
|
Brown Advisory Growth Equity Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 1.35% | |
Investor Shares | 1.15% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.00% | |
Brown Advisory Value Equity Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 1.35% | |
Investor Shares | 1.15% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.00% | |
Brown Advisory Flexible Value Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 1.35% | |
Investor Shares | 1.15% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.00% | |
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Growth Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 1.60% | |
Investor Shares | 1.40% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.25% | |
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Fundamental Value Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 1.60% | |
Investor Shares | 1.40% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.25% | |
Brown Advisory Opportunity Fund | ||
Advisor Shares | 1.70% | |
Investor Shares | 1.50% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.35% | |
Brown Advisory Maryland Bond Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 0.80% | |
Investor Shares | 0.60% | |
Institutional Shares | 0.55% | |
Fund Name and Class of Shares |
Maximum Operating
Expense Limit
*
|
Brown Advisory Intermediate Income Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 0.80% | |
Investor Shares | 0.60% | |
Institutional Shares | 0.55% | |
Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 1.75% | |
Investor Shares | 1.55% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.40% | |
Brown Advisory Equity Income Fund
|
||
Advisor Shares | 1.35% | |
Investor Shares | 1.15% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.00% | |
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund | ||
Advisor Shares | 1.35% | |
Investor Shares | 1.15% | |
Institutional Shares | 1.00% | |
Brown Advisory Tax Exempt Bond Fund | ||
Advisor Shares | 0.80% | |
Investor Shares | 0.60% | |
Institutional Shares | 0.55% |
Fund:
|
Maximum
Shareholder
Servicing Fee
Advisor Shares
|
Maximum
Shareholder
Servicing Fee
Investor Shares
|
Brown Advisory Growth Equity Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
Brown Advisory Value Equity Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
Brown Advisory Flexible Value Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Growth Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Fundamental Value Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
Brown Advisory Opportunity Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
Brown Advisory Maryland Bond Fund
|
0.05%
|
0.05%
|
Brown Advisory Intermediate Income Fund
|
0.05%
|
0.05%
|
Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
Brown Advisory Equity Income Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
|
0.05%
|
0.05%
|
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund
|
0.15%
|
0.15%
|
2.
|
RULE 12b-1 AGREEMENTS
|
12b-1 Fees | ||
Name of Series | Advisor Shares* | |
Brown Advisory Growth Equity Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Value Equity Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Flexible Value Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Growth Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Fundamental Value Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Opportunity Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Maryland Bond Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Intermediate Income Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Equity Income Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund | 0.25% |
12b-1 Fees | ||
Name of Series | Advisor Shares* | |
Brown Advisory Growth Equity Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Value Equity Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Flexible Value Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Growth Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Fundamental Value Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Opportunity Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Maryland Bond Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Intermediate Income Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Equity Income Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | 0.25% | |
Brown Advisory Winslow Sustainability Fund | 0.25% |
1.
|
Maximum Initial Sales Charge
: None.
|
2.
|
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
: None.
|
3.
|
Maximum Annual Rule 12b-1 Distribution Fee
:
|
·
|
0.25%.
|
4.
|
Maximum Annual Shareholder Servicing Fee
:
|
·
|
0.15%.
|
5.
|
Conversion Features
: None.
|
6.
|
Exchange Privileges
: As described in the current prospectus for the Funds.
|
7.
|
Redemption Fees
: 1.00% if shares are liquidated within 14 days of purchase (within 90 days of purchase with respect to the Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund).
|
1.
|
Maximum Initial Sales Charge
: None.
|
2.
|
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
: None.
|
3.
|
Maximum Annual Rule 12b-1 Distribution Fee
: None.
|
4.
|
Maximum Annual Shareholder Servicing Fee
:
|
·
|
0.15%
|
5.
|
Conversion Features
: None.
|
6.
|
Exchange Privileges
: As described in the current prospectus for the Funds.
|
7.
|
Redemption Fees
: 1.00% if shares are liquidated within 14 days of purchase (within 90 days of purchase with respect to the Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund).
|
1.
|
Maximum Initial Sales Charge
: None.
|
2.
|
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
: None.
|
3.
|
Maximum Annual Rule 12b-1 Distribution Fee
: None.
|
4.
|
Maximum Annual Shareholder Servicing Fee
: None.
|
5.
|
Conversion Features
: None.
|
6.
|
Exchange Privileges
: As described in the current prospectus for the Funds.
|
7.
|
Redemption Fees
: 1.00% if shares are liquidated within 14 days of purchase (within 90 days of purchase with respect to the Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund).
|
1.
|
Front-end sales charges or CDSCs;
|
2.
|
Rule 12b-1 plan distribution fees and shareholder servicing fees, if applicable to a particular Class;
|
3.
|
Transfer agency and other recordkeeping costs to the extent allocated to a particular Class;
|
4.
|
SEC and blue sky registration fees incurred separately by a particular Class;
|
5.
|
Litigation or other legal expenses relating solely to a particular Class;
|
6.
|
Printing and postage expenses related to the preparation and distribution of Class specific materials such as shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxies to shareholders of a particular Class;
|
7.
|
Expenses of administrative personnel and services as required to support the shareholders of a particular Class;
|
8.
|
Audit or accounting fees or expenses relating solely to a particular Class;
|
9.
|
Trustee fees and expenses incurred as a result of issues relating solely to a particular Class; and
|
10.
|
Any other expenses subsequently identified that should be properly allocated to a particular Class, which shall be approved by the Board of Trustees.
|
FUND
|
Maximum Initial Sales Charge
|
Maximum
CDSC
|
Maximum
12b-1 Fee
|
Maximum Shareholder Servicing Fee
|
Redemption/
Exchange
Fees
(1)
|
Brown Advisory Growth Equity Fund
|
|||||
Investor Shares (BIAGX)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Advisor Shares (BAGAX)
|
None
|
None
|
0.25%
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Institutional Shares
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
1.00%
|
Brown Advisory Value Equity Fund
|
|||||
Investor Shares (BIAVX)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Advisor Shares (BAVAX)
|
None
|
None
|
0.25%
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Institutional Shares
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
1.00%
|
Brown Advisory Flexible Value Fund
|
|||||
Investor Shares (BIAFX)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Advisor Shares (BAFVX)
|
None
|
None
|
0.25%
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Institutional Shares
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
1.00%
|
Brown Advisory Small-Cap Growth Fund
|
|||||
Investor Shares (BIASX)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Advisor Shares (BASAX)
|
None
|
None
|
0.25%
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Institutional Shares
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
1.00%
|
Brown Advisory Small-Cap
|
|||||
Fundamental Value Fund
|
|||||
Investor Shares (BIAUX)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Advisor Shares (BAUAX)
|
None
|
None
|
0.25%
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Institutional Shares
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
1.00%
|
Brown Advisory Opportunity Fund
|
|||||
Investor Shares (BIAOX)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Advisor Shares
|
None
|
None
|
0.25%
|
0.15%
|
1.00%
|
Institutional Shares
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
1.00%
|
Brown Advisory Maryland Bond Fund
|
|||||
Investor Shares (BIAMX)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
0.05%
|
1.00%
|
Advisor Shares
|
None
|
None
|
0.25%
|
0.05%
|
1.00%
|
Institutional Shares
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
1.00%
|
(1)
|
For all Fund shares redeemed within 14 days of purchase (except with respect to the Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund).
|
|
(2)
|
The redemption/exchange fee for the Investor Shares and the Advisor Shares of the Brown Advisory Tactical Bond Fund is imposed on shares redeemed within 90 days of purchase (rather than on shares redeemed within 14 days of purchase).
|
1.
|
BACKGROUND
|
2.
|
KEY DEFINITIONS
|
(i)
|
any director, officer, general partner or key investment personnel of the Trust or of an investment adviser to the Trust;
|
(ii)
|
any supervised person of an investment adviser to the Trust who has access to nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any series of the Trust (a “Fund”), or who is involved in making securities recommendations for a Fund;
|
(iii)
|
any director, officer, or general partner of a principal underwriter who has knowledge of the investment activities of a series of the Trust; and
|
(iv)
|
any director, officer or general partner of a principal underwriter who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund for which the principal underwriter acts, or whose functions or duties in the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to the Fund regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities.
|
(i)
|
any employee of the Trust or of an investment adviser to the Trust or of any company in a control relationship to the Trust, a Fund or investment adviser who regular participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities of a series of the Trust (a “Fund”); and
|
1 | ||
Brown Advisory Funds | ||
Code of Ethics |
(ii)
|
any natural person who controls the Trust or an investment adviser to the Trust who obtains information concerning recommendations made to a Fund regarding the purchase or sale of securities by a Fund. The Fund Compliance Officer (defined below) will notify an employee if that person fits the above definition and maintain a list of all Investment Personnel. (see
Appendix 2
). Investment Personnel are also Access Persons.
|
(i)
|
any Fund that is a series of the Trust;
|
(ii)
|
any Fund for which the investment adviser with whom the Access Person is associated, if any, (the “Associated Adviser”) serves as investment adviser (including any sub-adviser);
|
(iii)
|
or any Fund whose investment adviser or principal underwriter controls the Associated Adviser, is controlled by the Associated Adviser, or is under common control with the Associated Adviser.
|
3.
|
GENERAL PROHIBITIONS UNDER THE RULE
|
(a)
|
employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a Fund;
|
(b)
|
make any untrue statement of a material fact to a Fund or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to a Fund, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
|
(c)
|
to engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on a Fund; or
|
(d)
|
to engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a Fund.
|
4.
|
COMPLIANCE OFFICERS
|
5.
|
ACCESS PERSON REPORTS
|
(a)
|
INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT. Within ten days of becoming an Access Person (and the information must be current as of no more than 45 days prior to becoming an Access Person), each Access Person must submit a signed report with the following information:
|
(1)
|
The title and type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security and/or Reportable Fund in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership when the person became an Access Person;
|
(2)
|
The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person; and
|
(3)
|
The date the report is submitted by the Access Person.
|
(b)
|
QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORTS. Within thirty days of the end of each calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a signed report with the following information:
|
(1)
|
With respect to any transaction during the quarter in a Covered Security and/or Reportable Fund in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:
|
(i)
|
The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP, the interest rate and maturity date, the number of shares and the principal amount of each Covered Security and/or Reportable Fund involved;
|
(ii)
|
The nature of the transaction (
i.e.
, purchase, sale, vesting,
etc.
);
|
(iii)
|
The price of the Covered Security and/or Reportable Fund at which the transaction was effected;
|
(iv)
|
The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and
|
(v)
|
The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
|
(2)
|
With respect to any account established by the Access Person in which any securities were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person:
|
(i)
|
The name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person established the account;
|
(ii)
|
The date the account was established; and
|
(iii)
|
The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
|
(c)
|
ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORTS. Each year, the Access Person must submit a signed report with the following information (and the information must be current as of no more than 45 days prior to the date of the report):
|
(1)
|
The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP, the interest rate and maturity date, the number of shares and the principal amount of each Covered Security and/or Reportable Fund involved;
|
(2)
|
The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person; and
|
(3)
|
The date the report is submitted by the Access Person.
|
6.
|
EXCEPTIONS TO REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
|
(a)
|
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER. An Access Person of a Fund’s principal underwriter is not required to make any Reports under Section 5 above if the principal underwriter:
|
(1)
|
is not an affiliated person of the Trust or any investment adviser to a Fund; and
|
(2)
|
has no officer, director or general partner who serves as an officer, director or general partner of the Trust or of any investment adviser to a Fund.
|
(b)
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE. A trustee of the Trust who is not an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act (an “Independent Trustee”) is not required to:
|
(1)
|
file an INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT or ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORT; and
|
(2)
|
file a QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT, unless the Independent Trustee knew, or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a trustee, should have known that during a 15 day period immediately before or after his or her transaction in a Covered Security or a Fund, that a Fund purchased or sold the Covered Security, or that a Fund or its investment adviser considered purchasing or selling the Covered Security.
|
7.
|
ADMINISTRATION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS - REPORTING VIOLATIONS AND CERTIFYING COMPLIANCE
|
(a)
|
Must use reasonable diligence and institute policies and procedures reasonably necessary to prevent its Access Persons from violating this Code of Ethics;
|
(b)
|
Shall have their Compliance Officer compare all Reports with completed and contemplated portfolio transactions of a Fund to determine whether a possible violation of the Code of Ethics and/or other applicable trading policies and procedures may have occurred.
|
(c)
|
Shall have their Compliance Officer prepare a written report on an annual basis describing any issues arising under the Code of Ethics or procedures, including information about any material violations of the Code of Ethics or its underlying procedures and any sanctions imposed due to such violations and submit the information to the Compliance Officer for review by the Board; and
|
(d)
|
On an annual basis, shall certify to the Board of Trustees that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent its Access Persons from violating the Code of Ethics.
|
8.
|
COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER SECURITIES LAWS
|
9.
|
PROHIBITED TRADING PRACTICES
|
(a)
|
No Access Person may purchase or sell directly or indirectly, any security in which he or she has, or by reason of such transactions acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership if such security to his or her actual knowledge at the time of such purchase or sale:
|
(i)
|
is being considered for purchase or sale by a Fund;
|
(ii)
|
is in the process of being purchased or sold by a Fund (except that an access person may participate in a bunched transaction with the Fund if the price terms are the same in accordance with trading policies and procedures adopted by the Fund Organization); or
|
(iii)
|
is or has been held by a Fund within the most recent 15 day period.
|
(b)
|
Investment Personnel of a Fund or its investment adviser must obtain approval from the Fund or the Fund’s investment adviser before directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in any securities in an IPO or Limited Offering.
|
(c)
|
No Access Person may trade ahead of a Fund - a practice known as “frontrunning.”
|
10.
|
SANCTIONS
|
11.
|
RECORD RETENTION
|
·
|
A copy of each Trust Code of Ethics that is in effect, or at any time within the past five years was in effect, must be maintained in an easily accessible place;
|
·
|
A record of any violation of the Trust’s Code of Ethics, and of any action taken as a result of the violation, must be maintained in an easily accessible place for at least five years;
|
·
|
A copy of each report made by an Access Person, as required by the Trust’s Code of Ethics, must be maintained for at least five years, the first two years in an easily accessible place;
|
·
|
A record of all persons, currently or within the past five years, who are or were required to make reports under the Trust’s Code of Ethics, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, must be maintained in an easily accessible place;
|
·
|
A copy of each report required by section 7(d) and section 7(e) of the Trust’s Code of Ethics must be maintained for at least five years, the first two years in an easily accessible place; and
|
·
|
A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition by investment personnel of the securities described in section 9(b) of the Trust’s Code of Ethics, for at least five years after the end of the year in which the approval is granted.
|
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:
|
I have read, and I understand the terms of, this Code of Ethics.
|
By: _________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
Fund Organization:
|
Date:
|
|
(i)
|
any director, officer, general partner or Advisory Person of a Fund or of a Fund’s investment adviser;
|
(ii)
|
any supervised person of an investment adviser to the Trust who has access to nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any series of the Trust (a “Fund”), or who is involved in making securities recommendations for a Fund;
|
(iii)
|
any director, officer, or general partner of a principal underwriter who has knowledge of the investment activities of a series of the Trust;
|
(iv)
|
any director, officer or general partner of a principal underwriter who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund for which the principal underwriter acts, or whose functions or duties in the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to the Fund regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities.
|
(i)
|
any natural person in a control relationship to the Fund or an investment adviser who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund with regard to the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund.
|
(i)
|
direct obligations of the Government of the United States;
|
(ii)
|
bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and
|
(iii)
|
shares issued by open-end investment companies (
i.e.
, mutual funds) other than Reportable Funds.
|
(i)
|
any employee of the Trust, a Fund or investment adviser (or of any company in a control relationship to the Trust, a Fund or investment adviser) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of security by the Fund; and
|
(ii)
|
any natural person who controls the Trust, a Fund or investment adviser and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund.
|
Name
|
Title
|
Acknowledgement of
Receipt of
Code of Ethics
|
Is this person also an investment Personnel
|
REVIEWED: ______________________________
(Compliance Officer signature)
|
|
DATE: ______________________________
|
1.
|
TRANSACTIONS
|
||||||
Name and Title
of Covered
Security and/or
Reportable Fund
|
Ticker
Symbol or
CUSIP
|
Broker
|
Number of
Shares or Interest
Rate, Maturity Date
& Principal Amount
|
Nature of
Transaction
(
i.e.
, buy, sale)
|
Purchase
Price
|
Date of
Transaction
|
2.
|
BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS OPENED DURING QUARTER
|
||
Name of Institution and
Account Holder’s Name
(
i.e.
, you, spouse, child)
|
Account
Number
|
Have you requested duplicate statements?
|
REVIEWED: ______________________________
(Compliance Officer signature)
|
|
DATE: ______________________________
|
1.
|
TRANSACTIONS
|
||
Name and Type of Covered Security and/or Reportable Fund
|
Ticker Symbol or CUSIP
|
Number of Shares or& Principal
Amount
|
2.
|
BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS OPENED DURING QUARTER
|
||
Name of Institution and
Account Holder’s Name
(
i.e.
, you, spouse, child)
|
Account
Number
|
Have you requested duplicate statements?
|
REVIEWED: ______________________________
(Compliance Officer signature)
|
|
DATE: ______________________________
|
15 | ||
Brown Advisory Funds | ||
Code of Ethics |
I.
|
Definitions
|
a.
|
Beneficial Interest
means the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in profit.
|
b.
|
Employee
means any employee of Brown Advisory Incorporated and its subsidiaries. For the purpose of the Personal Trading Policy, all Employees are deemed Access Persons as defined in Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
|
c.
|
Immediate Family
means spouse, minor child or other relatives who share the Employee’s household.
|
d.
|
Employee-related Account
means:
|
1.
|
Personal brokerage accounts held in an Employee’s name.
|
2.
|
Any joint, tenant-in-common or other account in which an Employee is an owner or participant.
|
3.
|
Trust accounts if an Employee is a beneficiary of the trust; or an Employee is a trustee and a beneficiary of the Trust is a member of the Employee’s Immediate Family.
|
4.
|
An account of a business entity in which an Employee owns a material economic interest.
|
5.
|
House Accounts, as defined in Section I.j. below.
|
e.
|
Fully Discretionary Account
means an Employee-Related Account over which the Employee has no direct or indirect influence or control over the timing or nature of investment decisions (
i.e.,
if investment discretion for that account has been delegated in writing to an investment manager and that discretion is not shared with the Employee).
|
f.
|
Fund
means any Brown Advisory Fund, Brown Advisory private fund, or a representative account of a Brown Advisory single strategy product.
|
g.
|
House Account
means an account where the Firm or an affiliate is the beneficial owner of at least 25%, a pooled account where Employees are the only beneficial owners, or pooled account where the Chief Compliance Officer determines that Employees’ beneficial ownership warrants additional Compliance review and oversight.
|
II.
|
Pre-clearance of Personal Trades
|
a.
|
Employees must pre-clear all trades in Employee-related Accounts, including options and other derivatives.
Refer to the Compliance Tab of the Intranet for the appropriate form.
Trades in House Accounts must be pre-cleared or subject to an alternate review process under the supervision of the Chief Compliance Officer.
|
b.
|
Trades will be reviewed for pre-clearance by the Trading Desk, Compliance Department or designee. Before granting approval, the reviewer must be satisfied that the transaction complies with the provisions of this Code of Ethics and presents no conflict of interest. Employees will be notified when their request has been approved. No trade subject to pre-clearance may be entered prior to the receipt of approval.
|
c.
|
Pre-clearance approval is valid only until the close of business on the day it is granted, except in the case of UK employees pre-clearing trades for the following day’s local market opening. If an employee trade is not placed during the day or is placed but not fully executed, a new approval must be obtained.
|
III.
|
Exempt Accounts
|
a.
|
Transactions in the following accounts are exempt from pre-clearance requirements:
|
1.
|
Employee-related Trust Accounts where the Firm serves as corporate trustee pursuant to a written agreement and the account is managed on a Fully Discretionary Basis (“Covered Trust Accounts”)
|
2.
|
Fully Discretionary Accounts
|
3.
|
Employee-related single strategy accounts that trade along side of clients in an appropriate trading block. When trading in the block is not possible for such accounts, that account’s trading activity
must be pre-cleared
according to the standards set forth in Section II above.
|
b.
|
Except as noted in Section VIII.a.5.a. below, Exempt Accounts noted in Section III.a. above are subject to all other provisions of the Code of Ethics.
|
IV.
|
Exempt Transactions
|
a.
|
Shares of open-end mutual funds or UCITs
|
b.
|
Transactions in options on indices
|
c.
|
Direct obligations of the US Government
|
d.
|
Direct obligations of the UK Government
|
e.
|
Bankers’ acceptances
|
f.
|
Bank certificates of deposits
|
g.
|
Commercial paper
|
h.
|
Repurchase agreements
|
i.
|
Floating rate notes
|
j.
|
Dividend reinvestment plans
|
k.
|
Automatic transactions (e.g.,
purchases under dividend reinvestment plans, activity in employee salary deferral accounts)
|
l.
|
Sales pursuant to standing instructions on public charity gift accounts where an Employee controls an account but has no beneficial interest
|
m.
|
Transactions that are not voluntary on the part of the Employee (e.g., stock dividends or splits; mergers; other corporate reorganizations; margin calls).
|
n.
|
Currency spot trades
|
V.
|
Transaction Reporting
|
a.
|
New Employees must report outside brokerage accounts to the Chief Compliance Officer or designee within 10 days of employment.
|
b.
|
Employees must instruct any outside firm that maintains an Employee-Related Account to send duplicate copies of all transaction confirmations1 of account activity promptly to the Firm.
|
c.
|
Employees who maintain Employee-Related Accounts with the Firm agree to allow the Firm and necessary staff to access account information, activity and statements.
|
VI.
|
Disclosure of Holdings
|
a.
|
Initial Holdings Report – Within 10 days of employment, each Employee must submit an Initial Holdings Report to the Chief Compliance Officer or designee with information current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an employee.
See the Compliance Tab of the Intranet for the appropriate form.
|
b.
|
Annual Holdings Report - Each Employee must submit an Annual Holdings Report to the Chief Compliance Officer or designee. The information in the Annual Holdings Report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days before the report is submitted.
|
VII.
|
Certification of Compliance - As part of initial and annual holdings reports, Employees are required to certify that they have read, understand, have complied, and will comply with the Code of Ethics.
|
VIII.
|
Trading Restrictions
|
a.
|
In addition to pre-clearance and reporting requirements, the Firm has imposed certain substantive restrictions on personal securities trading. Any transaction in an Employee-Related Account (except for those transactions listed in Section IV. above) must comply with the following sections. To the extent that trading in a security is restricted, trading in options on or instruments convertible into that security also will be restricted. Investment Persons should not acquire a security that would be suitable for a client without first considering whether to recommend or purchase that security to or for the client’s account.
|
1.
|
Initial Public Offerings - Employees may not acquire securities in an initial public offering through an Employee-Related Account.
|
2.
|
Private Placements - Employees and House Accounts may not acquire securities in an outside private placement without prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or designee. Subsequent capital contributions to such a fund do not require approval, provided that the timing and amount of the contribution are not within the Employee’s control. To obtain approval for an outside private placement, an Employee must complete a
Request for Approval of Private Placement
(
see the Compliance tab of the Intranet
) and submit it to the Chief Compliance Officer or designee. Investments by Employees or House Accounts in any private investment fund administered by the Firm do not require the completion of a Request for Approval of Private Placement form. The Chief Compliance Officer or designee will review an internal report of subscriptions by Employees and House Accounts before such transactions are approved.
|
3.
|
House Accounts – House Accounts must trade along side of clients in an appropriate trading block. When trading in the block is not possible for a House Account, that account’s trading activity must be pre-cleared according to the standards set forth in Section II above.
|
4.
|
Blackout Periods - In addition to any other sanction provided for under the Code of Ethics, profits realized in connection with a transaction during a blackout period in contravention of the Code of Ethics must generally be disgorged.
|
1.
|
Pending Trades
|
a.
|
Employees may not purchase or sell a security in an Employee-Related Account on a day during which any client or Fund has a pending order in the same (or an equivalent) security. This restriction applies until the client or Fund order has been executed or cancelled.
|
2.
|
Securities Under Consideration
|
a.
|
Employees may not purchase or sell a security in an Employee-Related Account if such Employee is aware that a transaction in the same (or an equivalent) security is being considered for any client or that a decision has been made to effect such a transaction.
|
3.
|
Fund Trades
|
a.
|
Employees may not purchase or sell a security in an Employee-Related Account for a period of four business days before and after a Fund trades the same (or an equivalent) security.
|
4.
|
Gray or Restricted Lists
|
a.
|
Employees may not purchase or sell a security in an Employee Related Account if such security is listed on the firm’s Gray or Restricted Lists.
|
5.
|
Transactions in Certain Trust Accounts, Fully Discretionary Accounts and Employee-related Accounts that Trade in an Appropriate Trading Block
|
a.
|
Notwithstanding the blackout periods set forth above, Covered Trust Accounts, Fully Discretionary Accounts, House Accounts and Employee-related single strategy accounts that trade along side of clients in an appropriate trading block are permitted to trade along with Non-Employee-Related Accounts, including a Fund. In accordance with the Firm’s allocation policy, such accounts managed by the Firm must receive an average price execution and, in the event of a partial fill, must be allocated shares on terms that are no more or less favorable than other similarly-situated clients so that the client and any Fund will not be disadvantaged.
|
6.
|
Blackout Period Exemptions
|
a.
|
Although subject to pre-clearance, transactions involving securities in certain large companies will be exempt from blackout period requirements under normal circumstances, if such transactions involve 1) no more than $200,000 per trade per day in companies with 2) market capitalization of $2.5 billion or greater and 3) the trade meets the other pre-clearance requirements above.
|
b.
|
If an Employee is found to have traded in Employee-Related Account during the four business days period before a Fund trades the same (or an equivalent) security, that Employee may be deemed to have not violated the Code of Ethics, if after investigation, the Chief Compliance Officer or designee determines that the Employee could not reasonably have known such a trade would have been effected by the Fund.
|
7.
|
Short-Term Trading
|
a.
|
Accounts subject to pre-clearance and the blackout period may not profit from the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or an equivalent) security held by a Fund or on the Supplemental List within 30 calendar days. In addition to any other sanction provided for under the Code of Ethics, profits realized from short-term trading must be disgorged unless the trade was approved pursuant to Section IX below.
|
IX.
|
Exceptions
|
a.
|
Exceptions to the Code of Ethics may be granted in special circumstances. Requests should be submitted in writing to the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Compliance Officer, the Director of Research, the Equity Trading Director and the Head of Investments are authorized to review such requests on a case-by-case basis and may grant the request only in agreement with the Chief Compliance Officer if the conduct involved does not appear to present any material opportunity for abuse and the equities of the situation strongly support an exception. The Firm must maintain a written record of such exceptions.
|
X.
|
Sanctions
|
a.
|
If the Firm determines that an Employee has violated the Code of Ethics,
the Firm will take such remedial action as it deems appropriate. Sanctions
will vary but may include unwinding of trades, disgorgement of profits, censure, limitation or prohibition of personal trading, suspension, or termination of employment. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, the Firm generally may impose the following sanctions (although the Firm may impose different or additional sanctions in its discretion):
|
1.
|
If an Employee does not obtain pre-clearance or violates a trading restriction, the Employee may be requested to reverse the transaction in question and to disgorge any profits to the applicable client(s), or to a charity selected by the Firm. Failure to comply with such a request is grounds for dismissal.
|
2.
|
If an Employee does not submit an initial or annual holdings report on a timely basis, the Employee may be barred from further personal trading, may not be reimbursed for any expenses (
e.g.
, travel, education), and may not be compensated until the report is provided.
|
3.
|
If the Firm does not receive duplicate copies of transaction confirmations of account activity for an Employee-Related Account on a timely basis, the Employee may be barred from further personal trading, may not be reimbursed for any expenses (
e.g.
, travel, education), and may not be compensated until the Employee takes appropriate steps to ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics. An occasional late or missing statement should not result in a sanction provided that the Employee has given instructions to the institution maintaining the Employee-Related Account in accordance with Section V.b. above.
|
XI.
|
Board Reporting
|
a.
|
The Chief Compliance Officer or designee will prepare a quarterly written report on material violations of the Code of Ethics and related issues and present the report to the Firm’s Audit Committee. In addition, the Chief Compliance Officer or designee will prepare such information as the Board of Directors for each Brown Advisory Fund may require with respect to violations of the Code of Ethics.
|