Subject to Completion—Dated [ ], 2015
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
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PROSPECTUS
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[ ], 2015
Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk Fund
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Class
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A
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[ ]
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Class
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C
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[ ]
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Class
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I
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[ ]
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Class
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K
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[ ]
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Class A and Class C shares are not currently available for purchase.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor has the SEC passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Investment Objectives
The primary investment objective of Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk
Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek to provide total return with moderate volatility and correlation to traditional financial market indices. A secondary objective of the Fund is to seek to limit capital loses during periods when the index measure declines.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest, in the future, at least $[ ] in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available in the section entitled “Choosing a Share Class: Class A Shares,” on page [ ] of this Prospectus.
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Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class A
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Class C
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Class I
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Class K
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (
as a percentage of offering price
)
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5.50%
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None
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None
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (
as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)
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1.00%
(1)
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1.00%
(2)
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None
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None
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Redemption Fee
(as a percentage of amount redeemed within 90 days of purchase)
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1.00%
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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)
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Class A
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Class C
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Class I
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Class K
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Management Fees
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1.60%
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1.60%
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1.60%
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1.60%
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Distribution (12b-1) Fees
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0.25%
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0.75%
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None
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None
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Other Expenses
(3)
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Dividends and Interest on Short Positions
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1.00%
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1.00%
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1.00%
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1.00%
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Shareholder Servicing Fees
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0.10%
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0.25%
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0.10%
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None
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All other expenses
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0.55%
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0.55%
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0.55%
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0.55%
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
(3), (4)
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0.08%
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0.08%
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0.08%
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0.08%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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3.58%
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4.23%
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3.33%
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3.23%
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Less Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(5)
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(1.08)%
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(1.08)%
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(1.08)%
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(1.08)%
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Net Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
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2.50%
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3.15%
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2.25%
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2.15%
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(1) A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) is generally imposed on Class A purchases of $1 million or # more that are redeemed within 18 months after purchase.
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(2) A 1.00% CDSC will be imposed on Class C shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
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(3) Other Expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are estimated for the current fiscal year.
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(4) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses for the Fund’s current fiscal year are the indirect costs of investing in
other investment companies. The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense
ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights (when available) because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.
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(5)Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC (the “Adviser”) has agreed to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual operating expenses, exclusive of [any Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or servicing fees, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest on borrowing, short selling expenses, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, swap fees and expenses, or other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business to 2.50%, 3.15%, 2.25%, and 2.15% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class A, Class C, Class I, and Class K shares, respectively. To the extent that the Adviser waives its management fee and/or reimburses the Fund for other ordinary operating expenses, it may seek recoupment of a portion or all of such amounts at any time within three fiscal years after the fiscal year in which such amounts were waived or reimbursed, subject to the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived or reimbursed. This agreement is in effect through [ ], 201[ ], and may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.
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Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.
The fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangement discussed in the table above is reflected only in the first year of the periods shown in the Example.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
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1 Year
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3 Years
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Class A
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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Class C
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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Class I
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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Class K
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
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1 Year
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3 Years
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Class A
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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Class C
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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Class I
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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Class K
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. No portfolio turnover rate is provided for the Fund because the Fund has not completed its first fiscal period as of the date of this Prospectus.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund utilizes an actively managed balanced risk allocation strategy that seeks to provide exposure to equity and fixed income securities, and to a multi-strategy long/short portfolio. The Fund combines conventional “long only” portfolios with a diversified, multi-strategy investment (i.e., an “alpha” portfolio). The Adviser aims to structure the Fund’s portfolio on a risk-weighted basis, using an allocation model that seeks to equal-weight each of the three components’ contribution to risk, subject to model constraints, rather than allocating based on expected returns of the components.
The Fund’s risk weighted approach seeks to equalize risk across asset classes through long-only exposures, primarily to equity and fixed income securities and a long/short alpha portfolio.
The Fund’s alpha portfolio employs a number of distinct and well differentiated hedge fund-like strategies in an effort to achieve its desired performance. These strategies may be characterized by sector focus, geographic definition, quantitative method, event orientation or some other dominant characteristic. The strategies employed and the allocation among them will vary over time. The common attribute of most of these strategies is a long/short investment approach whereby various securities or instruments are held long and others are sold short. The alpha strategy is expected to produce returns on more of an absolute basis with reduced downside risk over the long term. The Adviser, therefore, applies moderate leverage at the alpha-generating portfolio level in order to exploit the long/short relationship and seeks to enhance returns. To the extent the Adviser utilizes leverage, it covers its exposure
in accordance with SEC requirements and guidelines by designating on its books or maintaining in a separate account, cash, liquid securities and/or other permissible assets
.
In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives, the Adviser has broad and flexible investment authority. Accordingly, the Fund’s investments may at any time include long or short positions in U.S. or non-U.S. equities, including publicly traded or privately issued or negotiated common stocks and preferred stocks,; fixed income securities, including corporate debt, bonds (including inflation indexed bonds), notes or other debentures or debt participations, U.S. Government and foreign government securities; convertible securities; derivative instruments, including swaps, options (purchased or written), futures contracts, and forward contracts; partnership interests, including master limited partnerships; and other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). The Fund may use derivative instruments to create investment leverage; as a substitute for securities, interest rates, currencies and commodities; for tax purposes; and to hedge against market movements. The Fund may invest in securities of any market capitalization. In connection with its trading, the Fund may employ short-selling techniques and may utilize leverage. The Fund may also lend its securities to generate additional income.
Principal Risks
As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.
Convertible securities risk.
Investing in convertible securities includes the risk that the issuer may default in the payment of principal and/or interest and the risk that the value of the investment may decline if interest rates rise. Such events may reduce the Fund’s distributable income and the value of the Fund’s shares.
Counterparty risk.
The risk that the Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to derivative contracts and other instruments entered into directly by the Fund or held by special purpose or structured vehicles in which the Fund invests. Subject to certain limitations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund is not subject to any limit with respect to the number of transactions it can enter into with a single counterparty. To the extent that the Fund enters into multiple transactions with a single or a small set of counterparties, it will be subject to increased counterparty risk.
Debt securities risks.
Credit risk:
The risk that an issuer or counterparty will fail to pay its obligations to the Fund when they are due. As a result, the Fund’s income might be reduced, the value of the Fund’s investment might fall, and/or the Fund could lose the entire amount of its investment. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic, social or political conditions that affect a particular type of security or other instrument or an issuer, and changes in economic, social or political conditions generally can increase the risk of default by an issuer or counterparty, which can affect a security’s or other instrument’s credit quality or value and an issuer’s or counterparty’s ability to pay interest and principal when due. The values of securities also may decline for a number of other reasons that relate directly to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets.
Extension risk:
The risk that if interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain debt securities, including, but not limited to, floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply.
Interest rate risk:
The risk that debt instruments will change in value because of changes in interest rates. The value of an instrument with a longer duration (whether positive or negative) will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a similar instrument with a shorter duration. Bonds and other debt instruments typically have a positive duration. The value of a debt instrument with positive duration will generally decline if interest rates increase. Certain other investments, such as inverse floaters and certain derivative instruments, may have a negative duration. The value of instruments with a negative duration will generally decline if interest rates decrease. Inverse floaters, interest-only and principal-only securities are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, which can affect not only their prices but can also change the income flows and repayment assumptions about those investments.
Derivatives risk (including forward contracts, futures, options and swaps).
The risk that an investment in derivatives will not perform as anticipated by the Adviser, cannot be closed out at a favorable time or price, or will increase the Fund’s volatility; that derivatives may create investment leverage; that, when a derivative is used as a substitute for or alternative to a direct cash investment, the transaction may not provide a return that corresponds precisely with that of the cash investment; or that, when used for hedging purposes, derivatives will not provide the anticipated protection, causing the Fund to lose money on both the derivatives transaction and the exposure the Fund sought to hedge. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk.
Emerging market country risk.
The risk that investing in emerging markets will be subject to greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers, an emerging market country’s dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, and less developed legal systems than in many more developed countries.
Equity issuer risk.
The risk that the market price of common stocks and other equity securities may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, including due to factors affecting equity securities markets generally, particular industries represented in those markets, or the issuer itself.
Focused investment risk.
A fund that invests a substantial portion of its assets in a particular market, industry, group of industries, country, region, group of countries, asset class or sector generally is subject to greater risk than a fund that invests in a more diverse investment portfolio. In addition, the value of a fund that has focused investments is more susceptible to any single economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence affecting, for example, that particular market, industry, region or sector.
Foreign currency risk.
The risk that fluctuations in exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments denominated in foreign currencies.
Foreign investing risk.
Generally, foreign securities are issued by companies organized outside the U.S. or by foreign governments or international organizations, are traded primarily in markets outside the U.S., and are denominated in a foreign currency. Foreign investing risk includes the risk that the Fund’s investments will be affected by political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. If the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate or restrict foreign exchange transactions. To the extent that investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund.
Inflation-indexed bond risk.
The risk that such bonds will change in value in response to actual or anticipated changes in inflation rates, in a manner unanticipated by the Fund’s portfolio management team or investors generally. Inflation-indexed bonds are subject to debt securities risks.
Large shareholder risk.
The risk that certain account holders may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. The Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by those shareholders of all or a portion of their Fund shares will adversely affect the Fund’s performance if it is forced to sell portfolio securities or invest cash when the Adviser would not otherwise choose to do so. Redemptions of a large number of shares may affect the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, increase the Fund’s transaction costs, and accelerate the realization of taxable income and/or gains to shareholders.
Leveraging risk.
The risk that certain investments by the Fund involving leverage may have the effect of increasing the volatility of the Fund’s portfolio, and the risk of loss in excess of invested capital.
Limited operating history risk.
The risk that a newly formed fund has a limited operating history to evaluate and may not attract sufficient assets to achieve or maximize investment and operational efficiencies.
Market capitalization risk.
The Fund may invest in securities of any market capitalization. Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in technology and consumer tastes. Larger companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies.
Investing in medium and small capitalization companies may involve special risks because those companies may have narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, fewer experienced managers, dependence on a few key employees, and a more limited trading market for their stocks, as compared with larger companies. Securities of medium and smaller capitalization issuers may be subject to greater price volatility and may decline more significantly in market downturns than securities of larger companies. Smaller and medium capitalization issuers may also require substantial additional capital to support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings or may otherwise have a weak financial condition, and may be susceptible to bankruptcy. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. There is typically less publicly available information about medium and small capitalization companies.
Market risk.
The risk that the market will perform poorly or that the returns from the securities in which the Fund invests will underperform returns from the general securities markets or other types of investments. Securities markets may, in response to governmental actions or intervention, economic or market developments, or other external factors, experience periods of high volatility and reduced liquidity. During those periods, the Fund may experience high levels of shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when the Fund would otherwise not do so and, potentially, at unfavorable prices. Certain securities may be difficult to value during such periods. These risks may be heightened for fixed income securities due to the current historically low interest rate environment.
Other investment company and exchange-traded fund risk.
The risk that an investment company or other pooled investment vehicle, including any ETFs, in which the Fund invests will not achieve its investment objective or execute its investment strategies effectively or that significant purchase or redemption activity by shareholders of such an investment company might negatively affect the value of the investment company’s shares. The Fund must pay its pro rata portion of an investment company’s fees and expenses.
Portfolio management risk.
The risk that an investment strategy may fail to produce the intended results or that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other comparable funds because of the portfolio managers’ choice of investments.
Preferred securities risk.
The risk that: (i) certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip or defer distributions; (ii) preferred stocks may be subject to redemption, including at the issuer’s call, and, in the event of redemption, the Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at comparable or favorable rates of return; (iii) preferred stocks are generally subordinated to bonds and other debt securities in an issuer’s capital structure in terms of priority for corporate income and liquidation payments; and (iv) preferred stocks may trade less frequently and in a more limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than many other securities.
Portfolio turnover risk.
A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability. High portfolio turnover also necessarily results in greater transaction costs which may reduce Fund performance.
Prepayment risk.
The risk that the issuer of a debt security, including floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, repays all or a portion of the principal prior to the security's maturity. In times of declining interest rates, there is a greater likelihood that the Fund’s higher yielding securities will be pre-paid with the Fund being unable to re-invest the proceeds in an investment with as great a yield. Prepayments can therefore result in lower yields to shareholders of the Fund. Interest-only and principal-only securities are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, which can affect not only their prices but can also change the income flows and repayment assumptions about those investments.
Reliance on the Adviser.
The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective is dependent upon the Adviser’s ability to identify profitable investment opportunities for the Fund. Past experience of the portfolio managers, including with other strategies and funds, does not guarantee future results for the Fund.
Securities lending risk.
There are certain risks associated with securities lending, including the risk that when lending portfolio securities, the securities may not be available to the Fund on a timely basis and the Fund may, therefore, lose the opportunity to sell the securities at a desirable price.
Securities or sector selection risk.
The risk that, to the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a particular sector or related sectors, the Fund will be more susceptible to events or factors affecting companies in that sector or related sectors. For example, the values of securities of companies in the same sector or related sectors may be negatively affected by the common characteristics they share, the common business risks to which they are subject, common regulatory burdens, or regulatory changes that affect them similarly. Such characteristics, risks, burdens or changes include, but are not limited to, changes in governmental regulation, inflation or deflation, rising or falling interest rates, competition from new entrants, and other economic, market, political or other developments specific to that geographic region, or sector.
Short position risk.
The Fund may borrow an instrument from a broker or other institution and sell it to establish a short position in the instrument. The Fund may also enter into a derivative transaction in order to establish a short position with respect to a reference asset. The Fund may make a profit or incur a loss depending upon whether the market price of the instrument decreases or increases between the date the Fund established the short position and the date on which the Fund must replace the borrowed instrument or otherwise close out the transaction. An increase in the value of an instrument with respect to which the Fund has established a short position will result in a loss to the Fund, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out the position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The loss to the Fund from a short position is potentially unlimited.
Sovereign debt obligations risk
. Investments in countries’ government debt obligations involve special risks. Certain countries have historically experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations, large amounts of external debt, balance of payments and trade difficulties and extreme poverty and unemployment. The issuer or governmental authority that controls the repayment of a country’s debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt.
U.S. Government securities risk.
The risk that debt securities issued or guaranteed by certain U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities, and sponsored enterprises are not supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, and so investments in their securities or obligations issued by them involve credit risk greater than investments in other types of U.S. Government securities.
Performance Information
Performance information for the Fund is not included because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus. Performance information will be available once the Fund has at least one calendar year of performance.
Investment Adviser
Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC is the Adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Manager
The Fund’s investment decisions are made by the following portfolio managers:
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Portfolio Managers
|
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Position with the Adviser
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Length of Service to the Fund
|
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Jordi Visser
Charles S. Crow IV
Edward Olanow
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President and Chief Investment Officer
Quantitative Analyst
Vice President
|
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Since inception in 2015
Since inception in 2015
Since inception in 2015
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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares by mail (Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk Fund, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701), by telephone at [ ], or by wire transfer. Investors who wish to purchase or redeem Fund shares through a financial intermediary should contact the financial intermediary directly. Class A and Class C Shares are not currently available for purchase.
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Minimum Initial
Investment
|
Minimum
Subsequent
Investment
|
|
Class A
|
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
|
Class C
|
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
|
Class I
|
$250,000
|
$[ ]
|
|
Class K
|
$2,000,000
|
$[ ]
|
Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case such distributions may be taxable at a later date.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create conflicts of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
IN
VESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES, RELATED RISKS AND
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
INVESMENT OBJECTIVES, STRATEGY AND POLICIES
The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek to provide total return with moderate volatility and correlation to traditional financial market indices. A secondary objective of the Fund is to seek to limit capital loses during periods when the index measure declines.
The Fund’s investment objective may be changed without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders, upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders, to the extent possible.
The Fund
utilizes an actively managed balanced risk allocation strategy that seeks to provide exposure to equity and fixed income securities, and to a multi-strategy long/short portfolio
. The Fund combines conventional “long only” portfolios with a diversified, multi-strategy investment (i.e., an “alpha” portfolio). The Adviser aims to structure the Fund’s portfolio on a risk-weighted basis, using an allocation model that seeks to equal-weight each of the three components’ contribution to risk, subject to model constraints, rather than allocating based on expected returns of the components. The Fund’s risk weighted approach seeks to equalize risk across asset classes through long-only exposures primarily to equities and fixed income securities and a long/short alpha portfolio.
The Fund seeks to equalize risk across asset classes at the portfolio level. The Adviser believes that this approach has historically benefited from a multi-decade period of positive bond performance. However, the Adviser believes that traditional balanced risk approaches have potential drawbacks in a zero bound environment, since levered long positions in bonds provide little opportunity for upside during broader equity market selloffs. The Adviser seeks to supplement its balanced risk allocation comprised primarily of long-only exposures to equity and fixed income securities by also pursuing a non-correlated alpha strategy in an attempt to offer low volatility and high liquidity.
The Fund’s alpha portfolio seeks to produce return characteristics that are comparable to the equity market over the long term with moderate volatility and a low correlation to the familiar market cycle of indices like the S&P 500
®
Index. The Fund’s alpha portfolio also strives to limit capital loses during periods when the index measures decline. It is intended that the main source from which returns are derived is either company (investment) specific judgments or relative value relationships, not the overall direction of the market. The alpha portfolio seeks to constrain the exposure to the market at large. There can be no assurance that the alpha portfolio will achieve its objectives.
As noted above, the Fund employs a multi-strategy approach in the pursuit of its alpha-generating objectives. The alpha portfolio employs a number of distinct and well differentiated hedge fund-like strategies in an effort to achieve its desired performance. These strategies may be characterized by sector focus, geographic definition, quantitative method, event orientation or some other dominant characteristic. The strategies employed and the allocation among them will vary over time. The common attribute of most of these strategies is a long/short investment approach whereby various securities or instruments are held long and others are sold short. The Adviser’s investment personnel are organized by investment strategy, and each investment strategy is headed by a portfolio manager who is assisted by one or more analysts or traders. The Adviser’s investment committee determines allocations of capital to each investment strategy. Specific investment selections for a strategy are made by the portfolio manager and the team assigned to the strategy.
The Adviser maintains an ongoing effort to identify new strategies with attractive characteristics for the alpha portfolio, to develop or recruit portfolio managers to manage those strategies, and to incubate these strategies with its affiliates’ capital before committing them to the alpha portfolio. The alpha portfolio, as a result, will not be exposed to the risks associated with a portfolio team that has not yet gained the experience to manage the strategy in a risk/return manner that is appropriate for the alpha portfolio.
The diversification among investment strategies, the expertise of the investment teams, and the constraints on market exposure are intended to seek to produce returns on more of an absolute basis with reduced downside risk over the long term. The Adviser applies moderate leverage, as permitted by the Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), at the alpha-generating portfolio level in order to exploit the long/short relationship and seeks to enhance returns. As in the capital allocation process, the governing perspective in the application of leverage is strategic, not tactical. Changes in the measure of leverage are generally incremental and more substantial moves are defensive in nature. To the extent the Adviser utilizes leverage, it
complies with SEC guidelines, including, as necessary, by designating on its books or maintaining in a separate account, cash, liquid securities and other permissible assets. As prescribed by SEC guidelines, the value of such assets will be at least equal to each Fund’s exposure and
will be marked to market daily (i.e., the market value of the assets must equal the current value of the obligation). Permissible liquid assets will be added to the segregated account if the total value of the account falls below the current value of the obligations incurred.
In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives, the Adviser has broad and flexible investment authority. Accordingly, the Fund’s investments may at any time include long or short positions in U.S. or non-U.S. equities, including publicly traded or privately issued or negotiated common stocks and preferred stocks,; fixed income securities, including corporate debt, bonds (including inflation indexed bonds), notes or other debentures or debt participations, U.S. Government and foreign government securities; convertible securities; derivative instruments, including swaps, options (purchased or written), futures contracts, and forward contracts; partnership interests, including master limited partnerships; and other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). The Fund may use derivative instruments for to create investment leverage; as a substitute for securities, interest rates, currencies and commodities; for tax purposes; and to hedge against market movements. The Fund may invest in securities of any market capitalization. In connection with its trading, the Fund may employ short-selling techniques and may utilize leverage. The Fund may also lend its securities to generate additional income.
Temporary Investments.
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its investment objectives and principal investment strategies and invest, without limitation, in cash or cash equivalents.
As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in a Fund. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, and an investment in the Fund is not by itself a complete or balanced investment program. The following provides additional information regarding the principal risks that could affect the value of your investment:
Convertible securities risk.
Investing in convertible bonds and securities includes credit risk and interest rate risk. Please see “Debt Securities Risk”, below, for more information about these risks. The Fund’s distributable income and the value of the Fund’s shares may be reduced due to events associated with such risks.
Counterparty risk.
The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts (whether a clearing corporation in the case of exchange-traded instruments or another third party in the case of over-the-counter instruments) and other instruments entered into directly by the Fund or held by special purpose or structured vehicles in which the Fund invests. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or insolvent or otherwise fails to perform its obligations to the Fund due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant losses or delays in obtaining any recovery (including recovery of any collateral the counterparty has provided to the Fund in respect of the counterparty’s obligations to the Fund or that the Fund has provided to the counterparty) in a dissolution, assignment for the benefit of creditors, liquidation, winding-up, bankruptcy, or other analogous proceeding. In addition, in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a counterparty to a derivative transaction, the derivative transaction would typically be terminated at its fair market value. If the Fund is owed this fair market value in the termination of the derivative transaction and its claim is unsecured, the Fund will likely be treated as a general creditor of such counterparty, and may not have any claim with respect to any underlying security or asset. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances. Counterparty risk with respect to certain exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives may be further complicated by U.S. financial reform legislation. Subject to certain limitations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund is not subject to any limit with respect to the number or the value of transactions they can enter into with a single counterparty.
Debt securities risks.
Debt securities are subject to various risks including, among others, credit risk and interest rate risk. These risks can affect a security’s price volatility to varying degrees, depending upon the nature of the instrument.
Credit risk:
refers to the risk that an issuer or counterparty will fail to pay its obligations to the Fund when they are due. Financial strength and solvency of an issuer are the primary factors influencing credit risk. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic, social or political conditions that affect a particular type of security, other instrument or an issuer, and changes in economic, social or political conditions generally can increase the risk of default by an issuer or counterparty, which can affect a security’s or other instrument’s credit quality or value and an issuer’s or counterparty’s ability to pay interest and principal when due. The values of lower-quality debt securities (commonly known as junk bonds), including floating rate loans, tend to be particularly sensitive to these changes. The values of securities also may decline for a number of other reasons that relate directly to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets. In addition, lack of or inadequacy of collateral or credit enhancements for a fixed income security may affect its credit risk. Credit risk of a security may change over time, and securities which are rated by ratings agencies may be subject to downgrade, which may have an indirect impact on the market price of securities. Ratings are only opinions of the agencies issuing them as to the likelihood of re-payment. They are not guarantees as to quality and they do not reflect market risk. If an issuer or counterparty fails to pay interest or otherwise fails to meet its obligations to the Fund, the Fund’s income might be reduced and the value of the investment might fall, and if an issuer or counterparty fails to pay principal, the value of the investment might fall and the Fund could lose the amount of its investment.
Extension risk:
refers to the risk that if interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain debt securities, including, but not limited to, floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply.
Interest rate risk:
refers to the risk that the values of debt instruments held by the Fund will change in response to changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the debt securities market, reduced liquidity for certain Fund investments and an increase in Fund redemptions. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. In general, the value of a fixed-income instrument with positive duration will generally decline if interest rates increase, whereas the value of an instrument with negative duration will generally decline if interest rates decrease. The value of an instrument with a longer duration (whether positive or negative) will be more sensitive to increases in interest rates than a similar instrument with a shorter duration. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a bond that is used to determine the sensitivity of an instrument’s price to changes in interest rates. For example, the price of a bond fund with an average duration of three years generally would be expected to fall approximately 3% if interest rates rose by one percentage point. Inverse floaters, interest-only and principal-only securities are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, which can affect not only their prices but can also change the income flows and repayment assumptions about those investments. Adjustable rate instruments also react to interest rate changes in a similar manner although generally to a lesser degree (depending, however, on the characteristics of the reset terms, including the index chosen, frequency of reset and reset caps or floors, among other things).
Derivatives risk (including forward contracts, futures, options and swaps).
The Fund’s use of derivatives may involve risks different from, or greater than, the risks associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and may perform in ways unanticipated by the Adviser.
The Fund’s use of derivatives involves the risk that the other party to the derivative contract will fail to make required payments or otherwise to comply with the terms of the contract. In the event the counterparty to a derivative instrument becomes insolvent, the Fund potentially could lose all or a large portion of its investment in the derivative instrument. Derivatives transactions can create investment leverage and may be highly volatile, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives may be difficult to value and highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative position at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Use of derivatives may affect the amount, the timing and the character of distributions to shareholders and, therefore, may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.
The Fund may use derivatives to create investment leverage, and the Fund’s use of derivatives may otherwise cause its portfolio to be leveraged. Leverage increases the Fund’s portfolio losses when the value of its investments declines. Since many derivatives involve leverage, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, rate, or index may result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.
When the Fund enters into a derivatives transaction as a substitute for or alternative to a direct cash investment, that Fund is exposed to the risk that the derivative transaction may not provide a return that corresponds precisely with that of the underlying investment. When the Fund uses a derivative for hedging purposes, it is possible that the derivative will not in fact provide the anticipated protection, and the Fund could lose money on both the derivative transaction and the exposure the Fund sought to hedge. Because most derivatives involve contractual arrangements with a counterparty, no assurance can be given that a particular type of derivative contract can be completed or terminated when desired by the Adviser. While hedging strategies involving derivatives can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other Fund investments. Certain derivatives may create a risk of loss greater than the amount invested.
Emerging market country risk.
Investing in emerging market countries involves substantial risk due to limited information; higher brokerage costs; different accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards; less developed legal systems and thinner trading markets as compared to those in developed countries; currency blockages or transfer restrictions; an emerging market country’s dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid; and expropriation, nationalization or other adverse political or economic developments.
Political and economic structures in many emerging market countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristics of more developed countries. Some of these countries may have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies.
The securities markets of emerging market countries may be substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets in the U.S. and other developed nations. The limited size of many securities markets in emerging market countries and limited trading volume in issuers compared to the volume in U.S. securities or securities of issuers in other developed countries could cause prices to be erratic for reasons other than factors that affect the quality of the securities. In addition, emerging market countries’ exchanges and broker-dealers may generally be subject to less regulation than their counterparts in developed countries. Brokerage commissions and dealer mark-ups, custodial expenses and other transaction costs are generally higher in emerging market countries than in developed countries. As a result, funds that invest in emerging market countries have operating expenses that are higher than funds investing in other securities markets.
Emerging market countries may have different clearance and settlement procedures than in the U.S., and in certain markets there may be times when settlements fail to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Further, satisfactory custodial services for investment securities may not be available in some emerging market countries, which may result in the Fund incurring additional costs and delays in transporting and custodying such securities outside such countries. Delays in settlement or other problems could result in periods when assets of the Fund are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems or the risk of intermediary counterparty failures could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. The inability to dispose of a portfolio security due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in the value of such portfolio security or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the security, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.
Some emerging market countries have a greater degree of economic, political and social instability than the U.S. and other developed countries. Such social, political and economic instability could disrupt the financial markets in which the Fund invests and adversely affect the value of its investment portfolio.
Currencies of emerging market countries have sometimes experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar, and major devaluations have historically occurred in certain countries. A devaluation of the currency in which portfolio securities are denominated will negatively impact the value of those securities. Emerging market countries have and may in the future impose capital controls, foreign currency controls and repatriation controls. In addition, some currency hedging techniques may be unavailable in emerging market countries, and the currencies of emerging market countries may experience greater volatility in exchange rates as compared to those of developed countries.
Equity issuer risk.
The market prices of common stocks and other equity securities may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The values of equity securities may decline due to general market conditions that are not necessarily related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. They also may decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, the values of equity securities may decline for a number of reasons that may relate directly to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than bonds and other debt securities, although under certain market conditions various fixed income investments may have comparable or greater price volatility. The values of equity securities paying dividends at high rates may be more sensitive to change in interest rates than are other equity securities.
Focused investment risk.
A fund that invests a substantial portion of its assets in a particular market, industry, group of industries, country, region, group of countries, asset class or sector generally is subject to greater risk than a fund that invests in a more diverse investment portfolio. In addition, the value of a fund that has focused investments is more susceptible to any single economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence affecting, for example, that particular market, industry, region or sector. This is because, for example, issuers in a particular market, industry, region or sector often react similarly to specific economic, market, regulatory, or political developments.
To the extent the Fund invests in the securities of a limited number of issuers, it is particularly exposed to adverse developments affecting those issuers, and a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund invested in the securities of a larger number of issuers. In addition, the limited number of issuers in which the Fund invests may provide the Fund exposure to substantially the same market, industry, group of industries, country, region, group of countries, asset class or sector, which may increase the risk of loss as a result of focusing the Fund’s investments, as discussed above.
Foreign currency risk.
Currency risk is the risk that fluctuations in exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Currency risk includes both the risk that currencies in which the Fund’s investments are traded and/or in which the Fund receives income, or currencies in which the Fund has taken an active investment position, will decline in value relative to other currencies. In the case of hedging positions, currency risk includes the risk that the currency the Fund is seeking exposure to will decline in value relative to the foreign currency being hedged. Currency exchange rates fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including changes in supply and demand in the currency exchange markets, actual or perceived changes in interest rates, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, and currency controls or other political and economic developments in the U.S. or abroad.
The Fund may use derivatives to acquire positions in currencies the values to which the Fund is exposed through its investments. This presents the risk that the Fund could lose money on its exposure to a particular currency and also lose money on the derivative. The Fund also may take overweighted or underweighted currency positions and/or hedge the currency exposure of the securities in which it has invested. As a result, the Fund’s currency exposure may differ (in some cases significantly) from the currency exposure of its investments and/or its benchmarks.
Foreign investing risk.
Generally, foreign securities are issued by companies organized outside the U.S. or by foreign governments or international organizations, are traded primarily in markets outside the U.S., and are denominated in a foreign currency.
Investments in foreign securities or in issuers with significant exposure to foreign markets may involve greater risks than investments in domestic securities because the Fund’s performance may depend on factors other than the performance of a particular company. To the extent that investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund.
As compared to U.S. companies, foreign issuers generally disclose less financial and other information publicly and are subject to less stringent and less uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards. In addition, there may be limited information generally regarding factors affecting a particular foreign market, issuer, or security.
Foreign countries typically impose less thorough regulations on brokers, dealers, stock exchanges, corporate insiders and listed companies than does the United States and foreign securities markets may be less liquid and more volatile than domestic markets. Investment in foreign securities involves higher costs than investment in U.S. securities, including higher transaction and custody costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments. In addition, security trading and custody practices abroad may offer less protection to investors such as the Funds. Political, social or financial instability, civil unrest and acts of terrorism are other potential risks that could adversely affect an investment in a foreign security or in foreign markets or issuers generally. Settlement of transactions in some foreign markets may be delayed or may be less frequent than in the United States which could affect the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio.
Because foreign securities generally are denominated and pay dividends or interest in foreign currencies, and the Fund may hold various foreign currencies from time to time, the value of the Fund’s assets, as measured in U.S. dollars, can be affected unfavorably by changes in exchange rates or by unfavorable currency regulations imposed by foreign governments.
Inflation-indexed bond risk.
The risk that such bonds will change in value in response to actual or anticipated changes in inflation rates, in a manner unanticipated by the Fund’s portfolio management team or investors generally. Inflation-indexed bonds are subject to debt securities risks, described above.
Large shareholder risk.
Certain account holders may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. The Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by large shareholders of all or a portion of their Fund shares or a purchase of Fund shares in large amounts and/or on a frequent basis will adversely affect the Fund’s performance if it is forced to sell portfolio securities or invest cash when the Adviser would not otherwise choose to do so. This risk will be particularly pronounced if one shareholder owns a substantial portion of the Fund. Redemptions of a large number of shares may affect the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, increase the Fund’s transaction costs and/or lead to the liquidation of the Fund. Such transactions also potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any).
Leveraging risk.
Certain transactions, including, for example, when-issued, delayed-delivery, and forward commitment purchases, inverse floaters, loans of portfolio securities, repurchase agreements (or reverse repurchase agreements), and the use of some derivatives, can result in leverage. In addition, the Fund may achieve investment leverage by borrowing money. Leverage generally has the effect of increasing the amounts of loss or gain the Fund might realize, and creates the likelihood of greater volatility of the value of the Fund’s investments. In transactions involving leverage, a relatively small market movement or change in other underlying indicator can lead to significantly larger losses to the Fund. There is risk of loss in excess of invested capital.
The types of derivative instruments the Fund may use to obtain leverage will require the Fund to make payments to its counterparties from time to time and may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to manage the portion of the Fund invested in debt securities. It may also require the Fund to liquidate its debt instrument holdings at disadvantageous times and prices.
Limited operating history risk.
The Fund is newly formed and has no operating history for investors to evaluate. As such, the Fund may not attract sufficient assets to achieve or maximize investment and operational efficiencies and remain viable. If the Fund fails to achieve sufficient scale, it may be liquidated.
Market capitalization risk.
Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories — large, medium and small. The Fund that invests substantially in one of these categories carries the risk that due to current market conditions that category may be out of favor with investors.
If valuations of large capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of small or medium capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of small and medium-sized companies. Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in technology and consumer tastes. Larger companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies.
Investing in medium and small capitalization companies may involve special risks because those companies may have narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, fewer experienced managers, dependence on a few key employees, and a more limited trading market for their stocks, as compared with larger companies. In addition, securities of these companies are subject to the risk that, during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries will shrink or disappear with little forewarning as a result of adverse economic or market conditions, or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate. Securities of medium and smaller capitalization issuers may therefore be subject to greater price volatility and may decline more significantly in market downturns than securities of larger companies. Smaller and medium capitalization issuers may also require substantial additional capital to support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings or may otherwise have a weak financial condition, and may be susceptible to bankruptcy. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. There is typically less publicly available information about medium and small capitalization companies.
Market risk.
The Fund may invest in securities of any market capitalization. Various market risks can affect the price or liquidity of an issuer’s securities in which the Fund may invest. Returns from the securities in which the Fund invests may underperform returns from the various general securities markets or different asset classes. Different types of securities tend to go through cycles of outperformance and underperformance in comparison to the general securities markets. Adverse events occurring with respect to an issuer’s performance or financial position can depress the value of the issuer’s securities. The liquidity in a market for a particular security will affect its value and may be affected by factors relating to the issuer, as well as the depth of the market for that security. Other market risks that can affect value include a market’s current attitudes about types of securities, market reactions to political or economic events, including litigation, and tax and regulatory effects (including lack of adequate regulations for a market or particular type of instrument).
Markets may, in response to governmental actions or intervention, economic or market developments, or other external factors, experience periods of high volatility and reduced liquidity. During those periods, the Funds may experience high levels of shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when the Fund would otherwise not do so, and at potentially unfavorable prices. Securities may be difficult to value during such periods. These risks may be heightened for fixed income securities due to the current historically low interest rate environment.
The United States and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. For example, in recent periods, governmental financial regulators, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, have taken steps to maintain historically low interest rates, such as by purchasing bonds. Steps by those regulators, including, for example, steps to curtail or taper such activities, could have a material adverse effect on prices for the Fund’s portfolio of investments and on the management of the Funds. The withdrawal of support, failure of efforts in response to a financial crisis, or investor perception that those efforts are not succeeding could negatively affect financial markets generally as well as the values and liquidity of certain securities. Federal, state, and other governments, their regulatory agencies, or self regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the securities in which the Fund invests or the issuers of such securities in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation also may change the way in which the Funds or the Adviser are regulated. Such legislation, regulation, or other government action could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective and affect the Fund’s performance.
Political, social or financial instability, civil unrest and acts of terrorism are other potential risks that could adversely affect an investment in a security or in markets or issuers generally. In addition, political developments in foreign countries or the United States may at times subject such countries to sanctions from the U.S. government, foreign governments and/or international institutions that could negatively affect the Fund’s investments in issuers located in, doing business in or with assets in such countries.
The Fund may continue to accept new subscriptions and to make additional investments in instruments in accordance with the Fund’s principal investment strategies to strive to meet the Fund’s investment objectives under all types of market conditions, including unfavorable market conditions.
Other investment company and exchange-traded fund risk.
Investments in open-end and closed-end investment companies, and other pooled investment vehicles, including any ETFs, involve substantially the same risks as investing directly in the instruments held by these entities. However, the total return from such investments will be reduced by the operating expenses and fees of the investment company or ETF. The Fund must pay its pro rata portion of an investment company’s or ETF’s fees and expenses, which may include performance fees that could be substantial (such as certain non-registered investment companies that may charge up to 20% or more of the gains on the Fund’s investments). An investment company or ETF may not achieve its investment objective or execute its investment strategy effectively, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Shares of a closed-end investment company or ETF may expose the Fund to risks associated with leverage and may trade at a premium or discount to the NAV of the closed-end fund’s or the ETF’s portfolio securities depending on a variety of factors, including market supply and demand.
Portfolio management risk.
Portfolio management risk is the risk that an investment strategy may fail to produce the intended results. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular asset classes, sectors, securities, or other investments may prove to be incorrect and may not anticipate actual market movements or the impact of economic conditions generally. No matter how well a portfolio manager evaluates market conditions, the investments a portfolio manager chooses may fail to produce the intended result, and you could lose money on your investment in the Fund.
Portfolio turnover risk.
The Fund may sell securities without regard to the length of time they have been held to take advantage of new investment opportunities, when the Adviser believes either the securities no longer meet its investment criteria or for other reasons. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary from year to year. A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) increases a Fund’s transaction costs (including brokerage commissions and dealer costs), which would adversely impact a Fund’s performance. Higher portfolio turnover may result in the realization of more short-term capital gains than if a Fund had lower portfolio turnover.
Preferred securities risk.
In addition to many of the risks associated with both fixed income securities (
e.g.
, interest rate risk and credit risk) and common shares or other equity securities (
e.g.
, market risk, equity issuer risk), preferred securities are also subject to deferral risk. Preferred securities typically contain provisions that allow an issuer, at its discretion, to defer distributions for an extended period. Preferred securities also may contain provisions that allow an issuer, under certain conditions, to skip (in the case of noncumulative preferred securities) or defer (in the case of cumulative preferred securities), dividend payments. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring its distributions, the Fund may be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving any distributions. Preferred stock in some instances is convertible into common shares or other securities.
Preferred securities typically contain provisions that allow for redemption in the event of tax or security law changes in addition to call features at the option of the issuer. In the event of a redemption, the Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at comparable or favorable rates of return.
Preferred securities typically do not provide any voting rights, except in cases in which dividends are in arrears beyond a certain time period, which varies by issue. Preferred securities are generally subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities.
Prepayment risk.
Many types of debt securities, including floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, may reflect an interest in periodic payments made by borrowers. Although debt securities and other obligations typically mature after a specified period of time, borrowers may pay them off sooner. When a prepayment happens, all or a portion of the obligation will be prepaid. A borrower is more likely to prepay an obligation which bears a relatively high rate of interest. This means that in times of declining interest rates, there is a greater likelihood that the Fund’s higher yielding securities will be pre-paid and the Fund will probably be unable to re-invest those proceeds in an investment with as great a yield, causing the Fund’s yield to decline. Securities subject to prepayment risk generally offer less potential for gains when prevailing interest rates fall. If the Fund buys those investments at a premium, accelerated prepayments on those investments could cause the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment and result in lower yields to shareholders. The increased likelihood of prepayment when interest rates decline also limits market price appreciation, especially certain loans and mortgage-backed securities. The effect of prepayments on the price of a security may be difficult to predict and may increase the security’s price volatility. Interest-only and principal-only securities are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, which can affect not only their prices but can also change the income flows and repayment assumptions about those investments.
Reliance on the adviser.
The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective is dependent upon the Adviser’s ability to identify profitable investment opportunities for the Fund. While the portfolio manager of the Fund may have considerable experience in managing other portfolios with investment objectives, policies and strategies that are similar, the past experience of the portfolio managers, including with other strategies and funds, does not guarantee future results for the Fund.
Securities lending risk.
There are certain risks associated with securities lending, including the risk that when lending portfolio securities, the securities may not be available to the Fund on a timely basis and the Fund may, therefore, lose the opportunity to sell the securities at a desirable price. When the Fund loans its portfolio securities, it will receive collateral consisting of cash or cash equivalents, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, an irrevocable bank letter of credit, or any combination thereof. Nevertheless, the Fund risks a delay in the recovery of the loaned securities, or even the loss of rights in the collateral deposited by the borrower if the borrower should fail financially. In addition, any investments made with the collateral received are subject to the risks associated with such investments. If such investments lose value, the Fund will have to cover the loss when repaying the collateral.
Securities or sector selection risk.
The risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform securities held in other funds investing in similar asset classes or comparable benchmarks because of a portfolio manager’s choice of securities or sectors for investment. To the extent the Fund focuses or concentrates its investments in a particular sector or related sectors, the Fund will be more susceptible to events or factors affecting companies in that sector or related sectors. For example, the values of securities of companies in the same or related sectors may be negatively affected by the common characteristics they share, the common business risks to which they are subject, common regulatory burdens, or regulatory changes that affect them similarly. Such characteristics, risks, burdens or changes include, but are not limited to, changes in governmental regulation, inflation or deflation, rising or falling interest rates, competition from new entrants, and other economic, market, political or other developments specific to that sector or related sectors.
Short position risk.
The Fund may borrow an instrument from a broker or other institution and sell it to establish a short position in the instrument. The Fund may also enter into a derivative transaction in order to establish a short position with respect to a reference asset. The Fund may make a profit or incur a loss depending upon whether the market price of the instrument decreases or increases between the date the Fund established the short position and the date on which the Fund must replace the borrowed instrument or otherwise close out the transaction. An increase in the value of an instrument with respect to which the Fund has established a short position will result in a loss to the Fund, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out the position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The loss to the Fund from a short position is potentially unlimited.
Sovereign debt obligations risk
. Investments in countries’ government debt obligations involve special risks. Certain countries have historically experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations, large amounts of external debt, balance of payments and trade difficulties and extreme poverty and unemployment. The issuer or governmental authority that controls the repayment of a country’s debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation and, in the case of a government debtor, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the government debtor’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a government debtor may be subject. Government debtors may default on their debt and also may be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a debtor’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations.
Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the government debtor, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debts on a timely basis. Holders of government debt, including the Fund, may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to government debtors.
As a result of the foregoing, a government obligor may default on its obligations. If such an event occurs, the Fund may have limited (or no) legal recourse against the issuer and/or guarantor. Remedies must, in some cases, be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party itself, and the ability of the holder of foreign government debt securities to obtain recourse may be subject to the political climate in the relevant country. In addition, no assurance can be given that the holders of more senior fixed income securities, such as commercial bank debt, will not contest payments to the holders of other foreign government debt securities in the event of default under their commercial bank loan agreements. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which governmental entities have defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.
Government obligors in emerging market countries are among the world’s largest debtors to commercial banks, other governments, international financial organizations and other financial institutions. The issuers of the government debt securities in which the Fund may invest have in the past experienced substantial difficulties in servicing their external debt obligations, which led to defaults on certain obligations and the restructuring of certain indebtedness. Restructuring arrangements have included, among other things, reducing and rescheduling interest and principal payments by negotiating new or amended credit agreements, and obtaining new credit to finance interest payments. Holders of certain foreign government debt securities may be requested to participate in the restructuring of such obligations and to extend further loans to their issuers. There can be no assurance that the foreign government debt securities in which the Fund may invest will not be subject to similar restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit, which may adversely affect the Fund’s holdings. Furthermore, certain participants in the secondary market for such debt may be directly involved in negotiating the terms of these arrangements and may therefore have access to information not available to other market participants.
Continuing uncertainty as to the status of the Euro and the European Monetary Union (“EMU”) has created significant volatility in currency and financial markets generally. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Fund’s portfolio investments.
U.S. Government securities risk.
Some U.S. Government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes, and bonds and mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury, their obligations are not supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, and so investments in their securities or obligations issued by them involve greater risk than investments in other types of U.S. Government securities. In addition, certain governmental entities have been subject to regulatory scrutiny regarding their accounting policies and practices and other concerns that may result in legislation, changes in regulatory oversight and/or other consequences that could adversely affect the credit quality, availability or investment character of securities issued or guaranteed by these entities.
The events surrounding the U.S. federal government debt ceiling and any resulting agreement could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. On August 5, 2011, S&P lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. The downgrade by S&P and other future downgrades could increase volatility in both stock and bond markets, result in higher interest rates and lower Treasury prices and increase the costs of all kinds of debt. These events and similar events in other areas of the world could have significant adverse effects on the economy generally and could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of securities held by the Fund and the Fund itself. The Adviser cannot predict the effects of these or similar events in the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets or on the Fund’s portfolio. The Adviser may not timely anticipate or manage existing, new or additional risks, contingencies or developments.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. Currently, disclosure of the Fund’s holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q. The Annual and Semi-Annual Reports will be available by contacting the Fund c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701 or calling [ ] and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Fund will make its top ten portfolio holdings information publicly available by posting the information on the Fund’s website www.gweiss.com within fifteen business days of each quarter end.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC, located at
320 Park Avenue, New York, NY, has been a registered investment adviser since March 2010. The Adviser acts as a discretionary investment adviser to a number of private investment funds organized by the Adviser, as well as to a number of managed accounts owned by institutional investors over which it exercises sole investment discretion. The Adviser is majority-owned by GWA, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company. GWA, LLC, in turn, is majority-owned by Weiss Family Interests LLC, which is majority-owned by various Weiss family trusts. A substantial number of the Adviser’s employees also own minority interests in GWA, LLC. As the investment adviser to the Fund, the Adviser oversees the provision of all management, administration, investment advisory and general services for the Fund.
Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive a fee at an annual rate of 1.60% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This agreement will continue in effect until [ ], 2017, with successive renewal terms of one year unless terminated by the Board of Trustees prior to any such renewal.
The Adviser may delegate receipt of the Management Fees to an affiliate of the Adviser, Weiss Financial Solutions LLC.
In addition, the Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its management fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund until at least [ ], to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (exclusive of any Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or servicing fees, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest on borrowing, short selling expenses, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, swap fees and expenses, or other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) will not exceed 2.50%, 3.15%, 2.25%, and 2.15% of the daily average net assets of the Fund’s Class A, Class C, Class I, and Class K shares, respectively, subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three year basis (
i.e.
within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) within the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived or reimbursed. Recoupment amounts may also include organizational expenses incurred prior to the commencement of operations subject to recoupment within three years of the date of such reimbursement.
A discussion describing the Board’s initial approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust will be available in the Fund’s [Semi-]Annual Report to shareholders dated [ ], 2015.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Jordi Visser joined the Adviser in 2005. Prior to that, he was the founding managing partner of Anchor Point Asset Management, a global macro fund, where he was responsible for the investment process, investment decisions and risk management. A former managing director at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Visser traded various global equity derivative books for nine years after spending two initial years as a controller. He opened the Morgan Stanley Office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and managed the derivative sales and trading effort there during the 1997-98 emerging market crisis. Upon his return to New York in 1999, he managed a multi-billion dollar notional index option portfolio and was a member of the Equity Division Risk Committee. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Manhattan College and a board member of the School of Business at Manhattan College.
Charles S. Crow IV, Quantitative Analyst, joined the Adviser in 2013. Prior to joining Weiss, he was a Vice President in Sales & Trading at Morgan Stanley where he primarily focused on fundamental factors, quantitative portfolio construction and long/short investment strategies. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2007, Mr. Crow designed and implemented an automated market-making system utilizing statistical arbitrage theory at ArtIsoft, Inc. in Princeton, NJ. In addition, he has authored and co-authored numerous professional publications within the quantitative space, as well as academic articles in the Operations Research Journal (INFORMS) and the Johns Hopkins Undergraduate Research Journal. He received his MS degree in Operations Research from Columbia University and BS degree in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University.
Edward Olanow, Vice President, joined the Adviser in 2005. Currently, he is a member of the portfolio management team for the Weiss Alpha Balanced Risk Fund. Prior to that, he worked as a member of the Macro strategy team for nine years and was responsible for fundamental and quantitative research, as well as algorithmic trade management. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Olanow spent two years at Anchor Point Asset Management as a quantitative analyst. Mr. Olanow began his investment career as a research analyst with Citibank Global Asset Management. He holds a BA in Economics from Emory University.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of shares in the Fund.
ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO DEALERS
The Adviser, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund, including affiliates of the Adviser. Such payments and compensation are in addition to any service fees paid by the Fund. These additional cash payments are generally made to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the financial intermediaries. Cash compensation may also be paid to financial intermediaries for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs or as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediaries provide shareholder services to the Fund’s shareholders. The Adviser may also pay cash compensation in the form of finder’s fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of the shares sold.
Minimum Investment
To purchase shares of the Fund, you must make at least the minimum initial investment (or subsequent investment) as shown in the table below. Class A and Class C Shares are not currently available for purchase.
|
|
Minimum Initial
Investment
|
Minimum
Subsequent
Investment
|
|
Class A
|
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
|
Class C
|
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
|
Class I
|
$250,000
|
$[ ]
|
|
Class K
|
$2,000,000
|
$[ ]
|
Except with respect to the Class K shares, minimum initial and subsequent purchase amounts may be reduced or waived by the Adviser for specific investors or types of investors, including, without limitation, employee benefit plan investors, retirement plan investors, investors who invest in the Fund through an asset-based fee program made available through a financial intermediary, customers of investment advisers, brokers, consultants and other intermediaries that recommend the Fund, employees of the Adviser and its affiliates and their family members, investment advisory clients of the Adviser, and current or former Trustees of the Trust and their family members. Certain financial intermediaries also may have investment minimums, which may differ from the Fund's minimums, and may be waived at the intermediaries' discretion. If your investment is aggregated into an omnibus account established by an investment adviser, broker, consultant or other financial intermediary, the account minimums apply to the omnibus account, not to your individual investment.
Choosing a Share Class
This Prospectus describes four classes of shares offered by the Fund: Class A, Class C, Class I and Class K. The Fund offers these classes of shares so that you can choose the class that best suits your investment needs. The main differences between each class are sales charges, ongoing fees and minimum investment amounts. Each class of shares of the Fund represents an interest in the Fund’s portfolio of investments. There is no investment minimum on reinvested distributions and the Fund may change investment minimums at any time.
When deciding which class of shares to purchase, you should consider your investment goals, present and future amounts you may invest in the Fund, and the length of time you intend to hold your shares. To help you make a determination as to which class of shares to buy, please refer back to the examples of the Fund’s expenses over time in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section in this Prospectus. You also may wish to consult with your financial adviser for advice with regard to which share class would be most appropriate for you.
Class A Shares
. Class A shares of the Fund are not yet available for purchase.
Class A shares of the Fund are retail shares that require that you pay a sales charge when you invest in the Fund unless you qualify for a reduction or waiver of the sales charge. Class A shares are also subject to Rule 12b-1 fees (or distribution fees) of 0.25% of average daily net assets and shareholder servicing fees of 0.10% of the average dialing net assets, which is assessed against the shares of the Fund.
When available, if you purchase Class A shares of the Fund you will pay the public offering price (“POP”) which is the NAV next determined after your order is received by either the Fund's transfer agent or a financial intermediary plus a front-end sales charge (shown in percentages below) depending on the amount of your investment. Since sales charges are reduced for Class A share purchases above certain dollar amounts, known as “breakpoint thresholds,” the POP is lower for these purchases. The dollar amount of the sales charge is the difference between the POP of the shares purchased (based on the applicable sales charge in the table below) and the NAV of those shares. Because of rounding in the calculation of the POP, the actual sales charge you pay may be more or less than that calculated using the percentages shown below.
|
Investment Amount
|
Front-end Sales Charge
as a % of Public
Offering Price
(1)
|
Sales Charge as a % of
Net Amount Invested
|
Dealer Reallowance as a
% of Public Offering Price
|
|
Less than $50,000
|
5.50%
|
5.82%
|
5.50%
|
|
$50,000 to $99,999
|
4.75%
|
4.99%
|
4.75%
|
|
$100,000 to $249,999
|
3.75%
|
3.90%
|
3.75%
|
|
$250,000 to $499,999
|
3.00%
|
3.09%
|
3.00%
|
|
$500,000 to $1,000,000
|
2.00%
|
2.04%
|
2.00%
|
|
$1,000,000 or more
(2)
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
|
(1)
|
Public offering price includes the front-end sales charge. The sales charge you pay may differ slightly from the amount set forth above because of rounding that occurs in the calculation used to determine your sales charge.
|
|
(2)
|
Class A shares that are purchased at NAV in amounts of $1,000,000 or more may be assessed a 1.00% CDSC, if they are redeemed within 18 months from the date of purchase. For purposes of calculating the CDSC, the start of the 18-month holding period is the first day of the month in which the purchase was made. The CDSC may be waived in certain circumstances; please refer to page [ ].
|
The Distributor will receive all front-end sales charges paid for the purchase of Class A shares of the Fund when such purchases are made without a dealer of record.
Class A Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers.
You may be able to reduce the sales charge on Class A shares of the Fund based on the type of transaction, the combined market value of your accounts or intended investment, and for certain groups or classes of shareholders. If you believe you are eligible for any of the following reductions or waivers, it is up to you to ask the selling agent or shareholder servicing agent for the reduction and to provide appropriate proof of eligibility.
Reinvested Distributions:
You pay no sales charges on Class A shares you buy with reinvested distributions from Class A distributions from the Fund.
Letter of Intent (“LOI”):
By signing an LOI prior to purchase, you pay a lower sales charge now in exchange for promising to invest an amount within the next 13 months sufficient to meet one of the above breakpoint thresholds. The investment must satisfy the initial purchase agreement. Reinvested distributions do not count as purchases made during this period. Any shares purchased within 90 days of the date you sign the letter of intent may be used as credit toward completion, but the reduced sales charge will only apply to new purchases made on or after that date. The Fund will hold in escrow shares equal to approximately 5% of the amount of shares you indicate in the LOI. If you do not invest the amount specified in the LOI before the expiration date, the Transfer Agent will redeem a sufficient amount of escrowed shares to pay the difference between the reduced sales load you paid and the sales load you would have paid based on the total amount actually invested in Class A shares as of the expiration date. Otherwise, the Transfer Agent will release the escrowed shares when you have invested the agreed amount.
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”):
You may combine the value at the current POP of Class A shares of the Fund with a new purchase of Class A shares of the Fund to reduce the sales charge on the new purchase. The sales charge for the new shares will be figured at the rate in the table above that applies to the combined value of your currently owned shares and the amount of the new investment. ROA allows you to combine the value of your account with the value of other eligible accounts for purposes of meeting the breakpoint thresholds above.
You may aggregate your eligible accounts with the eligible accounts of members of your immediate family to obtain a breakpoint discount. The types of eligible accounts that may be aggregated to obtain the breakpoint discounts described above include individual accounts, joint accounts and certain IRAs.
For the purpose of obtaining a breakpoint discount, members of your “immediate family” include your spouse, child, stepchild, parent, sibling, grandchild and grandparent, in each case including in-law and adoptive relationships. In addition, a fiduciary can count all shares purchased for a trust, estate or other fiduciary account (including one or more employee benefit plans of the same employer) that has multiple accounts. Eligible accounts include those registered in the name of your financial intermediary through which you own shares in the Fund.
Certain groups or classes of shareholders:
If you fall into any of the following categories, you can buy Class A shares at NAV without a sales charge:
|
·
|
Current and retired employees, directors/trustees and officers of:
|
|
o
|
The Adviser and its affiliates; and
|
|
o
|
Family members (spouse, domestic partner, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and siblings (including step and in-law)) of any of the above.
|
|
·
|
Any trust, pension, profit sharing or other benefit plan for current employees, directors/trustees and officers of the Adviser and its affiliates.
|
|
o
|
Broker-dealers who act as selling agents for the Fund/Trust; and
|
|
o
|
Family members (spouse, domestic partner, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and siblings (including step and in-law)) of any of the above.
|
|
·
|
Qualified registered investment advisers who buy through a broker-dealer or service agent who has entered into an agreement with the Distributor that allows for load-waived Class A shares purchases.
|
Information regarding the Fund’s sales charges, breakpoint thresholds and waivers is available in the SAI and free of charge on the Fund’s website: www.gweiss.com.
Converting to Class I.
You may be able to convert Class A shares to Class I shares at any time if you are eligible to purchase Class I shares. To request a conversion, please contact the Fund’s transfer agent at [ ] or mail your request to:
|
For regular mail delivery:
|
For an overnight delivery:
|
|
[ ]
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
|
[ ]
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-5207
|
Class C Shares
.
Class C shares of the Fund are not yet available for purchase.
When available, you can buy Class C shares at the offering price, which is the NAV without an up-front sales charge. Class C shares are subject to annual Rule 12b-1 distribution fee of 0.75% and shareholder servicing fees of 0.25% (discussed below in the section entitled “Distributions (12b-1) and Shareholder Servicing Fees”). The Rule 12b-1 distribution fee compensates your financial intermediary for providing distribution services and the shareholding service fee compensates your financial intermediary for providing ongoing service to you. The Distributor pays your financial intermediary a 1.00% up-front sales commission, which includes an advance of the first year’s service and distribution fees. The Distributor retains the service and distribution fees in the first year to reimburse itself for paying your financial intermediary a 1.00% up-front sales commission and retains the service and distribution fees on accounts with no authorized dealer of record.
If you redeem your Class C shares within 12 months of purchase, you will pay a CDSC of 1.00% based on the lesser of original cost or current market value. For example, if you purchased $10,000 worth of shares, which due to market fluctuation have appreciated to $15,000, the CDSC will be assessed on your $10,000 purchase. If that same $10,000 purchase has depreciated to $5,000, the CDSC will be assessed on the $5,000 value. For purposes of calculating the CDSC, the start of the 12-month holding period is the first day of the month in which the purchase was made. The Fund will use the “first in, first out” (“FIFO”) method to determine the holding period; this means that if you bought shares on different days, the shares purchased first will be redeemed first for the purpose of calculating the CDSC.
CDSC Waivers for Class C Shares
.
The CDSC for Class C shares will be waived:
|
·
|
in the event of the total disability (as evidenced by a determination by the Social Security Administration) of the shareholder (including a registered joint owner) occurring after the purchase of the shares being redeemed;
|
|
·
|
in the event
of the death of the shareholder (including a registered joint owner);
|
|
·
|
for redemptions made pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan, including any IRA systematic withdrawal based on the shareholder’s life expectancy including, but not limited to, substantially equal periodic payments described in Code Section 72(t)(2)(iv) prior to age 59 1/2; and
|
|
·
|
for redemptions to satisfy required minimum distributions after age 70 1/2 from an IRA account (with the maximum amount subject to this waiver being based only upon the shareholder’s Fund’s IRA accounts).
|
More information regarding the Fund's sales charges and waivers is available in the SAI and free of charge on the Fund’s website: www.gweiss.com.
Class I Shares.
Class I shares do not carry a sales charge. Class I shares are available for purchase at the NAV per share next determined after your order is received by either the Fund's transfer agent or a financial intermediary. Class I shares are subject to a shareholder servicing fee of 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Fund and have an investment minimum of $250,000.
The following persons will be eligible to invest in Class I shares:
|
·
|
Institutional investors including banks, savings institutions, credit unions and other financial institutions, pension, profit sharing and employee benefit plans and trusts, insurance companies, investment companies, investment advisers, broker-dealers and financial advisers acting for their own accounts or for the accounts of their clients; and
|
|
·
|
Full-time employees, agents, employees of agents, retirees and directors (trustees), and members of their families (
i.e.
, parent, child, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, set or adopted relationships, grandparent, grandchild and UTMA accounts naming qualifying persons) of the Adviser and its affiliated companies.
|
Class K Shares.
Class K shares do not have any sales charge, 12b-1 fees or shareholder servicing fees. Class K shares are available for purchase at the NAV next determined after your order is received by either the Fund's transfer agent or a financial intermediary and are subject to a $2 million investment minimum.
Good Order Purchase Requests
When making a purchase request, make sure your request is in good order. “Good order” means your request includes:
|
§
|
the
dollar amount
of shares to be purchased
|
|
§
|
account
application
form or investment
stub
|
|
§
|
check payable to
The Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk Fund
|
All purchases by check must be in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. banks. The Fund will not accept payment in cash or money orders. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares. The Fund is unable to accept post-dated checks or any conditional order or payment.
If your check is returned for any reason, the transfer agent will assess a $25 fee against your account. You will also be responsible for any losses suffered by the Fund as a result.
Shares of the Fund have not been registered for sale outside of the United States. The Fund generally does not sell shares to investors residing outside the United States, even if they are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents, except to investors with United States military APO or FPO addresses.
Purchase by Mail
For direct investments through the Fund’s transfer agent, you should:
|
·
|
Complete and sign the account application;
|
|
·
|
To open an account, write a check payable to: “[ ]”;
|
|
·
|
Send your account application and check to one of the addresses listed below;
|
|
·
|
For subsequent investments, detach the stub that is attached to the account statement you will receive after each transaction and mail it with a check made payable to the Fund in the envelope provided with your statement or to one of the addresses noted below. Write your account number on the check. If you do not have the stub from your account statement, include your name, address and account number on a separate piece of paper.
|
|
For regular mail delivery:
|
For an overnight delivery:
|
|
[ ]
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
|
[ ]
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-5207
|
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agent. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services, or receipt at U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests does not constitute receipt by the transfer agent of the Fund.
Purchase by Wire
If you are making your first investment in the Fund, before you wire funds, please contact the transfer agent by phone to make arrangements with a representative to submit your completed account application via mail, overnight delivery or facsimile. Upon receipt of your completed account application, an account will be established for you and a service representative will contact you within 24 hours to provide you with an account number. Once your account has been established, you may instruct your bank to initiate the wire using the instructions provided below.
For either initial or subsequent investments, prior to sending the wire, please call the transfer agent at
[ ] to advise of your wire to ensure proper credit upon receipt. Your bank must include the name of the Fund, your name and account number so that your wire can be correctly applied.
|
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: The Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk Fund
(Shareholder Name, Shareholder Account #)
|
Your bank may impose a fee for investments by wire. You will receive the NAV for the day that your wired funds have been received by the transfer agent. Wired funds must be received prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, to be eligible for same day pricing. Wires received after the close of the NYSE will be considered received by the next business day. The Fund and the transfer agent are not responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system or from incomplete wiring instructions. If you have questions about how to invest by wire, you may call the Fund at [ ].
Purchase by Telephone
If you did not decline telephone transactions on your account application, if you included a voided check, and your account has been open for 15 calendar days, you may purchase additional shares in the amount of $[] or more from your bank account upon request by telephoning the Funds toll free at [ ]. Telephone orders will be accepted via electronic funds transfer from your pre-designated bank account through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) network. You must have banking information established on your account prior to making a purchase. Only bank accounts held at domestic institutions that are ACH members may be used for telephone transactions. If your order is received prior to the close of the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, shares will be purchased at the NAV next calculated. For security reasons, requests by telephone are recorded.
Automatic Investment Plan
If you intend to use an Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”), you may open your account with an initial minimum investment of $[ ]. Once your account has been opened, you may purchase shares of the Fund through the AIP in amounts of at least $[ ]. If you chose this option, funds will be automatically transferred from your bank account monthly. To be eligible for this plan, your bank must be a domestic institution that is an ACH member. The Fund may modify or terminate the AIP at any time. The first AIP purchase will take place no earlier than 15 days after the transfer agent has received your request. If your bank rejects your payment, the transfer agent will charge a $25 fee to your account. To begin participating in the AIP, please complete the Automatic Investment Plan section on the account application. Any request to change or terminate your AIP should be submitted to the transfer agent five days prior to effective date.
Purchases Placed with Financial Intermediaries
You may buy and sell shares of the Fund through certain financial intermediaries. Your order will be priced at a Fund’s NAV next computed after it is received by a financial intermediary. A financial intermediary may hold your shares in an omnibus account in the financial intermediary’s name and the financial intermediary may maintain your individual ownership records. If your investment is aggregated into an omnibus account established by an investment adviser, broker or other intermediary, the account minimums apply to the omnibus account, not to your individual investment. Your financial intermediary may impose investment minimum requirements that are different from those set forth in this Prospectus. The Fund may pay the financial intermediary for maintaining individual ownership records as well as providing other shareholder services. Financial intermediaries may charge fees for the services they provide to you in connection with processing your transaction order or maintaining your account with them. Financial intermediaries are responsible for placing your order correctly and promptly with the Fund, forwarding payment promptly, as well as ensuring that you receive copies of the Fund’s Prospectus. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a financial intermediary, or its authorized designee, receives the order. If you transmit your order with these financial intermediaries before the close of regular trading (generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on a day that the NYSE is open for business, your order will be priced at a Fund’s NAV next computed after it is received by the financial intermediary. Investors should check with their financial intermediary to determine if it is subject to these arrangements.
Redeeming Shares
If you redeem through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may charge you a transaction fee. If you purchased your shares by check, you may not receive your redemption proceeds until your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 calendar days. Redemptions will be processed only on a day during which the NYSE is open for business. You may receive the proceeds of redemption by check, wire or via electronic funds transfer through the ACH network. Please note that certain fees may apply depending on the timing or manner in which you redeem shares. Requests to redeem shares are processed at the NAV next calculated after we or your financial intermediary receives your request in proper form.
Shareholders who have an IRA or other retirement plan must indicate on their redemption request whether or not to withhold federal income tax. Redemption requests failing to indicate an election not to have tax withheld will generally be subject to a 10% withholding tax.
Redeem by Mail
To redeem by mail, please:
|
·
|
Provide your name and account number;
|
|
·
|
Specify the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed and the Fund name or number;
|
|
·
|
Sign the redemption request (the signature must be exactly the same as the one on your account application). Make sure that all parties that are required by the account registration sign the request, and any applicable signature guarantees are on the request; and
|
|
·
|
Send your request to the appropriate address as given under “Purchasing by Mail”.
|
Redeem by Telephone
Unless you declined the option on your account application, you may redeem your shares of the Fund by telephone. In order to arrange for the telephone redemption option after your account has been established, or to change the bank account or address designated to which redemption proceeds are sent, you must send the Fund’s transfer agent a written request. The request must be signed by each shareholder of the account. The transfer agent may require a signature guarantee, signature verification from a Signature Validation Program member, or other acceptable form of authentication from a financial institution source. To redeem by telephone, call the transfer agent at [ ] between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on a day the NYSE is open for business. Shares of the Funds will be sold in your account at the NAV determined on the day your order is placed prior to market close (generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time); any redemption requests made after market close will receive the Fund’s next calculated NAV price.
Before executing an instruction received by telephone, the transfer agent will use reasonable procedures to confirm that the telephone instructions are genuine. The telephone call may be recorded and the caller may be asked to verify certain personal identification information. If the Fund or its agents follow these procedures, they cannot be held liable for any loss, expense or cost arising out of any telephone redemption request that is reasonably believed to be genuine. This includes fraudulent or unauthorized requests. The Fund may change, modify or terminate these privileges at any time upon at least 60 days’ written notice to shareholders. Once a telephone transaction has been placed, it cannot be canceled or modified. If you have a retirement account, you may not redeem shares by telephone. If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, the Fund will accept telephone instructions from any one owner or authorized person. During periods of high market activity, you may encounter higher than usual wait times. Please allow sufficient time to ensure that you will be able to complete your telephone transaction prior to market close. Neither the Fund nor its transfer agent will be held liable if you are unable to place your trade due to high call volume.
Systematic Withdrawal Program
The Fund offers a systematic withdrawal plan (the “SWP”) whereby shareholders or their representatives may request a redemption in a specific dollar amount be sent to them each month, calendar quarter or annually. Investors may choose to have a check sent to the address of record, or proceeds may be sent to a pre-designated bank account via the ACH network. To start this program, your account must have Fund shares with a value of at least $[ ], and the minimum payment amount is $100. This program may be terminated or modified by the Fund at any time. Any request to change or terminate your SWP should be communicated in writing or by telephone to the transfer agent no later than five days before the next scheduled withdrawal. A withdrawal under the SWP involves redemption of Fund shares, and may result in a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. In addition, if the amount withdrawn exceeds the amounts credited to your account, the account ultimately may be depleted. To establish the SWP, complete the SWP section of the Account Application. Please call [ ] for additional information regarding the SWP.
Through a Financial Intermediary
You may redeem the Fund’s shares through your financial intermediary. Redemptions made through a financial intermediary may be subject to procedures established by that institution. Your financial intermediary is responsible for sending your order to the Fund and for crediting your account with the proceeds. For redemption through financial intermediaries, orders will be processed at the NAV next effective after receipt of the order by the financial intermediary. Please keep in mind that your financial intermediary may charge additional fees for its services. Investors should check with their financial intermediaries to determine if they are subject to these arrangements.
Redemption Fee
The Fund will assess a 1.00% fee on the redemption of Fund shares held for 90 days or less. The Fund uses the “first in first out” (“FIFO”) method to determine the holding period; this means that if you purchase shares on different days, the shares you held longest will be redeemed first for purposes of determining whether the short-term trading fee applies. The redemption fee is deducted from your proceeds and is retained by the Fund for the benefit of its long-term shareholders. This fee does not apply to (1) shares purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gains; (2) Fund redemptions under the Fund’s SWP; (3) the redemption of shares previously purchased under an AIP; (4) the involuntary redemption of low balance accounts; or (5) sales of Fund shares made in connection with non-discretionary portfolio rebalancing associated with certain asset-allocation programs managed by fee based investment advisers, certain wrap accounts, and retirement plans. The Fund’s redemption fee will also be waived on sales of Fund shares made in connection with non-discretionary portfolio rebalancing associated with certain wrap accounts and certain retirement plans. The Fund reserves the right to change the terms and amount of this fee upon at least 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Although the Fund has the goal of applying this redemption fee to most redemptions of shares held for less than 90 calendar days, the Fund may not always be able to track short-term trading effected through financial intermediaries in non-disclosed or omnibus accounts. While the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with such financial intermediaries as described under “Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions” which contractually require such financial intermediaries to provide a Fund with information relating to its customers investing in a Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts, the Fund cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to it from financial intermediaries and may not always be able to track short-term trading effected through these financial intermediaries. In addition, because the Fund is required to rely on information provided by the financial intermediary as to the applicable redemption fee, the Fund cannot ensure that the financial intermediary is always imposing such fee on the underlying shareholder in accordance with the Fund’s policies.
Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions
The Fund is intended for long-term investors. Short-term “market-timers” who engage in frequent transactions and redemptions may disrupt the Fund’s investment program and create additional transaction costs that are borne by all shareholders. The Board has adopted a policy regarding excessive trading. The Fund discourages excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm performance. The Fund takes steps to reduce the frequency and effect of these activities in the Fund. These steps may include, among other things, monitoring trading activity, imposing redemption fees, if necessary, or using fair value pricing when appropriate, under procedures as adopted by the Board, when the Adviser determines current market prices are not readily available. As approved by the Board, these techniques may change from time to time as determined by the Fund in its sole discretion.
In an effort to discourage abusive trading practices and minimize harm to the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any purchase order, in whole or in part, for any reason (including, without limitation, purchases by persons whose trading activity in the Fund’s shares is believed by the Adviser to be harmful to the Fund) and without prior notice. A Fund may decide to restrict purchase and sale activity in its shares based on various factors, including whether frequent purchase and sale activity will disrupt portfolio management strategies and adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Although these efforts are designed to discourage abusive trading practices, these tools cannot eliminate the possibility that such activity will occur. The Fund seeks to exercise its judgment in implementing these tools to the best of its ability in a manner that it believes is consistent with shareholder interests. Except as noted in the Prospectus, the Fund applies all restrictions uniformly in all applicable cases.
Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying abusive trading activity and the volume of shareholder transactions the Fund handles, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive. In particular, since the Fund receives purchase and sale orders through financial intermediaries that use group or omnibus accounts, the Fund cannot always detect frequent trading. However, the Fund will work with financial intermediaries as necessary to discourage shareholders from engaging in abusive trading practices and to impose restrictions on excessive trades. In this regard, the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which these intermediaries are required to provide to the Fund, at its request, certain information relating to its customers investing in the Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts. The Fund will use this information to attempt to identify abusive trading practices. Financial intermediaries are contractually required to follow any instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit future purchases from shareholders that are found to have engaged in abusive trading in violation of the Fund’s policies. However, the Fund cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to them from financial intermediaries and cannot ensure that they will always be able to detect abusive trading practices that occur through non-disclosed and omnibus accounts. As a consequence, the Fund’s ability to monitor and discourage abusive trading practices in omnibus accounts may be limited.
Proceeds
Proceeds will generally be sent no later than seven calendar days after the Fund receives your redemption request. If elected on your account application, you may have the proceeds of the redemption request sent by check to your address of record, by wire to a pre-determined bank, or by electronic funds transfer via the ACH network to the bank account designated by you on your account application. The minimum wire amount is $[ ] and there is a $15 fee for each wire transfer. When proceeds are sent via the ACH network, the funds are usually available in your bank account in two to three business days.
Check Clearance
The proceeds from a redemption request may be delayed up to 15 calendar days from the date of the receipt of a purchase check until the check clears. If the check does not clear, you will be responsible for any losses suffered by the Fund as well as a $25 service charge imposed by the transfer agent. This delay can be avoided by purchasing shares by wire.
Suspension of Redemptions
The Fund may temporarily suspend the right of redemption or postpone payments under certain emergency circumstances or when the SEC orders a suspension.
Signature Guarantees
The transfer agent may require a signature guarantee for certain redemption requests. A signature guarantee assures that your signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account redemptions. A signature guarantee of each owner, from either a Medallion program member or a non-Medallion program member, is required in the following situations:
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·
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For all redemption requests in excess of $50,000;
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·
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If a change of address request has been received by the transfer agent within the last 30 calendar days;
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·
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When requesting a change in ownership on your account; and
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·
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When redemption proceeds are payable or sent to any person, address or bank account not on record.
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Non-financial transactions including establishing or modifying certain services on an account may require a signature guarantee, signature verification from a Signature Validation Program member, or other acceptable form of authentication from a financial institution source.
In addition to the situations described above, the Fund and/or the transfer agent may require a signature guarantee in other instances based on the circumstances relative to the particular situation. Signature guarantees will generally be accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program and the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”).
A notary public is not an acceptable signature guarantor.
Customer Identification Program
Please note that, in compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, the transfer agent will verify certain information on your account application as part of the Fund’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. As requested on the account application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing only a P.O. Box will not be accepted. If you do not supply the necessary information, the transfer agent may not be able to open your account. Please contact the transfer agent at [ ] if you need additional assistance when completing your account application. If the transfer agent is unable to verify your identity or that of another person authorized to act on your behalf, or if it believes it has identified potentially criminal activity, the Fund reserves the right to temporarily limit additional share purchases, close your account or take any other action it deems reasonable or required by law. The Fund also reserves the right to close the account within five business days if clarifying information/documentation is not received.
No Certificates
The Fund does not issue share certificates.
Right to Reject Purchases
The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase in whole or in part. The Fund may cease taking purchase orders at any time when the Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the current shareholders. The purpose of such action is to limit increased Fund expenses incurred when certain investors buy and sell shares of the Fund for the short-term when the markets are highly volatile.
Redemption In-Kind
The Fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds to you in whole or in part by a distribution of securities from the Fund’s portfolio (a “redemption in-kind”). It is not expected that the Fund would do so except during unusual market conditions. If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash. A redemption in-kind is treated as a taxable transaction and a sale of the redeemed shares, generally resulting in capital gain or loss to you, subject to certain loss limitation rules.
Small Accounts
To reduce expenses, the Fund may redeem an account if the total value of the account falls below $[ ] due to redemptions. An investor will be given 30 days’ prior written notice of this redemption. During that period, an investor may purchase additional shares to avoid the redemption.
Householding
In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund will reduce the number of duplicate Prospectuses and annual and semi-annual reports that you receive by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shown by two or more accounts. Please call the transfer agent toll free at 1-800 – [ ] to request individual copies of these documents. The Fund will begin sending individual copies 30 calendar days after receiving your request. This policy does not apply to account statements.
Unclaimed Property
Mutual fund accounts may be transferred to an investor’s state of residence if no activity occurs within the account during the “inactivity period” specified in the applicable state’s abandoned property laws.
PRICING FUND SHARES
Net Asset Value
Shares of a Fund are sold at its NAV, plus and applicable sales charge. The NAV is determined by dividing the value of the Fund’s securities, cash and other assets, minus all liabilities, by the number of shares outstanding (assets – liabilities / number of shares = NAV). The NAV takes into account the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration and other fees, which are accrued daily. The Fund’s share price is calculated as of the close of regular trading (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open for business.
All shareholder transaction orders received in good form (as described above under “How to Purchase Shares of the Fund”) by the transfer agent, or an authorized financial intermediary by the close of the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, will be processed at the applicable price on that day. Transaction orders received after the close of the NYSE will receive the applicable price on the next business day. The Fund’s NAV, however, may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as permitted by the SEC. The Fund does not determine the NAV of its shares on any day when the NYSE is not open for trading, such as weekends and certain national holidays as disclosed in the SAI (even if there is sufficient trading in its portfolio securities on such days to materially affect the NAV). In certain cases, fair value determinations may be made as described below under procedures as adopted by the Board.
Fair Value Pricing
Occasionally, reliable market quotations are not readily available or there may be events affecting the value of foreign securities or other securities held by the Fund that occur when regular trading on foreign exchanges is closed, but before trading on the NYSE is closed. Fair value determinations are then made in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. Generally, the fair value of a portfolio security or other asset shall be the amount that the owner of the security or asset might reasonably expect to receive upon its current sale.
Attempts to determine the fair value of securities introduce an element of subjectivity to the pricing of securities. As a result, the price of a security determined through fair valuation techniques may differ from the price quoted or published by other sources and may not accurately reflect the market value of the security when trading resumes. If a reliable market quotation becomes available for a security formerly valued through fair valuation techniques, the Fund would compare the new market quotation to the fair value price to evaluate the effectiveness of its fair valuation procedures. If any significant discrepancies are found, the Fund may adjust its fair valuation procedures.
The Trust has adopted a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan (the “Rule 12b-1 Plan”) under which the Fund is authorized to pay to the Distributor or such other entities as approved by the Board, as compensation for the distribution-related services provided by such entities, an aggregate fee equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares and 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares of the Fund. The Distributor may pay any or all amounts received under the Rule 12b-1 Plan to other persons, including the Adviser, for any distribution service or activity designed to retain Fund shareholders. Because the Fund pays distribution fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost over time may be higher than paying other types of sales charges.
The Trust has also adopted a shareholder servicing plan (the “Shareholder Servicing Plan”) under which, the Adviser is authorized to engage financial institutions, securities dealers and other industry professionals to provide personal shareholder services relating to the servicing and maintenance of shareholder accounts not otherwise provided to the Fund. Payments made pursuant to the Shareholder Servicing Plan shall not exceed 0.10% of the average daily net asset value of the Fund’s Class A and Class I shares and 0.25 % of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares.
For federal income tax purposes, all dividends and distributions of net realized short-term capital gains you receive from the Fund are taxable as ordinary income or as qualified dividend income, whether reinvested in additional shares or received in cash, unless you are exempt from taxation or entitled to a tax deferral. Distributions of net realized long-term capital gains you receive from the Fund, whether reinvested in additional shares or received in cash, are taxable as a capital gain. The capital gain holding period is determined by the length of time the Fund has held the security and not the length of time you have held shares in the Fund. The Fund expects that, because of its investment objective, its distributions will consist primarily of long- and short-term capital gains (rather than dividend income). You will be informed annually as to the amount and nature of all dividends and capital gains paid during the prior year. Such capital gains and dividends may also be subject to state or local taxes. If you are not required to pay taxes on your income, you are generally not required to pay federal income taxes on the amounts distributed to you.
Interest and other income received by the Fund with respect to foreign securities may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If as of the close of a taxable year more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund consist of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund intends to “pass through” to investors the amount of foreign income and similar taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund during that taxable year. This means that investors will be considered to have received as additional income their respective shares of such foreign taxes, but may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating federal income tax.
The Fund intends to pay dividends from net investment income annually and to distribute all net realized capital gains at least annually. In addition, the Fund may make additional distributions if necessary to avoid imposition of a 4% excise tax or other tax on undistributed income and gains. However, no assurances can be given that distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes. Please note, however, that the objective of the Fund is growth of capital, not the production of distributions. You should measure the success of your investment by the value of your investment at any given time and not by the distributions you receive.
When a dividend or capital gain is distributed, the Fund's NAV decreases by the amount of the payment. If you purchase shares shortly before a distribution, you will be subject to income taxes on the distribution, even though the value of your investment (plus cash received, if any) remains the same. All dividends and capital gains distributions will automatically be reinvested in additional Fund shares at the then prevailing NAV unless you specifically request that either dividends or capital gains or both be paid in cash. If you elect to receive distributions and dividends by check and the post office cannot deliver the check, or if the check remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your Fund account at the then current NAV per share and to reinvest all subsequent distributions in shares of the Fund.
The election to receive dividends or reinvest them may be changed by writing to the Fund at:
Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
You may also change your distribution election by telephoning the Fund at [ ].
In order to allow sufficient processing time for a change in distribution elections, any change must be received at least 5 days prior to the record date for the distribution.
By law, the Fund must withhold a percentage of your taxable distribution and redemption proceeds if you do not provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number and certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or if the IRS instructs the Fund to do so.
Federal law requires that mutual fund companies report their shareholders' cost basis, gain/loss and holding period to the IRS on the shareholders' Consolidated Form 1099s when “covered” shares of the mutual funds are sold. Covered shares are any fund and/or dividend reinvestment plan shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012.
The Fund has chosen [average cost] as its standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders, which means this is the method the Fund will use to determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing NAVs, and the entire position is not sold at one time. You may choose a method other than the Fund’s standing method at the time of your purchase or upon sale of covered shares. The cost basis method a shareholder elects may not be changed with respect to a redemption of shares after the settlement date of the redemption. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting rules may apply to them.
The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the possible consequences under current federal tax law of an investment in the Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. You also may be subject to state and local tax on Fund distributions and sales of Fund shares. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in
Fund shares
under all applicable tax laws. For more information, please see the section entitled “Federal Income Taxes” in the SAI.
No financial highlights are presented because the Fund had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.
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POLICY
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WHAT DO THE WEISS ENTITIES DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL DATA?
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WHO IS
PROVIDING
THIS NOTICE?
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This notice is provided by Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC (“WMSA”), GWA, LLC (its parent), Weiss Special Operations LLC (WMSA’s back office), Weiss Multi-Strategy Funds LLC, its affiliated broker-dealer and the private investment funds managed by WMSA including but not limited to Weiss Multi-Strategy Partners LLC, Weiss Multi- Strategy Partners (Cayman) Ltd., Weiss Multi-Strategy Partners II LLC, Weiss Multi-Strategy Partners II (Cayman) Ltd., Weiss Insurance Partners (Cayman) Ltd., Weiss Alpha Balanced Risk Fund LLC and Weiss Alpha Balanced Risk Fund (Cayman) Ltd. (Collectively, for purposes of this Privacy Policy, “The Weiss Entities”)
.
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WHY?
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Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
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WHAT?
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The type of personal information the Weiss Entities may collect and share depends on the products or services you have with us. This information can include:
§
Name, address and any other information disclosed to us in a Subscription Agreement
§
Social security number
§
Account balances & transaction history
§
Investment experience
§
Wire transfer instructions
When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.
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HOW?
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All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information in the normal course to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Weiss Entities share information; and whether you can limit this sharing.
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Reasons we can share your personal information
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Do the Weiss Entities share
information for this
purpose?
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Can you limit this sharing?
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F
o
r
o
ur
e
v
er
y
day
b
us
in
e
s
s
p
urpo
s
es
- such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), administer, and operate the fund of which you are a limited partner, or respond to court orders and legal investigations. This includes providing this information to third-party service providers contracted by the Weiss Entities.
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Yes
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No
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F
o
r
o
ur
m
a
r
k
e
t
ing
p
u
rp
o
s
es
- to offer our products and services to you
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Yes
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No
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F
o
r
o
ur
a
ffiliates
- so that they can market the products and services of Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC
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Yes
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No
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F
o
r
o
ur
a
ffiliates'
e
v
er
y
day
b
u
s
ine
s
s
p
urpo
s
es
- information about your transactions and account balances
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Yes
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No
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F
o
r
o
ur
a
f
filiates'
to market their products and services to you
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No
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We don’t share information
for these purposes
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F
o
r
o
ur
a
f
filiates'
e
v
er
y
day
b
us
i
ne
s
s
p
u
rp
o
s
e
s
- information about your creditworthiness
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No
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We don’t share information
for these purposes
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For joint marketing with non-affiliated financial companies
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No
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We don’t share information
for these purposes
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For non-affiliates to market to you
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No
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We don’t share information
for these purposes
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Questions?
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Call Weiss’ Investor Relations Department at (212) 415-4500
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Page 2
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What we do
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How do the Weiss Entities protect my
personal information?
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We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with applicable law to protect your non-public personal financial information. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
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How do the Weiss Entities collect my
personal information?
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We collect your personal information, for example, when you:
§
Give us your contact information
§
Purchase an interest in the fund
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Make a wire transfer
§
Show us your government issued identification
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Why can't I limit all sharing?
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Federal law gives you the right to limit only our sharing with respect to:
§
sharing information about your creditworthiness with affiliates for their everyday business purposes
§
sharing information with affiliates so that they can market their products to you
§
sharing with non-affiliates to market to you
State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.
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Definitions
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Affiliates
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Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
§
Our affiliates include companies with the Weiss Multi-Strategy name such as Weiss Multi-Strategy Funds LLC, our affiliated broker-dealer as well as GWA, LLC and Weiss Special Operations LLC.
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Non-affiliates
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Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
§
The Weiss Entities do not share personal financial information with non- affiliates for the purpose of their marketing efforts
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Joint Marketing
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A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.
§
The Weiss Entities do not engage in joint marketing agreements
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Other important information
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Advisory services are provided by Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC is a SEC registered investment adviser. Private funds are distributed through an affiliated broker-dealer, Weiss Multi-Strategy Funds LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.
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INVESTMENT ADVISER:
Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC
320 Park Avenue, 20
th
Floor
New York, New York 10022
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER:
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
CUSTODIAN:
U.S. Bank, N.A.
1555 North RiverCenter Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT,
AND DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT:
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM:
Cohen Fund Audit Services
1350 Euclid Ave., Suite 800
Cleveland, OH 44115
LEGAL COUNSEL
Goodwin Procter LLP
901 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) contains additional information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be in the Fund’s annual/semi-annual reports to shareholders (once available). As of the date of this Prospectus, annual and semi-annual reports for the Fund are not available because the Fund had not commenced operations. Once available, in the Fund’s annual report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
You may obtain a free copy of these documents by calling, writing or e-mailing the Fund as shown below, or on the Fund’s website at www.gweiss.com. You also may call the toll free number given below to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries.
You may review and copy the SAI and other information about the Fund by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, Washington, D.C. (202) 551-8090 or by visiting the Commission’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Investment Company Act File No. 811-[ ]
Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
[ ] (toll free)
http://www.[insert URL]
e-mail: [insert email address]
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[insert logo]
PROSPECTUS
[ ], 2015
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Subject to Completion—Dated [ ], 2015
The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
[ ], 2015
WEISS ALTERNATIVE BALANCED RISK FUND
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Class
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A
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[ ]
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Class
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C
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[ ]
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Class
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I
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[ ]
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Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
(800) [ ]
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Weiss Alternative Balanced Risk Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the Series Portfolios Trust (the “Trust”), dated [ ], 2015.
You may obtain the Prospectus without charge by contacting U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC at the address or telephone number listed above or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.gweiss.com.
Investors in the Fund will be informed of the Fund’s progress through periodic reports. Financial statements certified by an independent registered public accounting firm will be submitted to shareholders at least annually. Since the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, no financial statements are available.
Once available, copies of the Annual Report to shareholders may be obtained, without charge, upon request by contacting U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC at the address or telephone number listed above.
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The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized on [ ], 2015, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) permits the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest, without par value, which may be issued in any number of series. The Board may from time to time issue other series, the assets and liabilities of which will be separate and distinct from any other series. This SAI relates only to the Fund.
The Declaration of Trust also provides for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund’s assets for any shareholder held personally liable for obligations of the Fund or the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trust shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Fund or the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon. All such rights are limited to the assets of the Fund. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trust may maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bonding and errors and omissions insurance) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, trustees, officers, employees and agents to cover possible tort and other liabilities. However, the activities of the Trust as an investment company would not likely give rise to liabilities in excess of the Trust’s total assets. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance exists and the Fund itself is unable to meet its obligations.
The Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI are a part of the Trust’s Registration Statement filed with the SEC. Copies of the Trust’s complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fee or may be accessed free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The Fund, a series of the Trust, is a diversified fund. The Fund does not hold itself out as related to any other series of the Trust for purposes of investment and investor services, nor does it share the same investment adviser with any other series of the Trust.
The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund’s principal investment strategies as set forth in its Prospectus. The Fund may invest in the following types of investments, each of which is subject to certain risks, as discussed below.
Equity Securities
Equity securities in which the Fund invests include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.
Common Stock
Common stock represents an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends. Dividends on common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stocks are securities that have characteristics of both common stocks and corporate bonds. Preferred stocks may receive dividends but payment is not guaranteed as with a bond. These securities may be undervalued because of a lack of analyst coverage resulting in a high dividend yield or yield to maturity. The risks of preferred stocks include a lack of voting rights and the Fund’s investment adviser, Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC (the “Adviser”), may incorrectly analyze the security, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Furthermore, preferred stock dividends are not guaranteed and management can elect to forego the preferred dividend, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Preferred stock may also be convertible into the common stock of the issuer. In general, preferred stocks generally pay a dividend at a specified rate and have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and in liquidation. The Fund may invest in preferred stock with any or no credit rating. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock market value may change based on changes in interest rates.
Convertible Securities
The Fund may invest in convertible securities with no minimum credit rating. Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s underlying common stock at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of “usable” bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.
Warrants
The Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant’s exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.
Depositary Receipts
The Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs of the ADR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. Many of the risks described below regarding foreign securities apply to investments in ADRs.
Foreign Securities
General.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities as well as exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) and other investment companies that hold a portfolio of foreign securities. Investing in securities of foreign companies and countries involves certain considerations and risks that are not typically associated with investing in U.S. government securities and securities of domestic companies. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than a domestic one, and foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than exists in the United States. Interest and dividends paid by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may decrease the net return on such investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies or the U.S. government. There may be the possibility of expropriations, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries. Finally, the establishment of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions could adversely affect the payment of obligations.
To the extent the Fund’s currency exchange transactions do not fully protect the Fund against adverse changes in currency exchange rates, decreases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund will invest relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding decrease in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in those currencies (and possibly a corresponding increase in the amount of securities required to be liquidated to meet distribution requirements). Conversely, increases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund invests relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding increase in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets (and possibly a corresponding decrease in the amount of securities to be liquidated).
Emerging Markets Securities
Investing in emerging market securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in foreign developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales; future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization, or creation of government monopolies. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.
Additional risks of emerging markets securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, hold a portion of its assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security.
Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in investment companies such as open-end funds (mutual funds), closed-end funds, and exchange traded funds . The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) provides that the Fund may not: (1) purchase more than 3% of another investment company’s outstanding shares; (2) invest more than 5% of its assets in any such investment company (the “5% Limit”), and (3) invest more than 10% of its assets in investment companies overall (the “10% Limit”), unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the SEC; and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. In addition, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of paragraph 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding stock of such registered investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii) the Fund has not, and is not proposing to offer or sell any security issued by it through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price which includes a sales load of more than 1.50%, except as permitted by Rule 12d1-3, described below. An investment company that issues shares to the Fund pursuant to paragraph 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment company’s total outstanding shares in any period of less than thirty days. The Fund (or the Adviser acting on behalf of the Fund) must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.
Further, the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% Limit and the 10% Limit, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired funds) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) for funds of funds.
The Fund and any “affiliated persons,” as defined by the 1940 Act may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any other investment company. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the investment companies, the Fund’s ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an investment company whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the investment company’s outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an investment company’s outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.
Under certain circumstances an investment company may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the SEC. In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an investment company until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.
Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the other investment companies are made independently of the Fund and its Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one investment company may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser of another such fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose. Because other investment companies employ an investment adviser, such investments by the Fund may cause shareholders to bear duplicate fees.
Closed-End Investment Companies.
The Fund may invest its assets in “closed-end” investment companies (or “closed-end funds”), subject to the investment restrictions set forth above. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as “NASDAQ”) and, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.
The Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.
The shares of many closed-end funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share that is less than the net asset value per share, the difference representing the “market discount” of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined net asset value but rather are subject to the principles of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their net asset value.
The Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to net asset value or at a premium to net asset value. There can be no assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.
Closed-end funds may issue senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end fund’s common shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end fund’s common shareholders. The Fund’s investment in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and net asset value than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.
Exchange Traded Funds.
ETFs are funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts (“UITs”), which are unmanaged portfolios overseen by trustees. ETFs generally have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of shares, typically 25,000 or 50,000 for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.
There is a risk that an ETF in which the Fund invests may terminate due to extraordinary events that may cause any of the service providers to the ETF, such as the trustee or sponsor, to close or otherwise fail to perform their obligations to the ETF. Also, because the ETFs in which the Fund intends to principally invest may be granted licenses by agreement to use the indices as a basis for determining their compositions and/or otherwise to use certain trade names, the ETFs may terminate if such license agreements are terminated. In addition, an ETF may terminate if its entire net asset value falls below a certain amount. Although the Fund believes that, in the event of the termination of an underlying ETF, it will be able to invest instead in shares of an alternate ETF tracking the same market index or another market index with the same general market, there is no guarantee that shares of an alternate ETF would be available for investment at that time. To the extent the Fund invests in a sector product, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with that sector.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
The Fund may invest in securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring, holding and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 95% of its taxable income for each taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.
REITs generally can be classified as “Equity REITs”, “Mortgage REITs” and “Hybrid REITs.” An Equity REIT invests the majority of its assets directly in real property and derives its income primarily from rents and from capital gains on real estate appreciation, which are realized through property sales. A Mortgage REIT invests the majority of its assets in real estate mortgage loans and services its income primarily from interest payments. A Hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of an Equity REIT and a Mortgage REIT. Although the Fund can invest in all three kinds of REITs, its emphasis is expected to be on investments in Equity REITs.
Investments in the real estate industry involve particular risks. The real estate industry has been subject to substantial fluctuations and declines on a local, regional and national basis in the past and may continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property may decline due to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhoods and in demographics, increases in market interest rates, or other factors. Factors such as these may adversely affect companies that own and operate real estate directly, companies that lend to such companies, and companies that service the real estate industry.
Investments in REITs also involve risks. Equity REITs will be affected by changes in the values of and income from the properties they own, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the credit quality of the mortgage loans they hold. In addition, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills and on their ability to generate cash flow for operating purposes and to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders REITs may have limited diversification and are subject to risks associated with obtaining financing for real property, as well as to the risk of self-liquidation. REITs also can be adversely affected by their failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through treatment of their income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or their failure to maintain an exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, a shareholder bears not only a proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also may indirectly bear similar expenses of some of the REITs in which it invests.
Master Limited Partnerships
The Fund may invest in master limited partnership interests (“MLPs”). MLPs are limited partnerships, the interests in which (known as “units”) are traded on public exchanges, just like corporate stock. MLPs are limited partnerships that provide an investor with a direct interest in a group of assets (generally, oil and gas properties). Master limited partnership units typically trade publicly, like stock, and thus may provide the investor more liquidity than ordinary limited partnerships. Master limited partnerships are also called publicly traded partnerships and public limited partnerships. A limited partnership has one or more general partners (they may be individuals, corporations, partnerships or another entity) which manage the partnership, and limited partners, which provide capital to the partnership but have no role in its management. When an investor buys units in an MLP, he or she becomes a limited partner. MLPs are formed in several ways. A non-traded partnership may decide to go public. Several non-traded partnerships may “roll up” into a single MLP. A corporation may spin off a group of assets or part of its business into an MLP of which it is the general partner, either to realize what it believes to be the assets’ full value or as an alternative to issuing debt. A corporation may fully convert to an MLP, although since 1986 the tax consequences have made this an unappealing; or, a newly formed company may operate as an MLP from its inception.
There are different types of risks to investing in MLPs, including regulatory risks and interest rate risks. Currently most partnerships enjoy pass through taxation of their income to partners, which avoids double taxation of earnings. If the government were to change MLP business tax structure, unitholders would not be able to enjoy the relatively high yields in the sector for long. In addition, MLPs that charge government-regulated fees for transportation of oil and gas products through their pipelines are subject to unfavorable changes in government-approved rates and fees, which would affect an MLP’s revenue stream negatively. MLPs also carry some interest rate risks. During increases in interest rates, MLPs may not produce desirable returns to shareholders.
Derivatives
The Fund may invest in derivatives in order to hedge against market movements while liquidating certain positions and buying other securities or as substitutes for securities. The information below contains general additional information about derivatives.
Futures Contracts.
A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees are incurred when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position.
Unlike when a Fund purchases or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as “initial margin.” The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.
If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund.
These subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” The Fund expects to earn interest income on any margin deposits.
Although certain futures contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.
Cover for Futures Contracts.
Transactions involving futures contracts expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either: (1) an offsetting (“covered”) position in other futures contracts; or (2) cash and liquid assets with a value, marked-to-market daily, sufficient to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and will, if the guidelines so require, designate on its books or maintain in a separate account cash, liquid securities, or other permissible assets, in the prescribed amount as determined daily. The Fund may enter into agreements with broker-dealers, which require the broker-dealers to accept physical settlement for certain futures contracts. If this occurs, the Fund would treat the futures contract as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.
Regulation as a Commodity Pool Operator.
The Adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) pursuant to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) Regulation 4.5. The Fund currently expects to operate in a manner that would permit the Adviser to continue to claim the exclusion under Rule 4.5, which may adversely affect the Adviser’s ability to manage the Fund under certain market conditions and may adversely affect the Fund’s total return. In the event an Adviser becomes unable to rely on the exclusion in Rule 4.5 and is required to register with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund, the Fund’s expenses may increase and the Fund may be adversely affected. The Fund may be limited in its ability to use futures and options on futures and to engage in certain swaps transactions during any period where its investment adviser is not registered as a Commodity Pool Operator or Commodity Trading Advisor. Such limitations are not expected to affect the normal operations of the Fund.
Options on Futures Contracts.
The
Fund
may purchase and sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.
Options on Securities.
The Fund may purchase and write (
i.e.,
sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.
A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.
Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500
®
Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 100
®
. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the NYSE Arca Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
The Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series (
i.e.
, same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have incurred a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.
If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option or a loss if it is less. If an option written by the Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.
Certain Risks Regarding Options.
There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
Successful use by the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, the Fund’s ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and the Fund’s securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund was unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.
Cover for Options Positions.
Transactions using options (other than options that a Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options.
Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Dealer Options.
The Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.
Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, the Fund may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets that it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.
The staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, a Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.
Spread Transactions.
The Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads,
i.e.,
the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread options.
Futures Contracts.
A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees are paid when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position. Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as “initial margin.” The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.
If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund. These subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” The Fund expects to earn interest income on any margin deposits. Although certain futures contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.
Because the Fund will designate on its books or maintain in a separate account liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.
Futures trading is speculative and futures prices are highly volatile. Price movements for futures contracts, for example, which may fluctuate substantially during a short period of time, are influenced by numerous factors that affect the securities markets, including: changing supply and demand relationships; government programs and policies; national and international political and economic events and changes in interest rates. Also, the success of many futures trading strategies that use “technical” factors in identifying price moves depends upon the occurrence in the future of price movements. Technical systems will not be profitable and may in fact produce losses if there are no market moves of the kind the system seeks to follow. Any factor that would make it more difficult to execute the trades identified, such as a reduction of liquidity, also would reduce profitability.
Futures trading is highly leveraged. The low margin deposits normally required in trading futures interests permit an extremely high degree of leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement in a futures interest may result in an immediate and substantial loss to the investor. Like other leveraged investments, futures trading may result in losses in excess of the amount invested.
Futures contracts may be illiquid. Most U.S. futures exchanges impose daily limits regulating the maximum amount above or below the previous day’s settlement price which a futures contract price may fluctuate during a single day. During a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a particular futures contract has increased or decreased to the limit point, it may be difficult, costly or impossible to liquidate a position. Futures prices in particular contracts have occasionally moved the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. If this occurs, the Fund might be prevented from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions which could result in substantial losses. Those losses could significantly exceed the margin initially committed to the trades involved. In addition, even if prices have not moved the daily limit, or if there are no limits for the contracts traded by the Fund, the Fund may not be able to execute trades at favorable prices if little trading in the contracts is taking place. It is also possible that an exchange or the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) may suspend trading in a particular contract, order immediate settlement of a contract or order that trading to the liquidation of open positions only. The CFTC and U.S. exchanges may also impose speculative position limits which, if applicable to the Fund’s trading in futures contracts, could require liquidation of positions that could negatively impact profitability. Futures trading involves counterparty risk. Futures brokers must maintain the Fund’s assets (other than assets used to trade foreign futures or options on foreign markets) in a segregated account. If a futures broker goes bankrupt, the Fund could lose money as it may only be able to recover a pro-rata share of the property available for distribution to all of the broker’s customers. In addition, even if a futures broker adequately segregates the Fund’s assets, the Fund may still be subject to risk of loss of funds on deposit should another customer of the futures broker fail to satisfy deficiencies in such other customer’s account. In addition, trading may occur on foreign exchanges and other non-U.S. markets. Neither existing CFTC regulations nor regulations of any other U.S. governmental agency apply to transactions on foreign markets. The Fund, should it trade futures contracts, is at risk for fluctuations in the exchange rate between the currencies in which it trades and U.S. dollars. It also is possible that exchange controls could be imposed in the future. There is no restriction on how much of the Fund’s trading might be on foreign markets. In addition, if the Fund chooses to exchange a cash, forward or spot market position outside of regular trading hours for a comparable futures position, such transactions are subject to counterparty creditworthiness risk.
Swap Agreements.
The Fund may enter into interest rate, index and currency exchange rate swap agreements in an attempt to obtain a particular desired return at a lower cost to the Fund than if it had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of returns) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. The “notional amount” of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The Fund’s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the maintenance of a segregated account consisting of cash, U.S. government securities, or other liquid securities, to avoid leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio.
Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements enhance the Fund’s total return will depend on the Adviser’s ability correctly to predict whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because they are two-party contracts and may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Fund’s Adviser will cause the Fund to enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that would be eligible for consideration as repurchase agreement counterparties under the Fund’s repurchase agreement guidelines. The swap market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Certain swap agreements are exempt from most provisions of the CEA and, therefore, are not regulated as futures or commodity option transactions under the CEA, pursuant to regulations of the CFTC. To qualify for this exemption, a swap agreement must be entered into by “eligible participants,” which include the following, provided the participants’ total assets exceed established levels: a bank or trust company, savings association or credit union, insurance company, investment company subject to regulation under the 1940 Act, commodity pool, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust or other entity, employee benefit plan, governmental entity, broker-dealer, futures commission merchant, natural person, or regulated foreign person. To be eligible, natural persons and most other entities must have total assets exceeding $10 million; commodity pools and employees benefit plans must have assets exceeding $5 million. In addition, an eligible swap transaction must meet three conditions. First, the swap agreement may not be part of a fungible class of agreements that are standardized as to their material economic terms. Second, the creditworthiness of parties with actual or potential obligations under the swap agreement must be a material consideration in entering into or determining the terms of the swap agreement, including pricing, cost or credit enhancement terms. Third, swap agreements may not be entered into and traded on or through a multilateral transaction execution facility.
Certain Investment Techniques and Derivatives Risks.
When the Fund uses investment techniques such as margin, leverage and short sales, and forms of financial derivatives, such as options and futures, an investment in the Fund may be more volatile than investments in other mutual funds. Although the intention is to use such investment techniques and derivatives to minimize risk to the Fund, there is the possibility that improper implementation of such techniques and derivative strategies or unusual market conditions could result in significant losses to the Fund. Derivatives are used to limit risk in the Fund or to enhance investment return and have a return tied to a formula based upon an interest rate, index, price of a security, or other measurement. Derivatives involve special risks, including: (1) the risk that interest rates, securities prices and currency markets will not move in the direction that a portfolio manager anticipates; (2) imperfect correlation between the price of derivative instruments and movements in the prices of the securities, interest rates or currencies being hedged; (3) the fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different than those needed to select portfolio securities; (4) the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument and possible exchange imposed price fluctuation limits, either of which may make it difficult or impossible to close out a position when desired; (5) the risk that adverse price movements in an instrument can result in a loss substantially greater than the Fund’s initial investment in that instrument (in some cases, the potential loss in unlimited); (6) particularly in the case of privately-negotiated instruments, the risk that the counterparty will not perform its obligations, or that penalties could be incurred for positions held less than the required minimum holding period, which could leave the Fund worse off than if it had not entered into the position; and (7) the inability to close out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences. In addition, the use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return) is considered a speculative practice and may present an even greater risk of loss than when used for hedging purposes.
Fixed Income/Debt/Bond Securities
Yields on fixed income securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and other fixed income securities markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. An investment in the Fund will be subjected to risk even if all fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are paid in full at maturity. All fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, can change in value when there is a change in interest rates or the issuer’s actual or perceived creditworthiness or ability to meet its obligations.
There is normally an inverse relationship between the market value of securities sensitive to prevailing interest rates and actual changes in interest rates. In other words, an increase in interest rates produces a decrease in market value. The longer the remaining maturity (and duration) of a security, the greater will be the effect of interest rate changes on the market value of that security. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets’ perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the debt securities of that issuer. Obligations of issuers of fixed income securities (including municipal securities) are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. In addition, the obligations of municipal issuers may become subject to laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures, or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the debt securities of that issuer. The possibility exists, therefore, that, the ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its debt securities may become impaired.
The corporate debt securities in which the Fund may invest include corporate bonds and notes and short-term investments such as commercial paper and variable rate demand notes. Commercial paper (short-term promissory notes) is issued by companies to finance their or their affiliate’s current obligations and is frequently unsecured. Variable and floating rate demand notes are unsecured obligations redeemable upon not more than 30 days’ notice. These obligations include master demand notes that permit investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement with the issuer of the instrument. The issuer of these obligations often has the right, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligations upon a specified number of days’ notice. These obligations generally are not traded, nor generally is there an established secondary market for these obligations. To the extent a demand note does not have a 7-day or shorter demand feature and there is no readily available market for the obligation, it is treated as an illiquid security.
The Fund may invest in debt securities, including non-investment grade debt securities. The following describes some of the risks associated with fixed income debt securities:
Interest Rate Risk.
Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. In general, the price of a debt security can fall when interest rates rise and can rise when interest rates fall. Securities with longer maturities and mortgage securities can be more sensitive to interest rate changes although they usually offer higher yields to compensate investors for the greater risks. The longer the maturity of the security, the greater the impact a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. In addition, short-term and long-term interest rates do not necessarily move in the same amount or the same direction. Short-term securities tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.
Credit Risk.
Fixed income securities of issuers with lower credit quality have speculative characteristics and changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of those issuers to make principal or interest payments, as compared to issuers of more highly rated securities of issuers with higher credit quality.
Extension Risk.
The Fund is subject to the risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as mortgage-backed securities) later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. These events may lengthen the duration (i.e. interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities.
Prepayment Risk.
Certain types of debt securities, such as mortgage-backed securities, have yield and maturity characteristics corresponding to underlying assets. Unlike traditional debt securities, which may pay a fixed rate of interest until maturity when the entire principal amount comes due, payments on certain mortgage-backed securities may include both interest and a partial payment of principal. Besides the scheduled repayment of principal, payments of principal may result from the voluntary prepayment, refinancing, or foreclosure of the underlying mortgage loans.
Securities subject to prepayment are less effective than other types of securities as a means of “locking in” attractive long-term interest rates. One reason is the need to reinvest prepayments of principal; another is the possibility of significant unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in interest rates. These prepayments would have to be reinvested at lower rates. As a result, these securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other securities of comparable maturities, although they may have a similar risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayments may also significantly shorten the effective maturities of these securities, especially during periods of declining interest rates. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, a reduction in prepayments may increase the effective maturities of these securities, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing the volatility of the Fund.
At times, some of the mortgage-backed securities in which the Fund may invest will have higher than market interest rates and therefore will be purchased at a premium above their par value. Prepayments may cause losses in securities purchased at a premium, as unscheduled prepayments, which are made at par, will cause the Fund to experience a loss equal to any unamortized premium.
Certificates of Deposit and Bankers’ Acceptances
The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, which are considered to be short-term money market instruments.
Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.
Commercial Paper
The Fund may purchase commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. It may be secured by letters of credit, a surety bond or other forms of collateral. Commercial paper is usually repaid at maturity by the issuer from the proceeds of the issuance of new commercial paper. As a result, investment in commercial paper is subject to the risk the issuer cannot issue enough new commercial paper to satisfy its outstanding commercial paper, also known as rollover risk. Commercial paper may become illiquid or may suffer from reduced liquidity in certain circumstances. Like all fixed income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, commercial paper prices will decline. The short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to interest rate risk than many other fixed income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase. Commercial paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have lower effective yields than those with longer maturities. As with all fixed income securities, there is a chance that the issuer will default on its commercial paper obligation.
Time Deposits and Variable Rate Notes
The Fund may invest in fixed time deposits, whether or not subject to withdrawal penalties.
The commercial paper obligations, which the Fund may buy are unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a “Master Note”) permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between the Fund as Lender, and the issuer, as borrower. It permits daily changes in the amounts borrowed. The Fund has the right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Fund’s Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer on demand within seven days.
Insured Bank Obligations
The Fund may invest in insured bank obligations. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively referred to as “banks”) up to $250,000. The Fund may purchase bank obligations that are fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.
High Yield Securities
The Fund may invest in high yield securities. High yield, high risk bonds are securities that are generally rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies [(BB+ or lower by S&P and Ba1 or lower by Moody’s)]. Other terms used to describe such securities include “lower rated bonds,” “non-investment grade bonds,” “below investment grade bonds,” and “junk bonds.” These securities are considered to be high-risk investments. The risks include the following:
Greater Risk of Loss.
These securities are regarded as predominately speculative. There is a greater risk that issuers of lower rated securities will default than issuers of higher rated securities. Issuers of lower rated securities generally are less creditworthy and may be highly indebted, financially distressed, or bankrupt. These issuers are more vulnerable to real or perceived economic changes, political changes or adverse industry developments. In addition, high yield securities are frequently subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. If an issuer fails to pay principal or interest, the Fund would experience a decrease in income and a decline in the market value of its investments.
Sensitivity to Interest Rate and Economic Changes.
The income and market value of lower-rated securities may fluctuate more than higher rated securities. Although non-investment grade securities tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than investment grade securities, non-investment grade securities are more sensitive to short-term corporate, economic and market developments. During periods of economic uncertainty and change, the market price of the investments in lower-rated securities may be volatile. The default rate for high yield bonds tends to be cyclical, with defaults rising in periods of economic downturn.
Valuation Difficulties.
It is often more difficult to value lower rated securities than higher rated securities. If an issuer’s financial condition deteriorates, accurate financial and business information may be limited or unavailable. In addition, the lower rated investments may be thinly traded and there may be no established secondary market. Because of the lack of market pricing and current information for investments in lower rated securities, valuation of such investments is much more dependent on judgment than is the case with higher rated securities.
Liquidity.
There may be no established secondary or public market for investments in lower rated securities. Such securities are frequently traded in markets that may be relatively less liquid than the market for higher rated securities. In addition, relatively few institutional purchasers may hold a major portion of an issue of lower-rated securities at times. As a result, the Fund may be required to sell investments at substantial losses or retain them indefinitely when an issuer’s financial condition is deteriorating.
Credit Quality.
Credit quality of non-investment grade securities can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security.
New Legislation.
Future legislation may have a possible negative impact on the market for high yield, high risk investments. As an example, in the late 1980’s, legislation required federally-insured savings and loan associations to divest their investments in high yield, high risk bonds. New legislation, if enacted, could have a material negative effect on the Fund’s investments in lower rated securities. High yield, high risk investments may include the following:
Straight fixed-income debt securities.
These include bonds and other debt obligations that bear a fixed or variable rate of interest payable at regular intervals and have a fixed or resettable maturity date. The particular terms of such securities vary and may include features such as call provisions and sinking funds.
Zero-coupon debt securities.
These bear no interest obligation but are issued at a discount from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire return equals the difference between their issue price and their maturity value.
Zero-fixed-coupon debt securities.
These are zero-coupon debt securities that convert on a specified date to interest-bearing debt securities.
Pay-in-kind bonds.
These are bonds which allow the issuer, at its option, to make current interest payments on the bonds either in cash or in additional bonds. These bonds are typically sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), usually to a relatively small number of institutional investors.
Convertible Securities
.
These are bonds or preferred stock that may be converted to common stock.
Loan Participations and Assignments.
These are participations in, or assignments of all or a portion of loans to corporations or to governments, including governments of less developed countries (“LDCs”).
Securities issued in connection with Reorganizations and Corporate Restructurings.
In connection with reorganizing or restructuring of an issuer, an issuer may issue common stock or other securities to holders of its debt securities. The Fund may hold such common stock and other securities even if it does not invest in such securities.
Municipal Government Obligations
In general, municipal obligations are debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities. Municipal obligations generally include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes. Certain types of municipal obligations are issued in whole or in part to obtain funding for privately operated facilities or projects. Municipal obligations include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, industrial development bonds, notes and municipal lease obligations. Municipal obligations also include additional obligations, the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax that may become available in the future as long as the Board of the Fund determines that an investment in any such type of obligation is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives. Municipal obligations may be fully or partially backed by local government, the credit of a private issuer, current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or domestic or foreign entities providing credit support such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance.
Bonds and Notes.
General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of interest and principal. Revenue bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a project or facility or from the proceeds of a specified revenue source. Industrial development bonds are generally revenue bonds secured by payments from and the credit of private users. Municipal notes are issued to meet the short-term funding requirements of state, regional and local governments. Municipal notes include tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, construction loan notes, short-term discount notes, tax-exempt commercial paper, demand notes and similar instruments.
Municipal Lease Obligations.
Municipal lease obligations may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase or a conditional sales contract. They are issued by state and local governments and authorities to acquire land, equipment and facilities, such as vehicles, telecommunications and computer equipment and other capital assets. The Fund may invest in investment companies that purchase these lease obligations directly, or it may purchase participation interests in such lease obligations. States have different requirements for issuing municipal debt and issuing municipal leases. Municipal leases are generally subject to greater risks than general obligation or revenue bonds because they usually contain a “non-appropriation” clause, which provides that the issuer is not obligated to make payments on the obligation in future years unless funds have been appropriated for this purpose each year. Such non-appropriation clauses are required to avoid the municipal lease obligations from being treated as debt for state debt restriction purposes. Accordingly, such obligations are subject to “non-appropriation” risk. Municipal leases may be secured by the underlying capital asset and it may be difficult to dispose of any such asset in the event of non-appropriation or other default.
United States Government Obligations
These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis. The Fund may also invest in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”). TIPS are special types of treasury bonds that were created in order to offer bond investors protection from inflation. The values of the TIPS are automatically adjusted to the inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). If the CPI goes up by half a percent, the value of the bond (the TIPS) would also go up by half a percent. If the CPI falls, the value of the bond does not fall because the government guarantees that the original investment will stay the same. TIPS decline in value when real interest rates rise. However, in certain interest rate environments, such as when real interest rates are rising faster than nominal interest rates, TIPS may experience greater losses than other fixed income securities with similar duration.
United States Government Agency
These consist of debt securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Farmer’s Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., GNMA mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., FNMA Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association). On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the “FHFA”) announced that FNMA and FHLMC had been placed into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations. The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both FNMA and FHLMC to ensure that each entity had the ability to fulfill its financial obligations. The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments or ongoing business operations of FNMA and FHLMC.
Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PC’s”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.
Mortgage Pass-Through Securities
Interests in pools of mortgage pass-through securities differ from other forms of debt securities (which normally provide periodic payments of interest in fixed amounts and the payment of principal in a lump sum at maturity or on specified call dates). Instead, mortgage pass-through securities provide monthly payments consisting of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on the underlying residential mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Unscheduled payments of principal may be made if the underlying mortgage loans are repaid or refinanced or the underlying properties are foreclosed, thereby shortening the securities’ weighted average life. Some mortgage pass-through securities (such as securities guaranteed by GNMA) are described as “modified pass-through securities.” These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, on the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage pass-through securities is GNMA. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by lending institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of mortgage loans. These mortgage loans are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. A “pool” or group of such mortgage loans is assembled and after being approved by GNMA, is offered to investors through securities dealers.
Government-related guarantors of mortgage pass-through securities (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved sellers/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Mortgage pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.
FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a U.S. government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.
Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage pass-through securities. The Fund does not purchase interests in pools created by such non-governmental issuers.
Resets.
The interest rates paid on the Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities (“ARMs”) in which the Fund may invest generally are readjusted or reset at intervals of one year or less to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. There are two main categories of indices: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure, such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Commonly utilized indices include the one-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury Note rates, the three-month Treasury Bill rate, the 180-day Treasury Bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month or three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate of a specific bank, or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury Note rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others tend to lag changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile.
Caps and Floors.
The underlying mortgages which collateralize the ARMs in which the Fund invests will frequently have caps and floors which limit the maximum amount by which the loan rate to the residential borrower may change up or down: (1) per reset or adjustment interval, and (2) over the life of the loan. Some residential mortgage loans restrict periodic adjustments by limiting changes in the borrower’s monthly principal and interest payments rather than limiting interest rate changes. These payment caps may result in negative amortization. The value of mortgage securities in which the Fund invests may be affected if market interest rates rise or fall faster and farther than the allowable caps or floors on the underlying residential mortgage loans. Additionally, even though the interest rates on the underlying residential mortgages are adjustable, amortization and prepayments may occur, thereby causing the effective maturities of the mortgage securities in which the Fund invests to be shorter than the maturities stated in the underlying mortgages.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.
Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. The Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.
A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
Under guidelines adopted by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser of the Fund may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.
Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Fund’s Adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the “underlying security”) from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be “fully collateralized,” in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying securities.
Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.
When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements
The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.
The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund will segregate liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Fund’s Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.
The Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases the Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.
The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.
Lending Portfolio Securities
For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund.
Short Sales
The Fund may sell securities short. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.
When the Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.
If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
To the extent the Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales “against the box”) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker (not including the proceeds of the short sale). A short sale is “against the box” to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.
Cybersecurity Risk
With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, a Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). Cyber incidents affecting a Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. Similar adverse consequences could result from cyber incidents affecting issuers of securities in which a fund invests, counterparties with which a Fund engages in transactions, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and service providers for fund shareholders) and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While a Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber incidents, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, a Fund cannot control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect the Funds or their shareholders. A Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.
Large Shareholder Risk.
Certain account holders may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. The Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by large shareholders of all or a portion of their Fund shares or a purchase of Fund shares in large amounts and/or on a frequent basis will adversely affect the Fund’s performance if it is forced to sell portfolio securities or invest cash when the Adviser would not otherwise choose to do so. This risk will be particularly pronounced if one shareholder owns a substantial portion of the Fund. Redemptions of a large number of shares may affect the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, increase the Fund’s transaction costs and/or lead to the liquidation of the Fund. Such transactions also potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any).
Temporary Defensive Positions
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its investment objectives and principal investment strategies and invest, without limitation, in cash or prime quality cash equivalents.
The Trust (on behalf of the Fund) has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a “majority” of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund present at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:
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1.
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Lend money or other assets except to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. For purposes of this fundamental investment restriction, the entry into repurchase agreements, lending securities and acquiring of debt securities shall not constitute loans by the Fund.
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Borrow money, except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
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Issue senior securities except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
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4.
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Concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time, except that the Fund may invest without limitation in: (i) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; (ii) tax-exempt obligations of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions; (iii) securities of other investment companies; and (iv) repurchase agreements.
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Purchase or sell real estate, except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
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6.
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Buy or sell commodities or commodity (futures) contracts, except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
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7.
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Purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, the Fund would fail to be a diversified company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as each may be amended from time to time, except to the extent that the Fund may be permitted to do so by the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as each may be amended from time to time, exemptive order, SEC release, no-action letter or similar relief or interpretations.
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Engage in the business of underwriting the securities of other issuers except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority, and except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.
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Except with respect to borrowing, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in the percentage or rating resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation of the Fund’s investment restrictions. If the value of the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities at any time exceeds the percentage limitation applicable due to subsequent fluctuations in value or other reasons, the Board will consider what actions, if any, are appropriate to maintain adequate liquidity.
With respect to repurchase agreements, the Fund invests in repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or by corporate or sovereign bonds. For purposes of the Fund's fundamental investment policy with respect to concentration, the Fund does not consider such repurchase agreements to constitute an industry or group of industries because the Fund chooses to look through such securities to the underlying collateral, which is itself excepted from the Fund's concentration policy.
The frequency of the Fund’s portfolio transactions (the portfolio turnover rate) will vary from year to year depending on many factors. The Fund expects its annual portfolio turnover to exceed 100%. Higher portfolio turnover rates may result in increased brokerage costs to the Fund and a possible increase in short-term capital gains or losses. The Fund’’ annual portfolio turnover rate will be included in the “Financial Highlights” section of the Fund’s prospectus following the commencement of Fund operations.
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted a portfolio holdings disclosure policy that governs the timing and circumstances of disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund. The Adviser has also adopted a policy with respect to disclosure of Fund’s portfolio holdings (the “Adviser’s Policy”). Information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings will not be distributed to any third party except in accordance with the portfolio holdings policies and the Adviser’s Policy (the “Disclosure Policies”). The Adviser and the Board considered the circumstances under which the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed under the Disclosure Policies and the actual and potential material conflicts that could arise in such circumstances between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and the interests of the Adviser, distributor or any other affiliated person of the Fund. After due consideration, the Adviser and the Board determined that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for disclosing portfolio holdings to persons described in the Disclosure Policies, including mutual fund rating or statistical agencies, or persons performing similar functions, and internal parties involved in the investment process, administration or custody of the Fund. Pursuant to the Disclosure Policies, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), President and Treasurer are each authorized to consider and authorize dissemination of portfolio holdings information to additional third parties, after considering the best interests of the Fund shareholders and potential conflicts of interest in making such disclosures.
The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Disclosure Policies, Codes of Ethics and other relevant policies of the Fund and its service providers by the Trust’s CCO, (2) by considering reports and recommendations by the Trust’s CCO concerning any material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act), and (3) by considering the approval of any amendment to the Disclosure Policies. The Board reserves the right to amend the Disclosure Policies at any time without prior notice to shareholders in its sole discretion.
Disclosure of the Fund’s complete holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each period covered by the Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q. These reports are available, free of charge, on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund may disclose its top ten portfolio holdings, among other information, on its website at www.gweiss.com within 15 days after each quarter’s end. Portfolio holdings information posted on the Fund’s website may be separately provided to any person, commencing on the day after it is first published on the Fund’s website. In addition, the Fund may provide its complete portfolio holdings at the same time that it is filed with the SEC.
In the event of a conflict between the interests of the Fund and the interests of the Adviser or an affiliated person of the Adviser, the CCO of the Adviser, in consultation with the Trust’s CCO, shall make a determination in the best interests of the Fund, and shall report such determination to the Board at the end of the quarter in which such determination was made. Any employee of the Adviser who suspects a breach of this obligation must report the matter immediately to the Adviser’s CCO or to his or her supervisor.
In addition, material non-public holdings information may be provided without lag as part of the normal investment activities of the Fund to each of the following entities, which, by explicit agreement or by virtue of their respective duties to the Fund, are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed, including a duty not to trade on non-public information: the fund administrator, fund accountant, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, counsel to the Fund or the Board, broker-dealers (in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities) and regulatory authorities. Portfolio holdings information not publicly available with the SEC or through the Fund’s website may only be provided to additional third parties, including mutual fund ratings or statistical agencies, in accordance with the Disclosure Policies, when the Fund has a legitimate business purpose and the third party recipient is subject to a confidentiality agreement that includes a duty not to trade on non-public information.
In no event shall the Adviser, its affiliates or employees, the Fund, or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
There can be no assurance that the Disclosure Policies will protect the Fund from potential misuse of portfolio holdings information by individuals or entities to which it is disclosed.
From time to time, the Adviser may make additional disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings on the Fund’s website. Shareholders can access the Fund’s website at www.gweiss.com for additional information about the Fund, including, without limitation, the periodic disclosure of its portfolio holdings.
The Board oversees the management and operations of the Trust. The Board, in turn, elects the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Trust and its separate series. The current Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, their year of birth, positions with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupations during the past five years and other directorships are set forth in the table below. Unless noted otherwise, the principle business address of each Trustee is c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
Positions
with
the Trust
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
|
Principal Occupations
During Past Five Years
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund Complex
(2)
Overseen by
Trustees
|
Other
Directorships
Held During
Past Five
Years
|
|
Independent Trustees of the Trust
(1)
|
|
Koji Felton
(born 1960)
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since [ ] 2015.
|
Counsel, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (2013-2015); Counsel, Dechert LLP (2011-2013); Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (1998-2011).
|
1
|
None.
|
|
Name and Year of
Birth
|
Positions
with
the Trust
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
|
Principal Occupations
During Past Five Years
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund Complex
(2)
Overseen by
Trustees
|
Other
Directorships
Held During
Past Five
Years
|
|
Debra McGinty Poteet
(born 1956)
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since [ ] 2015.
|
Retired.
|
1
|
Inside Trustee, Brandes Investment Trust, Chair and President (2000-2012); Director, Inside Trustee, Brandes Funds LTD (2002-2012).
|
|
[ ]
(born [ ])
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since [ ] 2015.
|
[ ]
|
1
|
[ ]
|
|
Interested Trustee
|
|
Dana L. Armour
(born 1968)
|
Chair, Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since [ ] 2015.
|
Executive Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, since 2013;Vice President ([ ]- 2013 ).
|
1
|
None
|
|
Officers of the Trust
|
|
John J. Hedrick
(born 1977)
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Indefinite Term; Since[ ] 2015
|
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, since 2011; Assistant Vice President (2007 – 2011).
|
Not Applicable.
|
Not
Applicable.
|
|
Jacob L. Ferch
(born 1984)
|
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
|
Indefinite Term;
Since [ ] 2015.
|
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, since[ ].
|
Not
Applicable.
|
Not
Applicable.
|
|
Michael R. McVoy
(born 1957
|
Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer
|
Indefinite Term;
Since [ ] 2015.
|
Executive Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, since [ ].
|
Not
Applicable.
|
Not
Applicable.
|
|
Alia M. Vasquez
(born 1980)
|
Secretary
|
Indefinite Term; Since [ ], 2015
|
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, since 2015, Assistant Vice President 2010-2015.
|
Not Applicable.
|
Not Applicable.
|
|
(1)
|
The Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”).
|
|
(2)
|
The term “Fund Complex” applies to the Fund, the sole, initial series of the Trust.
|
Additional Information Concerning the Board of Trustees
The Role of the Board
The Board oversees the management and operations of the Trust. Like all mutual funds, the day-to-day management and operation of the Trust is the responsibility of the various service providers to the Trust, such as the Adviser, the Distributor, the Administrator, the Custodian, and the Transfer Agent, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this SAI. The Board has appointed various senior employees of the Administrator as officers of the Trust, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Trust’s operations. In conducting this oversight, the Board receives regular reports from these officers and the service providers. For example, the Treasurer reports as to financial reporting matters and the President reports as to matters relating to the Trust’s operations. In addition, the Adviser provides regular reports on the investment strategy and performance of the Fund. The Board has appointed a CCO who administers the Trust’s compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters. These reports are provided as part of formal “Board Meetings” which are typically held quarterly, in person, and involve the Board’s review of recent operations. In addition, various members of the Board also meet with management in less formal settings, between formal “Board Meetings,” to discuss various topics. In all cases, however, the role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust’s investments, operations or activities.
Board Structure, Leadership
The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to perform its oversight function effectively. It has established three standing committees, a Nominating Committee, an Audit Committee, and a Qualified Legal Compliance Committee, which are discussed in greater detail below under “Trust Committees”. The Board is comprised of one Interested Trustee and three Independent Trustees, which are Trustees that are not affiliated with the Adviser, the principal underwriter, or their affiliates. The Nominating Committee, Audit Committee and Qualified Legal Compliance Committee are comprised entirely of Independent Trustees. The Chair of the Board is an Interested Trustee. The Board has determined not to combine the Chair position and the principal executive officer position and has appointed a Vice President of the Administrator as the President of the Trust. The Board reviews its structure and the structure of its committees annually. The Board has determined that the structure of the Interested Chair, the composition of the Board, and the function and composition of its various committees are appropriate means to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.
Board Oversight of Risk Management
As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various risk management reports and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel. Because risk management is a broad concept comprised of many elements (
e.g.,
investment risk, issuer and counterparty risk, compliance risk, operational risks, business continuity risks, etc.), the oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways. For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Treasurer and the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Trust’s financial reporting function. The Board meets regularly with the Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance and operational risks and how they are managed. The Board also receives reports from the Adviser as to investment risks of the Fund. In addition to these reports, from time to time the Board receives reports from the Administrator and the Adviser as to enterprise risk management.
Information about Each Trustee’s Qualification, Experience, Attributes or Skills
The Board believes that each of the Trustees has the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills (“Trustee Attributes”) appropriate to their continued service as Trustees of the Trust in light of the Trust’s business and structure. The Board annually conducts a “self-assessment” wherein the effectiveness of the Board and individual Trustees is reviewed.
In addition to the information provided in the chart above, below is certain additional information concerning each particular Trustee and his/her Trustee Attributes. The information is not all-inclusive. Many Trustee Attributes involve intangible elements, such as intelligence, integrity, work ethic, the ability to work together, the ability to communicate effectively, the ability to exercise judgment, to ask incisive questions, and commitment to shareholder interests.
Koji Felton.
[ ]
Debra McGinty Poteet.
[ ]
[ ]
Dana Armour.
[ ]
Trust Committees
The Trust has three standing committees: the Nominating Committee and the Audit Committee, which also serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (“QLCC”).
The Nominating Committee, comprised of all the Independent Trustees, is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for Trustees and meets only as necessary. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees nominated by shareholders. Recommendations by shareholders for consideration by the Nominating Committee should be sent to the President of the Trust in writing together with the appropriate biographical information concerning each such proposed Nominee, and such recommendation must comply with the notice provisions set forth in the Trust By-Laws. In general, to comply with such procedures, such nominations, together with all required biographical information, must be delivered to and received by the President of the Trust at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than [ ] days and no more than [ ] days prior to the shareholder meeting at which any such nominee would be voted on. The Nominating Committee has not held any meetings as of the date of this SAI.
The Audit Committee is comprised of all of the Independent Trustees. The Audit Committee generally meets on a quarterly basis with respect to the various series of the Trust, and may meet more frequently. The function of the Audit Committee, with respect to each series of the Trust, is to review the scope and results of the audit of such series’ financial statements and any matters bearing on the audit or the financial statements, and to ensure the integrity of the series’ pricing and financial reporting. The Audit Committee has not held any meetings as of the date of this SAI.
The function of the QLCC is to receive reports from an attorney retained by the Trust of evidence of a material violation by the Trust or by any officer, director, employee or agent of the Trust.
The Board has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to a Valuation Committee that is comprised of certain officers of the Trust and is overseen by the Trustees.
The function of the Valuation Committee is to value securities held by any series of the Trust for which current and reliable market quotations are not readily available. Such securities are valued at their respective fair values as determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee, and the actions of the Valuation Committee are subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board. The Valuation Committee meets as needed. The Valuation Committee has not held any meetings with respect to the Fund as of the date of this SAI.
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares and Other Interests
No Trustee beneficially owned shares of the Fund as of the calendar year ended December 31, 2014, which is prior to the inception date of the Fund.
Compensation
Independent Trustees each will receive an annual retainer of $[ ] allocated among each of the various portfolios comprising the Trust. Independent Trustees will receive additional fees from applicable portfolios for any special meetings at rates assessed by the Trustees depending on the length of the meeting and whether in-person attendance is required. Independent Trustees will also be reimbursed for expenses in connection with each Board meeting attended. These reimbursements will be allocated among applicable portfolios of the Trust. The Trust has no pension or retirement plan. No other entity affiliated with the Trust pays any compensation to the Trustees. Set forth below is the estimated compensation to be received by the following Independent Trustees from the Fund for the fiscal year ended [ ].
|
Name of Person/
Position
|
Aggregate
Compensation From the
Fund
(1)
|
Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses
|
Estimated Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
|
Total Compensation
from Fund and Fund
Complex
(2)
Paid to
Trustees
|
|
Dana Armour, Interested Trustee
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
|
Koji Felton, Independent Trustee
|
$[ ]
|
None
|
None
|
$[ ]
|
|
Debra McGinty Poteet, Independent Trustee
|
$[ ]
|
None
|
None
|
$[ ]
|
|
[ ], Independent Trustee
|
$[ ]
|
None
|
None
|
$[ ]
|
|
(1)
|
Trustees’ fees and expenses will be allocated among the Fund and any other future series comprising the Trust.
|
|
(2)
|
The
term “Fund Complex” applies to the Fund, the sole, initial series of the Trust.
|
Codes of Ethics
The Trust, the Adviser and the principal underwriter have each adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These Codes permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of the Adviser and Distributor to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.
The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Proxy Policies”) on behalf of the Trust which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Proxy Policies require that the Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and tis shareholders. The Proxy Policies also require the Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser’s Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.
The Adviser has adopted Proxy Policies, which may be amended from time to time. In voting proxies, the Adviser is guided by fiduciary principles. All proxies are to be voted solely in the best interests of the beneficial owners of the securities. The Adviser’s Policy is attached as Appendix A.
The Trust is required to file a Form N-PX, with the Fund’s complete proxy voting record for the 12 months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. Form N-PX for the Fund will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free
[ ]
and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is any person who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control.
Since the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, there are no principal shareholders or control persons of the Fund as of the date of this SAI and the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group did not own more than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
As stated in the Prospectus, investment advisory services are provided to the Fund by the Adviser, Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”).
As compensation, the Fund will pay the Adviser a monthly management fee (accrued daily) based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund at the annual rate of 1.60%.
The Advisory Agreement continues in effect for an initial two year period, and from year to year thereafter only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the Independent Trustees, who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, in each case cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on not more than 60 days’, nor less than 30 days’, written notice to the Adviser when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, or by the Adviser on not more than 60 days’, nor less than 30 days’, written notice to the Trust, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable under such agreement for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of portfolio transactions for the Fund, except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder.
In addition, the Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its management fees and/or absorb expenses of each the Fund until at least [ ], to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (exclusive of any Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or servicing fees, taxes, interest on borrowing, short selling expenses, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, swap fees and expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, or other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) will not exceed 2.50%, 3.15%, 2.25%, and 2.15% of the daily average net assets of the Fund’s Class A, Class C, Class I, and Class K shares, respectively, subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three year basis (i.e. within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) not to exceed the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived or reimbursed. Recoupment amounts may also include organizational expenses incurred prior to the commencement of operations subject to recoupment within three years of the date of such reimbursement.
Portfolio Manager.
Jordi Visser, Charles S. Crow IV, and Edward Olanow serve as portfolio managers for the Fund, and are each primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. The following table provides information regarding other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, as a group, as of [ ], 2015.
|
Category of
Account
|
Total Number of
Accounts Managed
|
Total Assets in
Accounts Managed
(in millions)
|
Number of
Accounts for
which
Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance
|
Assets in
Accounts for
which Advisory
Fee is Based on
Performance
|
|
Other Registered Investment Companies
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
|
Other Accounts
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
Compensation.
Each portfolio manager receives a fixed salary and discretionary bonus for his service as portfolio manager. In addition, Mr. Visser holds an equity interest in the holding company that owns the Adviser
.
Conflicts of Interest.
In addition to investing capital for the Fund and Weiss Alpha Balanced Risk Fund LLC (“WABR LLC”), a privately offered hedge fund, the Adviser currently invests capital for Weiss Multi-Strategy Partners LLC and Weiss Multi-Strategy Partners II LLC, each a Delaware limited liability company, and Weiss Insurance Partners (Cayman) Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (together, the “Other Weiss Funds”). Additionally, the Adviser's investment personnel also trade for the Adviser's affiliates, GWA and OGI Associates LLC (collectively referred to as “Inside Capital”) and certain accounts managed for unaffiliated clients (the “Managed Accounts”). The Adviser generally expects to conduct the trading of the Fund in a similar manner as WABR LLC, and generally expects to conduct the trading of the alpha portfolio in a similar manner to the trading done for the Other Weiss Funds, Inside Capital and the Managed Accounts. However, Inside Capital also may be invested in unseasoned “incubator strategies” that may or may not mature into strategies suitable for inclusion in the Fund and certain ancillary strategies that the Adviser does not believe appropriate for trading in the Fund due to their risk profile. The inflows and outflows of capital will also differ in each portfolio. The performance of the Inside Capital, the Other Weiss Funds, the Managed Accounts, WABR LLC and the Fund may not be similar due to the above factors and due to the fact that the respective portfolios may use different amounts of leverage. The Adviser also manages two accounts for charitable organizations founded by George Weiss that have a different investment strategy and portfolio manager than that of the Fund (the “Charitable Accounts”). From time to time, the Charitable Accounts and the “incubator
strategies” used by Inside Capital may be invested, or have offsetting positions, in one or more securities in which the Fund is invested.
The Adviser may give advice or take action with respect to its other clients that differs from the advice given or action taken with respect to the Fund, and the Adviser's obligation to determine suitability for each of its clients may result in seemingly contradictory advice with respect to a single security. For example, the Adviser may purchase
a particular security for the Fund at a time when the Adviser is selling or establishing a short position in that same security on behalf of another client. Alternatively, the Adviser may take
a short position in a security on behalf of the Fund while maintaining a long position in that same security on behalf of another client. Similarly, the Fund may purchase a security in its long-only portfolio at the same time it is selling or establishing a short position in the same security in the alpha portfolio.
The Adviser, its affiliates and/or one or more of their respective officers, directors, managing members, principals and related parties (collectively, the “Investment Adviser Related Parties”) currently provide investment advice to various other investment vehicles or client accounts (collectively, the “Other Client Accounts”) and conduct investment activities for their own accounts (the “Investment Adviser Accounts” and, together with the Other Client Accounts, the “Other Accounts”). As noted above, the Adviser may give advice or take action with respect to the Other Accounts that differs from the advice given or action taken with respect to the Fund. The Adviser may have an incentive to favor certain Investment Adviser Accounts or Other Client Accounts over the Fund because of proprietary investments in such Investment Adviser Accounts and Other Client Accounts. Because the Adviser may allocate investment opportunities between the Investment Adviser Accounts and the Fund and Other Client Accounts, the Investment Adviser Related Parties may compete with the Fund and Other Client Accounts for limited capacity opportunities. In addition, the Fund has a different fee structure than many of the Adviser’s other clients, and as such the Adviser may have a conflict of interest in allocating investment opportunities among the Fund and such other clients. The Fund’s fee structure may also create an incentive for the Adviser to moderate Fund returns in higher return environments, as there is the potential for the Adviser's operations to be less profitable in such environments.
Employees of the Adviser or its affiliates are permitted to engage in personal investment activities that may involve a conflict of interest with the investment activities of the Fund. The Adviser's compliance procedures require all employees to request permission from the Adviser's compliance officer for personal trades, subject to certain exceptions. The Adviser may change its policies or procedures with respect to such personal investment activities at any time.
The Adviser will use its best efforts in connection with the purposes and objectives of the Fund and will devote so much of its time and effort to the Fund as may, in its judgment, be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Fund. The Adviser and its members, directors, officers and employees may conduct any other business, including any business with respect to investments, regardless of whether such business is in competition with the Fund. The Fund will not have any right to participate in any manner or have any interest in any such business engaged in by the Adviser or their members, directors, officers, employees or affiliates.
When it is determined that it would be appropriate for the Fund and one or more other investment accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates to participate in an investment opportunity, the Adviser will seek to execute orders for all of the participating investment accounts, including the Fund, on an equitable basis, taking into account such factors as the relative amounts of capital available for new investments and the investment programs and portfolio positions of the Fund and the affiliated entities for which participation is appropriate. Orders may be combined for all such accounts. If
an order on behalf of more than one account cannot be fully executed under such accounts, or if an order is not filled at the same price, the order may be allocated on an average price basis. If an order on behalf of more than one account cannot be fully executed under prevailing market conditions, securities may be allocated among the different accounts on a basis that the Adviser or its affiliates consider equitable. Situations may occur where the Fund could be disadvantaged because of the investment activities conducted by the Adviser or its affiliates for other investment accounts.
In addition, if the Adviser determines that it is appropriate for the Fund to buy or sell a security, and for another fund or account to sell or buy that same security, the Adviser may, in accordance with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act, and the Trust’s policies and procedures adopted thereunder, arrange a “cross” trade between the Fund and such other fund or account, if the trade price is no less advantageous for both parties than an open market transaction would be. Transactions among the Fund and other managed accounts may also take place from time to time as necessary to rebalance various portfolio positions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not engage in cross trades in violation of ERISA, to the extent applicable.
The allocations of capital (equity and borrowed) to the Fund, Inside Capital, the Managed Accounts and the Other Weiss Funds affect the allocation of trades among these pools of money and depends on the judgment of the Adviser. This may be an inherent conflict of interest in that the decision of the Adviser to reduce the leverage of the Fund or increase the leverage of the Inside Capital or the Other Weiss Funds will have the effect of increasing the allocation of specific investments to the Inside Capital or the Other Weiss Funds and away from the Fund.
As of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio Manager does not beneficially own any shares of the Fund as the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant
Pursuant to an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”), U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“USBFS”), 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, acts as the Administrator to the Fund. USBFS provides certain services to the Fund including, among other responsibilities, coordinating the negotiation of contracts and fees with, and the monitoring of performance and billing of, the Fund’s independent contractors and agents; preparation for signature by an officer of the Trust of all documents required to be filed for compliance by the Trust and the Fund with applicable laws and regulations, excluding those of the securities laws of various states; arranging for the computation of performance data, including NAV and yield; responding to shareholder inquiries; and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Fund, and providing, at its own expense, office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary to carry out its duties. In this capacity, USBFS does not have any responsibility or authority for the management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of the Fund’s shares.
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, as compensation for its services, USBFS receives from the Fund, a fee based on the Fund’s current average daily net assets, subject to a minimum annual fee. USBFS also is entitled to certain out-of-pocket expenses. USBFS also acts as fund accountant, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent under separate agreements.
Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association, is the custodian of the assets of the Fund (the “Custodian”) pursuant to a custody agreement between the Custodian and the Trust, whereby the Custodian provides for fees on a transactional basis plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Custodian’s address is 1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212. The Custodian does not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund. USBFS, the Custodian, and the Fund’s principal underwriter are affiliated entities under the common control of U.S. Bancorp. The Custodian and its affiliates may participate in revenue sharing arrangements with the service providers of mutual funds in which the Fund may invest.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Legal Counsel
Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, OH, is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund.
Goodwin Procter LLP, 901 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.
The Adviser is authorized to determine the broker or dealer to be used for each securities transaction for the Fund. The Fund will not use an affiliated broker-dealer to execute trades on its behalf. In selecting brokers or dealers to execute transactions, the Adviser need not solicit competitive bids and does not have an obligation to seek the lowest available commission cost. It is not the Adviser’s practice to negotiate “execution only” commission rates, thus the Fund may be deemed to be paying for research, brokerage or other services provided by the broker which are included in the commission rate.
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is a “safe harbor” that permits an investment manager to use commissions or “soft dollars” to obtain research and brokerage services that provide lawful and appropriate assistance in the investment decision-making process. The Adviser will limit the use of “soft dollars” to obtain research and brokerage services to services which constitute research and brokerage within the meaning of Section 28(e). Research services within Section 28(e) may include, but are not limited to, research reports (including market research); certain financial newsletters and trade journals; software providing analysis of securities portfolios; corporate governance research and rating services; attendance at certain seminars and conferences; discussions with research analysts; meetings with corporate executives; consultants’ advice on portfolio strategy; data services (including services providing market data, company financial data and economic data); advice from brokers on order execution; and certain proxy services. Brokerage services within Section 28(e) may include, but are not limited to, services related to the execution, clearing and settlement of securities transactions and functions incidental thereto (i.e., connectivity services between an investment manager and a broker-dealer and other relevant parties such as custodians); trading software operated by a broker-dealer to route orders; software that provides trade analytics and trading strategies; software used to transmit orders; clearance and settlement in connection with a trade; electronic communication of allocation instructions; routing settlement instructions; post trade matching of trade information; and services required by the SEC or a self-regulatory organization such as comparison services, electronic confirms or trade affirmations.
In some instances, the Adviser may receive a product or service that may be used only partially for functions within Section 28(e) (e.g., an order management system, trade analytical software or proxy services). In such instances, the Adviser will make a good faith effort to determine the relative proportion of the product or service used to assist the Adviser in carrying out its investment decision-making or trade execution responsibilities and the relative proportion used for administrative or other purposes outside Section 28(e). The proportion of the product or service attributable to assisting the Adviser in carrying out its investment decision-making or trade execution responsibilities will be paid through brokerage commissions generated by client transactions and the proportion attributable to administrative or other purposes outside Section 28(e) will be paid for by the Adviser from its own resources.
Research and brokerage services obtained by the use of commissions arising from the Fund’s portfolio transactions may be used by the Adviser in its other investment activities and thus, the Fund may not necessarily, in any particular instance, be the direct or indirect beneficiary of the research or brokerage services provided.
Although the Adviser will make a good faith determination that the amount of commissions paid is reasonable in light of the products or services provided by a broker, commission rates are generally negotiable and thus, selecting brokers on the basis of considerations that are not limited to the applicable commission rates may result in higher transaction costs than would otherwise be obtainable. The receipt of such products or services and the determination of the appropriate allocation in the case of “mixed use” products or services create a potential conflict of interest between the Adviser and its clients. In addition, the amount of commissions generated by a particular strategy may impact the compensation payable by the Adviser to the members of the investment team responsible for the strategy, which may provide an incentive for such members to cause the strategy to generate higher commissions.
In selecting brokers and negotiating commission rates, the Adviser may take into account the financial stability and reputation of brokerage firms, and the research, brokerage or other services provided by such brokers. The Adviser may place transactions with a broker or dealer that (i) provides the Adviser (or an affiliate) with the opportunity to participate in capital introduction events sponsored by the broker-dealer, (ii) refers investors to the Fund or other products advised by the Adviser (or an affiliate), and/or (iii) provides other consulting services to the Adviser, if otherwise consistent with seeking best execution; provided the Adviser is not selecting the broker-dealer in recognition of the opportunity to participate in such capital introduction events or the referral of investors, or the receipt of consulting services.
When appropriate, the Adviser may, but is not required to, aggregate client orders to achieve more efficient execution or to provide for equitable treatment among accounts. Clients participating in aggregated trades will be allocated securities based on the average price achieved for such trades.
Consistent with its fiduciary duties, the Adviser’s policy is to take the utmost care in making and implementing investment decisions for the Fund. In the event that a trade error is made on behalf of the Fund, the Investment Adviser will, when appropriate, attempt to break or otherwise correct the trade as promptly as practicable. However, to the extent an error cannot be corrected, the Fund will, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, generally bear all expenses and losses (or gains) arising in connection with such trade errors. The Investment Adviser and its affiliates, principals and employees will be indemnified by the Fund against all expenses and losses arising in connection with trade errors caused by such persons, provided that any such person will not be indemnified against any loss arising in connection with trade errors caused by gross negligence, willful malfeasance, bad faith, fraud or, to the extent applicable, violation of its fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA.
The Fund will maintain accounts at UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Goldman Sachs & Co., through which the Fund may settle and clear trades, borrow securities and maintain custody of its securities.
The Fund has not paid aggregate brokerage commissions as it has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI.
Shares issued by the Fund have no preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights. Shares issued and sold by the Fund are deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust. Shareholders have equal and exclusive rights as to dividends and distributions as declared by the Fund and to the net assets of the Fund upon liquidation or dissolution. The Fund, as a separate series of the Trust, votes separately on matters affecting only the Fund (
e.g.
, approval of the Advisory Agreement); all series of the Trust vote as a single class on matters affecting all series jointly or the Trust as a whole (
e.g
., election or removal of Trustees). Voting rights are not cumulative, so that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting in any election of Trustees can, if they so choose, elect all of the Trustees. While the Trust is not required and does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, such meetings may be called by the Board in its discretion, or upon demand by the holders of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the Trust, for the purpose of electing or removing Trustees.
As noted in the Prospectus, the net asset value of shares of the Fund will be determined once daily as of the close of public trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open for trading. It is expected that the NYSE will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays and on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. The Fund does not expect to determine the net asset value of shares on any day when the NYSE is not open for trading even if there is sufficient trading in its portfolio securities on such days to materially affect the net asset value per share.
In valuing the Fund’s assets for calculating net asset value, readily marketable portfolio securities listed on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such exchange on such day, the security is valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices on such day. Securities primarily traded in the Nasdaq National Market System (“NASDAQ”) for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Readily marketable securities traded only in the over-the market and not on NASDAQ are valued at the most recent trade price. All other assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Board in good faith deems appropriate to reflect their fair value.
Trading in foreign securities markets is normally completed well before the close of the NYSE. In addition, foreign securities trading may not take place on all days on which the NYSE is open for trading, and may occur in certain foreign markets on days on which the Fund’s net asset value is not calculated. Events affecting the values of portfolio securities that occur between the time their prices are determined and the close of the NYSE will not be reflected in the calculation of net asset value unless the Board deems that the particular event would affect net asset value, in which case an adjustment will be made in such manner as the Board in good faith deems appropriate to determine fair market value. Assets or liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are translated, in determining net asset value, into U.S. dollars based on the spot exchange rates, or at such other rates as the Adviser, pursuant to fair value procedures adopted by the Board, may determine to be appropriate.
The information provided below supplements the information contained in the Prospectuses regarding the purchase and redemption of the Fund’s shares.
How to Buy Shares
In addition to purchasing shares directly from the Fund, you may purchase shares through certain financial intermediaries and their agents that have made arrangements with the Fund and are authorized to buy and sell shares of the Fund (collectively, “Financial Intermediaries”).
Investors should contact their Financial Intermediaries directly for appropriate instructions, as well as information pertaining to accounts and any service or transaction fees that may be charged. If you transmit your order to these Financial Intermediaries before the close of regular trading (generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on a day that the NYSE is open for business, your order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV, plus any applicable sales charge, next computed after it is received by the Financial Intermediaries. Investors should check with their Financial Intermediaries to determine if it participates in these arrangements.
The public offering price of the Fund’s shares is the NAV, plus and applicable sales charge. Shares are purchased at the public offering price next determined after the transfer agent receives your order in proper form, as discussed in the Fund’s Prospectus. In order to receive that day’s public offering price, the transfer agent must receive your order in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE, generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time.
The Trust reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the continued offering of the Fund’s shares, (ii) to reject purchase orders in whole or in part when in the judgment of the Adviser or the distributor such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund, and (iii) to reduce or waive the minimum for initial and subsequent investments for certain fiduciary accounts or under circumstances where certain economies can be achieved in sales of the Fund’s shares.
In addition to cash purchases, the Fund’s shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of shares of stock, bonds or other securities. Any securities used to buy the Fund’s shares must be readily marketable; their acquisition consistent with the Fund’s objective and otherwise acceptable to the Adviser and the Board.
Automatic Investment Plan
The Fund provides an Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”) for the convenience of investors who wish to purchase shares of the Fund on a regular basis. All record keeping and custodial costs of the AIP are paid by the Fund. The market value of the Fund’s shares is subject to fluctuation. Prior to participating in the AIP the investor should keep in mind that this plan does not assure a profit nor protect against depreciation in declining markets.
How
to Sell Shares and Delivery of Redemption Proceeds
You can sell your Fund shares any day the NYSE is open for regular trading, either directly to the Fund or through your Financial Intermediary.
Payments to shareholders for shares of the Fund redeemed directly from the Fund will be made as promptly as possible, but no later than seven days after receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent of the written request in proper form, with the appropriate documentation as stated in the Prospectus, except that the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment during any period when (a) trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC or the NYSE is closed for other than weekends and holidays; (b) an emergency exists as determined by the SEC making disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the Fund not reasonably practicable; or (c) for such other period as the SEC may permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders. Under unusual circumstances, the Fund may suspend redemptions, or postpone payment for more than seven days, but only as authorized by SEC rules.
The value of shares on redemption or repurchase may be more or less than the investor’s cost, depending upon the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time of redemption or repurchase.
Telephone Redemptions
Shareholders with telephone transaction privileges established on their account may redeem Fund shares by telephone. Upon receipt of any instructions or inquiries by telephone from the shareholder, the Fund or its authorized agents may carry out the instructions and/or to respond to the inquiry consistent with the shareholder’s previously established account service options. For joint accounts, instructions or inquiries from either party will be carried out without prior notice to the other account owners. In acting upon telephone instructions, the Fund and its agents use procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that such instructions are genuine. These include recording all telephone calls, requiring pertinent information about the account and sending written confirmation of each transaction to the registered owner.
The transfer agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine. If the transfer agent fails to employ reasonable procedures, the Fund and the transfer agent may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. If these procedures are followed, however, that to the extent permitted by applicable law, neither the Fund nor its agents will be liable for any loss, liability, cost or expense arising out of any redemption request, including any fraudulent or unauthorized request. For additional information, contact the transfer agent.
Redemptions In-Kind
The Trust has filed an election under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act committing to pay in cash all redemptions by a shareholder of record up to amounts specified by the rule (in excess of the lesser of (1) $250,000 or (2) 1% of the Fund’s assets). The Fund has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of its shares in excess of the amounts specified by the rule, either totally or partially, by a distribution in-kind of portfolio securities (instead of cash). The securities so distributed would be valued at the same amount as that assigned to them in calculating the NAV for the shares being sold. If a shareholder receives a distribution in-kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash. A redemption in-kind is treated as a taxable transaction and a sale of the redeemed shares, generally resulting in capital gain or loss to you, subject to certain loss limitation rules.
The Fund does not intend to hold any significant percentage of its portfolio in illiquid securities, although the Fund, like virtually all mutual funds, may from time to time hold a small percentage of securities that are illiquid. In the unlikely event the Fund were to elect to make an in-kind redemption, the Fund expects that it would follow the normal protocol of making such distribution by way of a pro rata distribution based on its entire portfolio. If the Fund held illiquid securities, such distribution may contain a pro rata portion of such illiquid securities or the Fund may determine, based on a materiality assessment, not to include illiquid securities in the in-kind redemption. The Fund does not anticipate that it would ever selectively distribute a greater than pro rata portion of any illiquid securities to satisfy a redemption request. If such securities are included in the distribution, shareholders may not be able to liquidate such securities and may be required to hold such securities indefinitely. Shareholders’ ability to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind may be restricted by resale limitations or substantial restrictions on transfer imposed by the issuers of the securities or by law. Shareholders may only be able to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind at a substantial discount from their value, and there may be higher brokerage costs associated with any subsequent disposition of these securities by the recipient.
Distributions
Dividends of net investment income and distributions of net capital gains from the sale of securities are generally made annually, as described in the Prospectuses. Also, the Fund typically distributes any undistributed net investment income on or about December 31 of each year. Any net capital gains realized through the period ended October 31 of each year will also typically be distributed by December 31 of each year.
All distributions generally reduce the NAV of the Fund’s shares by the amount of the distribution. If you purchase shares prior to a distribution, the distribution will be taxable to you even though economically it may represent a return on your investment.
Each distribution by the Fund is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution. In January of each year, the Fund will issue to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions that relate to the previous year. You are responsible for the payment of taxes with respect to your investment in the Fund.
Tax Information
Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has elected to qualify and intends to continue to qualify annually as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), provided it complies with all applicable requirements regarding the source of its income, diversification of its assets and timing and amount of distributions. The Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes. However, the Fund can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes. The Fund is not required to consider tax consequences in making or disposing of investments. In order to avoid the non-deductible excise tax, the Fund must also distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (2) at least 98.2% of the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses for the 12-month period ending on November 31 during such year and (3) any amounts from the prior calendar year that were not distributed and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M, it will be taxed as a regular corporation.
In order to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its gross income each year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of stock and securities, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currency gains related to investments in stock or securities, or other income (generally including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in stock, securities or currency, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. The Fund must also satisfy the following two asset diversification tests. At the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities, with such other securities being limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not 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 or the securities of other regulated investment companies), the securities of any two or more issuers (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) that the Fund controls (by owning 20% or more of their outstanding voting stock) and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. The Fund must also distribute each taxable year sufficient dividends to its shareholders to claim a dividends paid deduction equal to at least the sum of 90% of the Fund’s investment company taxable income (which generally includes dividends, interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and 90% of the Fund’s net tax-exempt interest, if any.
The Fund’s ordinary income generally consists of interest and dividend income, less expenses. Net realized capital gains for a fiscal period are computed by taking into account any capital loss carry-forward of the Fund.
Distributions of net investment income and net short-term capital gains are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. For individual shareholders, a portion of the distributions paid by the Fund may be qualified dividends currently eligible for federal income taxation at long-term capital gain rates to the extent the Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualifying dividend and certain holding period requirements are met. In the case of corporate shareholders, a portion of the distributions may qualify for the inter-corporate dividends-received deduction to the extent the Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualifying dividend and certain holding period requirements are met. The aggregate amount so reported to either individual or corporate shareholders cannot, however, exceed the aggregate amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for its taxable year. In view of the Fund’s investment policy, it is expected that dividends from domestic corporations will be part of the fund’s gross income and that, accordingly, part of the distributions by the Fund may be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income by individual shareholders, or for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders under federal tax law. However, the portion of the Fund’s gross income attributable to qualifying dividends is largely dependent on the Fund’s investment activities for a particular year and therefore cannot be predicted with any certainty. The deduction may be reduced or eliminated if the Fund shares held by an individual investor are held for less than 61 days, or Fund shares held by a corporate investor are treated as debt-financed or are held for less than 46 days. Distributions will be taxable to you even if the share price of the Fund has declined.
The sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes. You will generally recognize a gain or loss on such transactions equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of your net sales proceeds and your adjusted tax basis in the Fund shares. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if you held your Fund shares as capital assets. Any capital gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you held the Fund shares for more than one year at the time of the sale or exchange. Any capital loss arising from the sale or exchange of shares held for six months or less, however, will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of net long-term capital gain distributions with regard to these shares.
The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes and withholding on dividends and interest earned with respect to securities of foreign corporations. Based on the principal investment strategies of the Fund, it is not expected that the Fund will be eligible to pass through to shareholders any credits or deductions with respect to such foreign taxes.
Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) all distributions of ordinary income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of exempt shareholders, which includes most corporations. Pursuant to the backup withholding provisions of the Code, distributions of any taxable income and capital gains and proceeds from the redemption of Fund shares may be subject to withholding of federal income tax at the rate of 28% in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law or if the IRS notifies the Fund that such backup withholding is required. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld. Corporate and other exempt shareholders should provide the Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers or certify their exempt status in order to avoid possible erroneous application of backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s ultimate federal tax liability if proper documentation is provided. The Fund reserves the right to refuse to open an account for any person failing to provide a certified taxpayer identification number.
In addition to the federal income tax, certain individuals, trusts and estates may be subject to a Medicare tax of 3.8%. The Medicare tax is imposed on the lesser of: (i) the taxpayer’s investment income, net of deductions properly allocable to such income, or (ii) the amount by which the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain thresholds ($250,000 for married individuals filing jointly, $200,000 for unmarried individuals and $125,000 for married individuals filing separately). The Fund’s distributions are includable in a shareholder’s investment income for purposed of this Medicare tax. In addition, any capital gain realized by a shareholder upon a sale or redemption of Fund shares is includable in such shareholder’s investment income for purposes of this Medicare tax.
Distributions and the transactions referred to in the preceding paragraphs may be subject to state and local income taxes, and the tax treatment thereof may differ from the federal income tax treatment.
The foregoing discussion of U.S. federal income tax law relates solely to the application of that law to U.S. citizens or residents and U.S. domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates. Each shareholder who is not a U.S. person should consider the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the possibility that such a shareholder may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on amounts constituting ordinary income.
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”).
A 30% withholding tax on the Fund’s distributions, including capital gains distributions, and on gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally applies if paid to a foreign entity unless: (i) if the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution,” it undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding and certification obligations, (ii) if the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution,” it identifies certain of its U.S. investors or (iii) the foreign entity is otherwise excepted under FATCA. Withholding under FATCA is required: (i) with respect to certain distributions from your Fund beginning on July 1, 2014; and (ii) with respect to certain capital gains distributions and gross proceeds from a sale or disposition of Fund shares that occur on or after January 1, 2017. If withholding is required under FATCA on a payment related to your shares, investors that otherwise would not be subject to withholding (or that otherwise would be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding) on such payment generally will be required to seek a refund or credit from the IRS to obtain the benefits of such exemption or reduction. The Fund will not pay any additional amounts in respect to amounts withheld under FATCA. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the effect of FATCA based on your individual circumstances.
In addition, the foregoing discussion of tax law is based on existing provisions of the Code, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Any such changes could affect the validity of this discussion. The Internal Revenue Service could assert a position contrary to those stated here. The discussion also represents only a general summary of tax law and practice currently applicable to the Fund and certain shareholders therein, and, as such, is subject to change. In particular, the consequences of an investment in shares of the Fund under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdictions are not discussed herein. Each prospective investor should consult his or her own tax adviser to determine the application of the tax law and practice in his or her own particular circumstances. Paul Hastings LLP is not delivering the Fund a tax opinion with respect to any matter and no rulings are being sought from the Internal Revenue Service.
The advice herein was prepared for the Fund. Any person reviewing this discussion should seek advice based on such person’s particular circumstances from an independent tax adviser.
Quasar Distributors, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 (“Quasar”), serves as the Fund’s principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to a distribution agreement between the Fund and Quasar (the “Distribution Agreement”), Quasar acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter and distributor and provides certain administrative services and promotes and arranges for the sale of the Fund’s shares. Quasar is a registered broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is a member of FINRA.
The Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Quasar will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and, in either case, by a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on a 60-day written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by Quasar upon a 60-day written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).
Distribution Plan
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act under which the Fund pays the Distributor an amount which is accrued daily and paid quarterly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares, and 0.75% of the Class C shares of the Fund. Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor to reimburse it for costs of the services it provides and the expenses it bears in the distribution of the Fund’s shares, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares to prospective investors; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. Such fee is paid to the Distributor each year only to the extent of such costs and expenses of the Distributor under the Plan actually incurred in that year.
Under the Plan, the Trustees will be furnished quarterly with information detailing the amount of expenses paid under the Plan and the purposes for which payments were made. The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons. Continuation of the Plan is considered by such Trustees no less frequently than annually. With the exception of the Distributor and the Adviser, in their capacities as the Fund’s principal underwriter and distribution coordinator, respectively, no interested person has or had a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or any related agreement.
While there is no assurance that the expenditures of
the
Fund’s assets to finance distribution of shares will have the anticipated results, the Board believes there is a reasonable likelihood that one or more of such benefits will result, and because the Board is in a position to monitor the distribution expenses, it is able to determine the benefit of such expenditures in deciding whether to continue the Plan.
In addition, pursuant to a Shareholder Service Plan (the “Shareholder Servicing Plan”) adopted by the Trust on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser is authorized to engage financial institutions, securities dealers and other industry professionals (“Shareholder Servicing Agent”) to provide personal shareholder services relating to the servicing and maintenance of shareholder accounts not otherwise provided to the Fund. Payments made pursuant to the Shareholder Servicing Plan shall not exceed 0.10% of the average daily net asset value of a Fund’s Class A, Class C, and Class I shares.
Payments made under the Shareholder Servicing Plan shall be used to compensate Shareholder Servicing Agents for providing general shareholder liaison services, including, but not limited to: (i) answering inquiries from shareholders regarding account status and history, the manner in which purchases and redemptions of the Fund shares may be effected, and other matters pertaining to the Fund; (ii) assisting shareholders in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (iii) arranging for wiring of funds and transmitting and receiving funds in connection with orders to purchase or redeem Fund shares; (iv) verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with orders to purchase or redeem Fund shares; (v) providing such other similar services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts; and (vi) providing necessary personnel and facilities to conduct the activities described above.
As of the date of this SAI, the Plan has not yet been implemented.
The Adviser, out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or other compensation to certain Financial Intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. The Adviser does not currently intend to make such payments, but reserves the right to initiate payments in the future without notice to shareholders. These payments may be divided into categories as follows:
Support Payments
Payments may be made by the Adviser to certain Financial Intermediaries in connection with the eligibility of the Fund to be offered in certain programs and/or in connection with meetings between the Fund’s representatives and Financial Intermediaries and their sales representatives. Such meetings may be held for various purposes, including providing education and training about the Fund and other general financial topics to assist Financial Intermediaries’ sales representatives in making informed recommendations to, and decisions on behalf of, their clients.
Entertainment, Conferences and Events
The Adviser also may pay cash or non-cash compensation to sales representatives of Financial Intermediaries in the form of (1) occasional gifts; (2) occasional meals, tickets or other entertainments; and/or (3) sponsorship support for the Financial Intermediaries’ client seminars and cooperative advertising. In addition, the Adviser pays for exhibit space or sponsorships at regional or national events of Financial Intermediaries.
The prospect of receiving, or the receipt of additional payments or other compensation as described above by Financial Intermediaries may provide such Financial Intermediaries and/or their salespersons with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Fund, and other mutual funds whose affiliates make similar compensation available, over sale of shares of mutual funds (or non-mutual fund investments) not making such payments. You may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to Fund shares.
As of the date of this SAI, the Adviser does not have agreements with any firms to pay such support payments. Future support payments may be structured in three ways: (1) as a percentage of net sales; (2) as a percentage of net assets; and/or (3) a flat fee.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[TO COME]
Weiss Multi-Strategy Partners LLC
PROXY VOTING AND CLASS ACTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Policies and Procedures
Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised. When the Adviser has discretion to vote the proxies of its clients, it will vote those proxies in the best interest of its clients and in accordance with these policies and procedures.
1.
Procedures regarding proxies received by the Adviser are as follows:
a. Keep a record of each proxy received;
b. Determine which accounts managed by the Adviser hold the security to which the proxy relates;
c. Except in the case of Germany the Adviser will vote in accordance with an independent third party recommendation unless an Investment Teams requests otherwise; and
d. The Adviser will retain a third party to assist it in coordinating and voting proxies with respect to client securities. The Adviser will vote proxies in accordance with the independent third party recommendations and the Head of Operations or Delegate will monitor the third party to assure that all proxies are being properly voted and appropriate records are being retained.
e. For Germany, Custodians will be placing a share-blocking flag on the ballot when applicable. Therfore, a ‘Do Not Vote’ will be placed on The Advisers ballots per The Advisers share-blocking voting strategy.
f. The Adviser has the ability to override the share-blocking and vote the ballot, however, the shares must be put on the Firm’s Restricted List for ‘NO TRADING’ between the vote cutoff date and the de-registration date set by the issuers. This will ensure the liquidity of the shares.
2.
Voting Guidelines
a. Generally, the Adviser will vote in accordance with the recommendations provided by an independent third party proxy recommendation service, except in situations where the Adviser's investment professionals determine that voting otherwise would be in the best interests of the Adviser's clients. Any proxies that are voted against the recommendation of the proxy recommendation service will be reviewed by the Adviser's Proxy Review Committee, which includes the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Head of Operations and Delegates. In determining whether a proposal is in the best interests of clients, the Proxy Review Committee may take into account the factors which include the following, among others:
· whether the proposal was recommended by management and the Adviser's opinion of management
· whether the proposal acts to entrench existing management; and
· whether the proposal fairly compensates management for past and future performance.
3.
Conflicts of Interest
a. The Adviser may occasionally be subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies, and will follow the third party service recommendation in that circumstance. Except as otherwise agreed with a Managed Account, the Adviser will apply the foregoing proxy voting policies and procedures to votes relating to positions held by the Managed Accounts.
4.
Disclosure
a. Clients may contact the Chief Compliance Officer, via mail in order to obtain information on how the Adviser voted such client’s proxies, and to request a copy of these policies and procedures. If a client requests this information, the Chief Compliance Officer or Delegate will prepare a written response to the client that lists, with respect to each voted proxy about which the client has inquired, (a) the name of the issuer; (b) the proposal voted upon, and (c) how the Adviser voted the client’s proxy.
b. The Proxy Review Committee ensures that (a) relevant disclosure is provided to clients, and (b) necessary policies and procedures are maintained and implemented.
5.
Recordkeeping
a. The Head of Operations or Delegate will maintain files relating to the Adviser’s proxy voting procedures in an easily accessible place. Records will be maintained and preserved for five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on a record, with records for the most recent two years kept in the offices of the Adviser. Records of the following will be included in the files:
· Copies of this proxy voting policy and procedures, and any amendments thereto.
· A copy of each proxy statement that the Adviser receives, provided however that the Adviser may rely on obtaining a copy of proxy statements from the SEC’s EDGAR system for those proxy statements that are so available.
· A record of each vote that the Adviser casts.
· A copy of any document the Adviser created that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies, or that memorializes that decision.
· A copy of each written client request for information on how the Adviser voted such client’s proxies, and a copy of any written response to any (written or oral) client request for information on how the Adviser voted its proxies.