As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 3, 2019

 

Registration File No. 333-220480

Registration File No. 811-23289

 

 

 

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-2

 

☒     REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

☒     Post-Effective Amendment No. 5

☒     REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

☒     Amendment No. 7

 

ANGEL OAK STRATEGIC CREDIT FUND
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

3344 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1725

Atlanta, Georgia 30326
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (404) 953-4900

 

Dory S. Black, Esq., President

c/o Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC

3344 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1725

Atlanta, Georgia 30326
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copies of information to:

 

Douglas P. Dick

Stephen T. Cohen

Dechert LLP

1900 K Street NW

Washington, DC 20006

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

 

If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box.  ý

 

 

                       It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

 

                       ☐   when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c).

 

                       ☐   immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 486.

 

                       ☐   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 486.

 

ý   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486.

 

                       ☐   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486.

 

 

(1)  The Securities and Exchange Commission has granted exemptive relief permitting the Registrant to offer multiple classes of shares of beneficial interest.  This registration statement relates to the maximum aggregate offering of $250,000,000 of shares of beneficial interest of the Registrant.  The offering currently includes Class A shares, Class U shares and Institutional Class shares.  In the future, other classes of shares of beneficial interest of the registrant may be registered and included in the offering.

(2)  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee.

(3)  All of which has been previously paid.

 

 

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	Per Class U Share (1)	Total (1)
Public Offering Price	$     At current NAV	Up to $250,000,000
Sales Charge (Load) (1)	None	N/A
Proceeds to the Fund (Before Expenses) (2)	$   Amount invested at current NAV	Up to $250,000,000

SUMMARY OF TERMS

 

This is only a summary and does not contain all of the information that a prospective investor should consider before investing in the Fund. Before investing, a prospective investor in the Fund should carefully read the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information.

 

THE FUND	The Fund is a Delaware statutory trust that is registered under the 1940 Act as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund is operated as an “interval fund” (as defined below).
THE ADVISER	Angel Oak serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. Angel Oak is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Advisers Act.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE	The Fund seeks total return.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND STRATEGIES	In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in credit-related instruments.  These credit-related instruments may consist of a broad range of instruments across liquid and illiquid asset classes, including: corporate debt, with a focus on subordinated debt and senior debt of banks and diversified financials companies; agency and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”); commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”); collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”); asset-backed securities (“ABS”); residential loans and mortgages; and municipal securities.  The Fund may invest without limit in below investment grade fixed income instruments, which are commonly referred to as “junk” or “high-yield” instruments and are regarded as speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and repay principal.  The fixed income instruments in which the Fund invests may include those of issuers from the United States and other countries.  The Fund may also invest in preferred securities.  Under normal circumstances, the Fund expects to concentrate its investments ( i.e. , invest 25% or more of its total assets (measured at the time of investment)) in RMBS (agency and non-agency) and CMBS.  For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund may also invest in derivative instruments that are linked to, or provide investment exposure to, credit instruments. Such derivative instruments will be valued on a mark-to-market basis. The Fund’s 80% investment policy is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ notice of any change in its 80% investment policy. The Fund does not have a policy to target a particular average maturity or duration and may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity or duration. Maturity refers to the length of time until a bond’s principal is repaid with interest. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates that incorporates a security’s yield, coupon, final maturity and call features, among other characteristics. For example, if a portfolio has a duration of three years, and interest rates increase (fall) by 1%, the portfolio would decline (increase) in value by approximately 3%. However, duration may not accurately reflect the true interest rate sensitivity of instruments held by the Fund and, therefore the Fund’s exposure to changes in interest rates.

Table of Contents - Prospectus

In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Adviser uses a relative value analysis, and sector allocation is conducted across all fixed income asset classes.  The Fund’s asset allocation is not static and is expected to change over time. The Fund’s portfolio managers lead a team of sector specialists responsible for researching opportunities within their sector and making recommendations to the Fund’s portfolio managers. This top-down approach incorporates analysis of interest rates, global economic expectations, and fixed income valuation.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

The Fund’s portfolio will consist primarily of: Subordinated Debt, Senior Debt and Preferred Securities of Banks and Diversified Financials Companies .   Subordinated debt securities, sometimes also called “junior debt” or “sub-debt,” are debt securities for which the issuer’s obligations to make principal and interest payment are secondary to the issuer’s payment obligations to more senior debt securities. Such investments will consist primarily of debt issued by community banks or savings institutions (or their holding companies), which are subordinated to senior debt issued by the banks and deposits held by the bank, but are senior to trust preferred obligations, preferred stock, and common stock issued by the bank. To a lesser extent, the Fund may also invest in similar securities of other U.S. and non-U.S. financial services companies of any size. These companies may include, but are not limited to, banks, thrifts, finance companies, brokerage and advisory firms, insurance companies and financial holding companies. Many subordinated debt securities may be unrated and some may be considered high-yield securities or “junk bonds.” See “High Yield Securities.”  Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return and are subject to many of the risks associated with debt securities, as well as issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. A company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. Subordinated debt securities and Structured Products (defined below) collateralized by such securities typically have floating or variable interest rates based on the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or may have a fixed coupon for a period of years and then convert to a floating rate, and are subject to the risks associated with securities tied to LIBOR, including the risks associated with the future replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate. See “Risks—LIBOR Risk.” Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities .  RMBS are fixed income instruments that may be secured by interests in a single residential mortgage loan or a pool of mortgage loans secured by residential property.  The Fund may purchase, without limitation, RMBS that may be senior, subordinate, interest-only, principal-only, investment-grade, non-investment grade, unrated or in default.  The Fund acquires RMBS from private originators as well as from other mortgage loan investors, including savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, finance companies and investment banks.  The credit quality of any RMBS issue depends primarily on the credit quality of the underlying mortgage loans.  The investment characteristics of RMBS differ from traditional debt securities.  Among the major differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying residential mortgage loans or other assets generally may be prepaid at any time.

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities .  CMBS are fixed income instruments that are secured by mortgage loans on commercial real property.  CMBS typically take the form of multi-class debt or pass-through certificates secured by mortgage loans on commercial properties. They generally are structured to provide protection to investors in senior tranches against potential losses on the underlying mortgage loans. Such protection generally is provided by causing holders of subordinated classes of securities (“Subordinated CMBS”) to take the first loss in the event of defaults on the underlying commercial mortgage loans. Other protection, which may benefit all of the classes or particular classes, may include issuer guarantees, reserve funds, additional Subordinated CMBS, cross-collateralization and over-collateralization. The Fund may invest in CMBS of any credit quality, including, without limitation, Subordinated CMBS, CMBS that are rated below investment grade or are unrated and CMBS that are in default. High Yield Securities .  The Fund may invest in below investment grade bonds of corporate issuers. These “high-yield” securities (also known as “junk bonds”) will generally be rated BB or lower by S&P or will be of equivalent quality rating from another Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization, or if unrated, considered by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. There is no minimum credit quality for securities in which the Fund may invest.  The Fund will not acquire defaulted bonds of corporate issuers but may hold such securities in the event that a corporate issuer defaults. Structured Products .  The Fund may invest in CLOs, CDOs, CMOs, and other asset-backed securities and debt securitizations (“Structured Products”). The risks of an investment in a Structured Product depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CLO in which the Fund invests. Some Structured Products have credit ratings, but are typically issued in various classes with various priorities. Normally, Structured Products are privately offered and sold (that is, they are not registered under the securities laws) and may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist for Structured Products that qualify for Rule 144A transactions. In addition to the normal interest rate, default and other risks of fixed income securities, Structured Products carry additional risks, including the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments, the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default, the Fund will, at times, invest in Structured Products that are subordinate to other classes, values may be volatile, and disputes with the issuer may produce unexpected investment results. The most subordinate tranche of a Structured Product has the highest risk of default and losses to the Fund. Derivatives .  Derivatives, which are instruments that have a value based on another instrument, exchange rate or index, may be used as substitutes for securities in which the Fund can invest. The Fund uses derivatives to gain or adjust exposure to markets, sectors, securities and currencies and to manage exposure to risks relating to creditworthiness, interest rate spreads, volatility and changes in yield curves. In certain market environments, the Fund may use interest rate swaps and futures contracts to help protect its portfolio from interest rate risk. The Fund may also utilize foreign currency transactions, including currency options and forward currency contracts, to hedge non-U.S. Dollar investments or to establish or adjust exposure to particular foreign securities, markets or currencies.

International Securities. The Fund may invest in the debt securities of non-U.S. issuers, including direct investments in companies whose securities are principally traded outside the United States on foreign exchanges or foreign over-the-counter markets.  The Fund is not limited in the amount of assets it may invest in such international securities. Residential Loans and Mortgages.  The Fund may acquire residential loans and mortgages (including through participations, assignments and whole loans) from third-party mortgage originators.  The Fund may purchase residential loans and mortgages from a variety of geographical locations, such loans and mortgages may be of any credit quality, including, without limitation, instruments that are rated below investment grade or are unrated and instruments that are in default. Municipal Securities.   Municipal securities are types of debt obligations, which may have a variety of issuers, including governmental entities or other qualifying issuers. Issuers may be states, territories and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities. Municipal securities include, among other instruments, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, municipal leases, certificates of participation, private activity bonds, and moral obligation bonds, as well as short-term, tax-exempt obligations such as municipal notes and variable rate demand obligations. The Fund may purchase municipal securities of any credit quality, including, without limitation, municipal securities that are rated below investment grade or are unrated and municipal securities that are in default. Subsidiary.   The Fund may implement its strategy by making investments directly or through one or more wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries formed by the Fund and organized in the United States (each, a “Subsidiary”). A Subsidiary may invest in residential and commercial real estate whole loans, participations in such loans or instruments representing the right to receive interest payments and principal due on such loans. The Subsidiary may invest in residential and commercial real estate loans of any credit rating or no credit rating, including without limit loans that are rated below investment grade. The principal risks of investments in the Subsidiary are the same as those relating to residential loans and mortgages. See RISK FACTORS—“Residential Loans and Mortgages Risk.” The allocation of the Fund’s investments, if any, in a Subsidiary will vary over time.

LEVERAGE

The Fund may use leverage to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.  The Fund is permitted to obtain leverage using any form or combination of financial leverage instruments, including through funds borrowed from banks or other financial institutions ( i.e. , a credit facility), margin facilities, the issuance of preferred shares or notes and leverage generated by reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls or similar transactions in an aggregate amount up to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets, including any assets purchased with borrowed money, immediately after giving effect to the leverage. The Fund may use leverage opportunistically and may use different types, combinations or amounts of leverage over time, based on the Adviser’s views concerning market conditions and investment opportunities. The Fund’s strategies relating to its use of leverage may not be successful, and the Fund’s use of leverage will cause the Fund’s NAV to be more volatile than it would otherwise be.  There can be no guarantee that the Fund will leverage its assets or, to the extent the Fund does utilize leverage, what percentage of its assets such leverage will represent. See “Investment Objective and Strategies—Leverage.”

MANAGEMENT FEE	Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, dated as of November 9, 2017 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), by and between the Fund and the Adviser, and in consideration of the advisory services provided by the Adviser to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a management fee (the “Management Fee”) equal to 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  A discussion of the factors that the Board of Trustees (“Board”) considered in approving the Fund’s advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report for the fiscal period ended January 31, 2019.
	If you invest in the Fund through an investment adviser, bank, broker-dealer, 401(k) plan, trust company or other financial intermediary, the policies and fees for transacting business may be different than those described in this Prospectus. Some financial intermediaries may charge transaction fees and may set different minimum investments or limitations on buying or selling shares. Some financial intermediaries do not charge a direct transaction fee, but instead charge a fee for services such as sub-transfer agency, accounting and/or shareholder services that the financial intermediary provides on the Fund’s behalf. This fee may be based on the number of accounts or may be a percentage of the average value of the Fund’s shareholder accounts for which the financial intermediary provides services. The Fund may pay a portion of this fee, which is intended to compensate the financial intermediary for providing the same services that would otherwise be provided by the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) or other service providers if the Shares were purchased directly from the Fund. To the extent that these fees are not paid by the Fund, the Adviser may pay a fee to financial intermediaries for such services.
ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT, FUND ACCOUNTANT	U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services”), 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, acts as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent to the Fund. Pursuant to the Fund’s agreements with Fund Services, Fund Services will receive a portion of fees from the Fund for services performed as administrator, transfer agent and fund accountant. Fund Services expects to receive a fee based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to an annual minimum amount.
DISTRIBUTIONS	The Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders as dividends all or substantially all of its net investment income and any realized net capital gains. Distributions from the Fund’s net investment income are accrued daily and typically paid monthly. See “Distributions.” The Board reserves the right to change the distribution policy from time to time.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN	Unless a shareholder indicates another option on the account application, any dividends and capital gain distributions paid to the shareholder by the Fund automatically will be invested in additional Shares of the Fund. Alternatively, a shareholder may elect to have: (1) dividends and/or capital gain distributions paid in cash; or (2) the full amount of any dividends and capital gain distributions paid in cash.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES	The Board has overall responsibility for monitoring and overseeing the Fund’s management and operations. A majority of the Trustees are Independent Trustees. See “Management of the Fund.”
PURCHASES OF SHARES	The Fund’s Shares are offered on a daily basis. Please see “Plan of Distribution” on page [65] for purchase instructions and additional information. The minimum initial investment for Class U shares of the Fund is $50,000; subsequent investments may be made in any amount. The Fund reserves the right to waive the investment minimum. See “Distributions—Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”
CONVERSION OF SHARES	Subject to certain restrictions, after 12 months from the date of their purchase you may convert your Class U Shares of the Fund into Class A Shares of the Fund. Additionally, your Class U shares of the Fund will automatically be converted to Class A shares of the Fund on December 31, 2021. See “How to Buy Shares—Conversion Privilege” on page [71] for additional information.
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM	The Shares have no history of public trading, nor is it intended that the Shares will be listed on a public exchange at this time. No secondary market is expected to develop for the Fund’s Shares. The Fund is an “interval fund,” which is designed to provide some liquidity to Shareholders by making quarterly offers to repurchase between 5% and 25% of its outstanding Shares at NAV, pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act, unless such offer is suspended or postponed in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements (as discussed below). In connection with any given repurchase offer, it is possible that the Fund may offer to repurchase only the minimum allowable amount of 5% of its outstanding Shares. Quarterly repurchases will occur in the months of March, June, September and December. The Fund’s offer to purchase Shares is a fundamental policy that may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act). Written notifications of each quarterly repurchase offer (the “Repurchase Offer Notice”) will be sent to Shareholders at least 21 calendar days before the repurchase request deadline ( i.e. , the date by which Shareholders can tender their Shares in response to a repurchase offer) (the “Repurchase Request Deadline”), which is ordinarily on the third Friday of the month in which the repurchase occurs. The Fund expects to determine the NAV applicable to repurchases on the business day following the Repurchase Request Deadline. However, the NAV will be calculated no later than the 14th calendar day (or the next business day if the 14th calendar day is not a business day) after the Repurchase Request Deadline (the “Repurchase Pricing Date”), although the NAV is expected to be determined on the business day following the Repurchase Request Deadline. The Fund expects to distribute payment to Shareholders between one and three business days after the Repurchase Pricing Date and will distribute such payment no later than seven calendar days after such Date. The Fund’s Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, and the Fund anticipates that no secondary market will develop for its Shares. Accordingly, you may not be able to sell Shares when and/or in the amount that you desire. Thus, the Shares are appropriate only as a long-term investment. In addition, the Fund’s repurchase offers may subject the Fund and Shareholders to special risks. See “Types of Investments and Related Risks—Repurchase Offers Risks.”

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	Quasar Distributors, LLC, (the “Distributor” or “Quasar”), 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, serves as the Fund’s principal underwriter and acts as the Distributor of the Fund’s Shares on a best efforts basis, subject to various conditions. The Fund’s Shares are offered for sale through the Distributor at NAV plus any applicable sales charge. The Distributor also may enter into broker-dealer selling agreements with other broker dealers for the sale and distribution of the Fund’s Shares.
	The Distributor is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the Fund’s Shares, but will use it best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of the Shares. Shares of the Fund will not be listed on any national securities exchange and the Distributor will not act as a market maker in Fund Shares.
ERISA PLANS AND OTHER TAX-EXEMPT ENTITIES	Investors subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and other tax-exempt entities, including employee benefit plans, individual retirement accounts (“ IRAs”), 401(k) plans and Keogh plans, may purchase Shares. Because the Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, the underlying assets of the Fund will not be considered to be “plan assets” of the ERISA plans investing in the Fund for purposes of ERISA’s fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction rules. Thus, neither the Fund nor the Adviser will be a fiduciary within the meaning of ERISA with respect to the assets of any ERISA plan that becomes a Shareholder, solely as a result of the ERISA plan’s investment in the Fund. See “ERISA Considerations.”
UNLISTED CLOSED-END INTERVAL FUND STRUCTURE	The Fund has been organized as a continuously offered, diversified closed-end management investment company. Closed-end funds differ from open-end funds (commonly known as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds shareholders do not have the right to redeem their shares on a daily basis. Unlike most closed-end funds, which typically list their shares on a securities exchange, the Fund does not currently intend to list the Shares for trading on any securities exchange, and the Fund does not anticipate any secondary market to develop for the Shares in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund, unlike an investment in a typical closed-end fund, should not be considered to be a liquid investment. In order to provide some liquidity to shareholders, the Fund is structured as an “interval fund” and will conduct quarterly repurchase offers for a limited amount of the Fund’s Shares (at least 5%).

The Fund believes that an unlisted closed-end structure is most appropriate in light of the long-term nature of the Fund’s strategy and the characteristics of its portfolio. This is because, among other things, certain features of open-end funds (such as daily redemptions, which can necessitate the premature sale of investments) could diminish the Fund’s ability to execute its investment strategy. Accordingly, an unlisted closed-end structure helps the Fund achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s NAV per Share may be volatile. As the Shares are not traded, investors will not be able to dispose of their investment in the Fund no matter how poorly the Fund performs.

VALUATIONS

The price you pay for your Shares is based on the Fund’s NAV. The Fund’s NAV is calculated at the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business (the NYSE is closed on weekends, most federal holidays and Good Friday). The Fund’s NAV is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s total assets (including interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus liabilities (including accrued expenses) by the total number of Shares outstanding. Requests to purchase Shares are processed at the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form. If the NYSE is closed due to inclement weather, technology problems or any other reason on a day it would normally be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase orders until, and calculate the Fund’s NAV as of, the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day. In the event the Fund holds portfolio securities that trade in foreign markets or that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase the Fund’s shares. In calculating the Fund's NAV, portfolio investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value, which is ordinarily determined based on official closing prices or the last reported sale prices of an instrument. Where no such closing price or sale price is reported, market value is determined based on quotes obtained from market makers or prices supplied by one or more third-party pricing source (“Pricing Services”), which may include evaluated prices. The types of investments in which the Fund typically invests are generally valued on the basis of evaluated prices provided by Pricing Services. Such prices may be based on a number of factors, including, among other things, information obtained from market makers and estimates based on recent market prices for investments with similar characteristics. If market or evaluated prices are not readily available (including when they are not reliable), or if an event occurs after the close of the trading market but before the calculation of the applicable NAV that materially affects the values, assets may be valued at a fair value, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. For example, the Fund may be obligated to fair value a foreign security because many foreign markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. When pricing securities using the fair value guidelines established by the Board, the Fund (with the assistance of its Pricing Services and other service providers) seeks to assign the value that represents the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon a current sale of the securities. In this regard, the Adviser, pursuant to the terms of the investment advisory agreement with the Fund, has agreed to provide the Fund’s pricing information that the Adviser reasonably believes may assist in the determination of fair value consistent with requirements under the 1940 Act and the Fund’s valuation procedures. The Fund’s fair value guidelines include the consideration of pricing information from one or more Pricing Services, which information is monitored by the Adviser daily. The Board oversees the Adviser’s implementation of the fair value guidelines established by the Board.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, given the subjectivity inherent in fair valuation and the fact that events could occur after NAV calculation, the actual market prices for a security may differ from the fair value of that security as determined by the Fund at the time of NAV calculation. Thus, discrepancies between fair values and actual market prices may occur on a regular and recurring basis. These discrepancies do not necessarily indicate that the Fund’s fair value methodology is inappropriate. The Fund will adjust the fair values assigned to securities in the Fund’s portfolio, to the extent necessary, as soon as market prices become available. The Fund (and its service providers) continually monitor and evaluate the appropriateness of their fair value methodologies through systematic comparisons of fair values to the actual next available market prices of securities contained in the Fund’s portfolio. To the extent the Fund invests in mutual funds, the Fund’s NAV is calculated based, in part, upon the NAVs of such mutual funds; the prospectuses for those mutual funds in which the Fund will invest describe the circumstances under which those mutual funds will use fair value pricing, which, in turn, affects their NAVs. Because the Fund relies on various sources to calculate its NAVs, the Fund is subject to certain operational risks associated with reliance on the Pricing Services and other service providers and data sources. The Fund’s NAV calculation may be impacted by operational risks arising from factors such as failures in systems and technology. Such failures may result in delays in the calculation of the Fund’s NAV and/or the inability to calculate NAV over extended time periods. The Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures.

SUMMARY OF TAXATION

The Fund has elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and intends to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a RIC, the Fund generally will not be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any net ordinary income or capital gains that is currently distributed as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to Shareholders, as applicable. To qualify and maintain its qualification as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund is required to meet certain specified source-of-income and asset diversification requirements, and is required to distribute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes of an amount at least equal to 90% of the sum of its net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses each tax year to Shareholders, as applicable. See “Distributions” and “Tax Aspects.”

FISCAL YEAR	For accounting purposes, the Fund’s fiscal year is the 12-month period ending on January 31.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS	As soon as practicable after the end of each calendar year, a statement on Form 1099-DIV identifying the sources of the distributions paid by the Fund to Shareholders for tax purposes will be furnished to Shareholders subject to Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) reporting. In addition, the Fund will prepare and transmit to Shareholders an unaudited semi-annual and an audited annual report within 60 days after the close of the period for which the report is being made, or as otherwise required by the 1940 Act.
RISK FACTORS	The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. There may be circumstances that could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment risks before deciding whether to invest in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit at a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For a more complete discussion of the risks of investing in the Fund, see “Types of Investments and Related Risks.” Shareholders should consider carefully the following principal risks before investing in the Fund.
	·   Repurchase Offer Risk. Although the Fund intends to implement a quarterly share repurchase program, there is no guarantee that an investor will be able to sell all of the Shares he or she desires to sell. Accordingly, the Fund should be considered an illiquid investment;   ·   General Market Risk. The capital markets may experience periods of disruption, instability and volatility. Such conditions may materially and adversely affect the markets globally and in the jurisdictions in which the Fund invests, which may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s NAV and investment return will fluctuate based on changes in the value of its portfolio securities;
	·   Distributions. The Fund’s distributions may include a return of capital, thus reducing a shareholder’s cost basis in his or her Fund shares and reducing the amount of capital available to the Fund for investment and likely increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. A shareholder who receives a capital distribution may be subject to tax even though the shareholder has experienced a net loss on his or her investment in the Fund. Any capital returned to shareholders through distributions will be distributed after the payment of fees and expenses. Shareholders who periodically receive payment of a distribution consisting of a return of capital may be under the impression that they are receiving net income or profits when they are not. A return of capital to Shareholders is a return of a portion of their original investment in the Fund. Shareholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from the Fund is net income or profit;   ·   High-Yield Securities. The below investment grade instruments in which the Fund invests (also known as “junk bonds”) have predominantly speculative characteristics and may be particularly susceptible to economic downturns, which could cause losses;

·   Leverage. The Fund may use leverage, which will cause the Fund’s NAV to be more volatile than it would otherwise be, may cause the Fund to experience losses if earnings on the investments made with borrowed money do not cover the costs of borrowing and may increase the risk of investing with the Fund;   ·   Concentration in Certain Mortgage-Backed Securities. The risks of concentrating in RMBS (agency and non-agency) and CMBS include susceptibility to changes in interest rates and the risks associated with the market’s perception of issuers, the creditworthiness of the parties involved and investing in real estate securities.     ·   Credit Risk. The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a derivative contract, is unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations;   ·   Residential Loans and Mortgages Risk. In addition to interest rate, default and other risks of fixed income securities, investments in whole loans and debt instruments backed by residential loans or mortgages (or pools of loans or mortgages) carry additional risks, including the possibility that the quality of the collateral may decline in value and the potential for the liquidity of residential loans and mortgages to vary over time. These risks are greater for subprime residential and mortgage loans. Because they do not trade in a liquid market, residential loans can typically only be sold to a limited universe of institutional investors and may be difficult for the Fund to value. In addition, in the event that a loan is foreclosed on, the Fund could become the owner (in whole or in part) of any collateral, which may include, among other things, real estate or other real or personal property, and the Fund would bear the costs and liabilities of owning, holding or disposing of such property;   ·   Valuation Risk. The valuation of securities or instruments that lack a central trading place (such as fixed-income securities or instruments) may carry greater risk than those that trade on an exchange. Accordingly, there is a risk that the determination of the fair value of a security or instrument will not approximate the price at which the Fund could sell the security or instrument at the time of the fair valuation;   ·   Illiquidity Risk. It is expected that most of the securities and instruments held by the Fund will not trade on an exchange. Illiquid securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when the Fund believes it is desirable to do so. The Fund may be forced to sell securities at inopportune prices to meet shareholder repurchase requests;   ·   Derivatives Risk. Derivative investments have risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of such instruments and the underlying assets of the Fund;   ·   International Securities Risk. International securities may be traded in undeveloped, inefficient and less liquid markets and may experience greater price volatility and changes in value;

·   Foreign Currency Risk. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates may adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of and returns on foreign denominated investments;   ·   Regulatory and Legal Risk. Legal and regulatory changes, including those implemented in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), could occur, which may materially adversely affect the Fund;   ·   New Fund Risk. The Fund is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end investment company with limited operating history. As a result, the Fund’s performance may not reflect how the Fund may be expected to perform over the long term.  In addition, prospective investors have a limited track record and history on which to base their investment decisions. The Fund is subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that the Fund will not achieve its investment objective;   ·   Interest Rate Risk. The Fund is exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates;   ·   Extension Risk . An issuer could exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as a mortgage-backed security) later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease, and the Fund will also suffer from the inability to reinvest in higher yielding securities;   ·   Management Risk. The Fund’s financial condition and results of operations could be negatively affected if a significant investment fails to perform as expected;   ·   Conflicts of Interest Risk. There are significant and potential conflicts of interest that could impact the Fund’s investment returns, including the potential for portfolio managers to devote unequal time and attention to the management of the Fund and any other accounts managed; identify a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one client; and acquire material non-public information or otherwise be restricted from trading in certain potential investments;

·   Risk Relating to the Fund’s RIC Status. To qualify and remain eligible for the special tax treatment accorded to RICs and their shareholders under the Code, the Fund must meet certain source-of-income, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements, and failure to do so could result in the loss of RIC status;   ·   Subsidiary Risk. To the extent the Fund invests through a Subsidiary, it will be exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments, which principally include residential and commercial real estate loans. See “Residential Loans and Mortgages.” In addition, changes in the laws of the United States could result in the inability of the Fund and/or a Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could adversely affect the Fund;

·   Structured Products Risk. The Fund may invest in Structured Products. Some Structured Products have credit ratings, but are typically issued in various classes with various priorities. Normally, Structured Products are privately offered and sold (that is, they are not registered under the securities laws) and may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist for Structured Products that qualify for Rule 144A transactions. The senior and junior tranches of Structured Products may have floating or variable interest rates based on LIBOR and are subject to the risks associated with securities tied to LIBOR, including the risks associated with the future replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate. The Fund may also invest in the equity tranches of a Structured Product, which typically represent the first loss position in the Structured Product, are unrated and are subject to higher risks. Equity tranches of Structured Products typically do not have a fixed coupon, and payments on equity tranches will be based on the income received from the underlying collateral and the payments made to the senior tranches, both of which may be based on floating rates based on LIBOR;   ·   LIBOR Risk. Instruments in which the Fund invests may pay interest at floating rates based on LIBOR or may be subject to interest caps or floors based on LIBOR. The Fund and issuers of instruments in which the Fund invests may also obtain financing at floating rates based on LIBOR. Derivative instruments utilized by the Fund and/or issuers of instruments in which the Fund may invest may also reference LIBOR. The Fund also may utilize leverage or borrowings primarily based on LIBOR.  In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority announced the desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. There is currently no definitive information regarding the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement rate. Abandonment of or modifications to LIBOR could have adverse impacts on newly issued financial instruments and existing financial instruments that reference LIBOR.

Accordingly, the Fund should be considered a speculative investment that entails substantial risks, and prospective investors should invest in the Fund only if they can sustain a complete loss of their investment.

SUMMARY OF FEES AND EXPENSES

 

The following table illustrates the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class U shares of the Fund. More information about sales charges is in the section “Sales Charges—Class U Shares” on pages [66-70] of the Prospectus.

 

SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES		Class U
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	None
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (Load)		1.00% (1)
ANNUAL FUND EXPENSES (as a percentage of average net assets attributable to Shares ( i.e. , common shares))
Management Fee		1.25%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%
Other Expenses (2)		[6.71]%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses		[0.03]%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		[8.24]%

Share Class	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class U	$[102]	$[253]	$[394]	$[709]

Angel Oak Strategic Credit Fund

Financial Highlights – Institutional Class

(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

		For the Year Ended January 31, 2019				For the Period Ended January 31, 2018 (a)
Selected Per Share Data:
Net asset value, beginning of period		$	25.23			$	25.00
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)			1.76				0.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments			(0.60	)			0.14
Total from investment operations			1.16				0.28
Less distributions to shareholders:
From net investment income			(1.85	)			(0.05	)
From net realized gains			(0.05	)			–
Total Distributions			(1.90	)			(0.05	)
Net asset value, end of period		$	24.49			$	25.23
Total Return			4.72	%			1.10	% (b)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)		$	6,982			$	2,791
Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waiver and reimbursement (c)			0.75	%			0.75	% (d)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets before waiver and reimbursement			0.42	%			-16.03	% (d)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets after waiver and reimbursement			7.63	%			5.85	% (d)
Portfolio turnover rate			63.83	%			69.68	% (b)

(a)   Fund commenced operations on December 26, 2017.
(b)   Not Annualized.
(c)   Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waiver and reimbursement.			7.96	%			22.63	% (d)
(d)   Annualized.

OUTSTANDING SECURITIES

 

The following table sets forth information about the Fund’s outstanding Shares as of [  ], 2019:

 

Title of Class

​

​

Amount  Authorized

​

​

Amount Held by the  Fund for its  Own Account

​

​

Amount  Outstanding

Class A Shares of Beneficial Interest

​

​

​

​

Unlimited

​

​

​

​

​

None

​

​

​

​

​

None

Class U Shares of Beneficial Interest

​

​

​

​

Unlimited

​

​

​

​

​

None

​

​

​

​

​

None

Institutional Class Shares of Beneficial Interest

​

​

​

​

Unlimited

​

​

​

​

​

None

​

​

​

​

​

[  ]

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS	1
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS	18
REPURCHASE OF SHARES	28
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS	29
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROXY VOTING RECORD	31
TAXATION	32
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES	39
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS	40
DISTRIBUTION PLAN	41
OTHER MATTERS	41
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	41

Investors should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other individual has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations that are not contained in this Prospectus. If any such information or statements are given or made, investors should not rely upon such information or representations. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell any securities other than those to which this Prospectus relates, or an offer to sell to, or a solicitation of an offer to buy from, any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. This Prospectus speaks as of the date set forth below. Investors should not assume that the delivery of this Prospectus or that any sale made pursuant to this Prospectus implies that the information contained in this Prospectus will remain fully accurate and correct as of any time subsequent to the date of this Prospectus.

Table of Contents - Prospectus

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS	1
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS	18
REPURCHASE OF SHARES	28
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS	29
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROXY VOTING RECORD	31
TAXATION	32
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES	39
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS	40
DISTRIBUTION PLAN	41
OTHER MATTERS	41
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	41

Name and Year of Birth		Position with the Fund		Term of Office and Length of Time Served		Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex (1) Overseen by Trustee	Other Directorships Held During the Past 5 Years
Independent Trustees of the Fund (2)
Ira P. Cohen 1959		Independent Trustee, Chairman		Trustee since 2017, Chairman since 2017; indefinite terms		Executive Vice President, Recognos Financial (investment industry data analysis provider) (since 2015); Independent financial services consultant (since 2005).	6	Trustee, Valued Advisers Trust (since 2010) (12 portfolios); Trustee, Griffin Institutional Access Credit Fund (since 2017); Trustee, Griffin Institutional Access Real Estate Access Fund (since 2014); Trustee, Angel Oak Funds Trust (since 2014); Trustee, Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (since 2018).
Alvin R. Albe, Jr. 1953		Independent Trustee		Since 2017; indefinite term		Retired; Senior Advisor, The TCW Group, Inc. (asset manager) (2008–2013).	6	Director, Syntroleum Corporation (renewable energy firm) (1988–2014); Trustee, Angel Oak Funds Trust (since 2014); Trustee, Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (since 2018).
Keith M. Schappert 1951		Independent Trustee		Since 2017; indefinite term		President, Schappert Consulting LLC (investment industry consulting) (since 2008).	6	Trustee, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds (since 2010) (6 portfolios); Trustee, Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. (2009-2015) (30 portfolios); Trustee, Met Investors Series Trust (2012-2015) (45 portfolios); Director, Commonfund Capital, Inc. (private equity business) (since 2015); Director, The Commonfund (investment management) (since 2012); Director, Calamos Asset Management, Inc. (investment management) (2012-2017); Trustee, Angel Oak Funds Trust (since 2014); Trustee, Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (since 2018).
Andrea N. Mullins 1967		Independent Trustee		Since 2019; indefinite term		Private Investor; Independent Contractor, SWM Advisors (since 2014); Retired from Eagle Funds in 2010 as Chief Financial Officer	6	Trustee, Valued Advisors Trust (since 2013, Chairperson since 2017) (12 portfolios); Trustee, Angel Oak Funds Trust (since February 2019); Trustee, Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (since 2019).
James E. Stueve 1964		Independent Trustee		Since 2019; indefinite term		Stueve Insights LLC (consulting) (since 2018); President and Global Head of Distribution, Ridgeworth Investments (2007-2017)	6	Chairman, Mutual Fund Education Alliance (2013-2016); Trustee and Finance Chair, Foundation for Financial Planning (2012-2016); Trustee, Angel Oak Funds Trust (since February 2019); Trustee, Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (since 2019).
Interested Trustee of the Fund
Sreeniwas (Sreeni) V. Prabhu 1974		Interested Trustee		Since 2017; indefinite term		Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager, Co-Founder, Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC (since 2009).	6	Trustee, Angel Oak Funds Trust (since April 2015); Trustee, Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (since 2018).
Samuel R. Dunlap, III 1979		Interested Trustee		Since 2019; indefinite term		Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC (since 2009)	6	Trustee, Angel Oak Funds Trust (since February 2019); Trustee, Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (since 2019).

Name and Year of Birth	Position with the Fund	Term of Office and Length of Time Served	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Officers of the Trust
Dory S. Black, Esq. 1975	President	Since 2017; indefinite term	General Counsel, Angel Oak (since 2014); General Counsel, EARNEST Partners, LLC (investment management firm) (2014); Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel, GE Asset Management Incorporated (2004–2014).
Adam Langley 1967	Chief Compliance Officer	Since 2017; indefinite term	Chief Compliance Officer, Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC (since 2015); Chief Compliance Officer, Angel Oak Funds Trust (2015); Chief Compliance Officer, Angel Oak Capital Partners II, LLC (since 2016); Chief Compliance Officer, Buckhead One Financial Opportunities, LLC (since 2017); Chief Compliance Officer, Falcons I, LLC (since 2018); Chief Compliance Officer, Hawks I, LLC (since 2018); Chief Compliance Officer, Angel Oak Consulting Group Portfolio Management, LLC (2015-2017); Compliance Manager, Invesco Advisers, Ltd. (2013–2015); Compliance Officer, Macquarie Group (2013).
Lu Chang, CFA, FRM, CAIA 1975	Secretary	Since 2017; indefinite term	Chief Operations and Risk Officer, Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC (since 2014); Vice-President and Finance Manager, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC (investment advisory firm) (2004–2014).
Daniel Fazioli 1981	Treasurer	Since 2017; indefinite term	Controller, Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC (since 2015); Controller, Tang Capital Partners, LP (2014–2015); Associate, Goldman Sachs & Company, Inc. (2010–2014).

Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares and Other Interests

 

The table below shows for each Trustee, the amount of the Fund’s equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee, and the aggregate value of all investments in equity securities of the Fund, as of December 31, 2018, and stated as one of the following ranges: A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001-$50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000; and E = over $100,000.

	Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund	Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Registered Investment Companies Overseen by the Trustees in Family of Investment Companies
Name of Trustee
Non-Interested Trustees
Alvin R. Albe, Jr.	E	E
Ira P. Cohen	A	A
Keith M. Schappert	A	E
Andrea N. Mullins	A	A
James E. Stueve	A	A
Interested Trustee
Sreeniwas (Sreeni) V. Prabhu	A	E
Samuel R. Dunlap	A	B

Name of Person/Position	Aggregate Compensation from the Fund	Total Compensation from the Fund and Fund Complex (1) Paid to Trustees
Non-Interested Trustees
Alvin R. Albe, Jr., Trustee	$9,572	$90,000
Ira P. Cohen, Trustee, Chairman	$9,572	$90,000
Keith M. Schappert, Trustee	$9,572	$90,000
Andrea N. Mullins, Trustee (2)	N/A	N/A
James E. Stueve, Trustee (2)	N/A	N/A

Interested Trustee
Sreeniwas (Sreeni) V. Prabhu, Trustee Samuel R. Dunlap, Trustee (3)	$0   $0	$0   $0

Berkin Kologlu

 

Number and Assets of Other Accounts			Number and Assets of Accounts for which Advisory Fee is Performance Based
Registered Investment Companies	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	Other Accounts	Registered Investment Companies	Other Pooled Investment V ehicles	Other Accounts
5 $7,197,730,465	2 $801,570,232	6 $302,535,430	0 $0	1 $116,879,056	0 $0

Sreeniwas (Sreeni) V. Prabhu

 

Number and Assets of Other Accounts			Number and Assets of Accounts for which Advisory Fee is Performance Based
Registered Investment Companies	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	Other Accounts	Registered Investment Companies	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	Other Accounts
7 $7,443,054,504	7 $1,343,350,581	0 $0	0 $0	6 $658,639,405	0 $0

 

Matthew R. Kennedy

 

Number and Assets of Other Accounts			Number and Assets of Accounts for which Advisory Fee is Performance Based
Registered Investment Companies	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	Other Accounts	Registered Investment Companies	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	Other Accounts
2 $73,375.326	2 $801,570,232	0 $0	0 $0	1 $116,879,056	0 $0

 

Colin McBurnette

 

Number and Assets of Other Accounts			Number and Assets of Accounts for which Advisory Fee is Performance Based
Registered Investment Companies	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	Other Accounts	Registered Investment Companies	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	Other Accounts
5 $7,260,487,721	2 $801,570,232	3 $26,884,170	0 $0	1 $116,879,056	0 $0

Compensation : The Portfolio Managers receive an annual base salary from the Adviser. Mr. Prabhu has an ownership interest in the Adviser and may receive distributions from the Adviser, which may come from profits generated by the Adviser. Each of the Portfolio Managers is eligible to receive a discretionary bonus, which is based on: profitability of the Adviser; assets under management; investment performance of managed accounts; compliance with the Adviser’s policies and procedures; contribution to the Adviser’s goals and objectives; anticipated compensation levels of competitor firms; effective research; role and responsibilities; client satisfaction; asset retention; teamwork; leadership; and risk management.

Potential Conflicts of Interest : Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or other account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple funds and/or other accounts may experience the following potential conflicts: The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Investment decisions for client accounts are also made consistent with a client’s individual investment objective and needs. Accordingly, there may be circumstances when purchases or sales of securities for one or more client accounts will have an adverse effect on other clients. The Adviser may seek to manage such competing interests by: (1) having a portfolio manager focus on a particular investment discipline; (2) utilizing a quantitative model in managing accounts; and/or (3) reviewing performance differences between similarly managed accounts on a periodic basis to ensure that any such differences are attributable by differences in investment guidelines and timing of cash flows. The Adviser also maintains a Code of Ethics to establish standards and procedures for the detection and prevention of activities by which persons having knowledge of the investments and investment intentions of the Fund may abuse their fiduciary duties to the Fund.

If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one client, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible accounts. To deal with these situations, the Adviser has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple accounts.

With respect to securities transactions for clients, the Adviser determines which broker to use to execute each order. However, the Adviser may direct securities transactions to a particular broker/dealer for various reasons including receipt of research or participation interests in initial public offerings that may or may not benefit the Fund. To deal with these situations, the Adviser has adopted procedures to help ensure best execution of all client transactions.

 Table of Contents - Statement of Additional Information

26

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Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where the Adviser has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of one but not all accounts for which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.

The Fund is required to show the dollar amount ranges of the portfolio managers’ beneficial ownership of shares of the Fund as of January 31, 2019:

 

Portfolio Manager	Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
Berkin Kologlu	none
Sreeni V. Prabhu	none
Matthew R. Kennedy	none
Colin McBurnette	none

 Table of Contents - Statement of Additional Information

27

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REPURCHASE OF SHARES

 

In order to provide some liquidity to shareholders, the Fund makes quarterly offers to repurchase between 5% and 25% of its outstanding Shares at NAV. Notices of each quarterly repurchase offer are sent to shareholders at least 21 days before the “Repurchase Request Deadline” ( i.e. , the date by which shareholders can tender their Common Shares in response to a repurchase offer). The Fund determines the NAV applicable to repurchases no later than the 14 calendar days after the Repurchase Request Deadline (or the next business day, if the 14th calendar day is not a business day) (the “Repurchase Pricing Date”). The Fund expects to distribute payment to shareholders between one and three business days after the Repurchase Pricing Date and will distribute such payment no later than seven calendar days after such date. The Fund’s Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, and the Fund anticipates that no secondary market will develop for its Shares. Accordingly, you may not be able to sell Shares when and/or in the amount that you desire. Thus, Shares are appropriate only as a long-term investment. In addition, the Fund’s repurchase offers may subject the Fund and shareholders to special risks.

The section entitled “Share Repurchase Program” in the Prospectus discusses the type and timing of notice for repurchase offers, the effects of oversubscribed repurchase offers, the determination of the repurchase price, payment by the Fund for Shares tendered in a repurchase offer, the effect of repurchase policies on the liquidity of the Fund, the consequences of repurchase offers and other details regarding the repurchase offers, including associated risks. The Fund’s fundamental policies with respect to repurchase offers are discussed in “Investment Restrictions” in this SAI.

See “Types of Investments and Related Risks – Repurchase Offers Risks” in the Prospectus for a description of the risks associated with the Fund’s repurchase offers. In addition, the repurchase of Shares by the Fund will be a taxable event to shareholders. For a discussion of these tax consequences, see “Taxation” below.

Subject to its investment limitations, the Fund may borrow to finance the repurchase of shares or to make a tender offer. Interest on any borrowings to finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Fund in anticipation of share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund’s net income and gains. Any share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the Board would have to comply with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and other applicable law.

 Table of Contents - Statement of Additional Information

28

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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

 

How Securities are Purchased and Sold

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities that are fixed income securities (for instance, money market instruments and bonds, notes and bills) usually are principal transactions. In a principal transaction, the party from whom the Fund purchases or to whom the Fund sells is acting on their own behalf (and not as the agent of some other party such as its customers). These securities normally are purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker for the securities. There usually are no brokerage commissions paid for these securities.

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities that are equity securities (for instance common stock and preferred stock) are generally effected: (1) if the security is traded on an exchange, through brokers who charge commissions; and (2) if the security is traded in the “over-the-counter” markets, in a principal transaction directly from a market maker. In transactions on stock exchanges, commissions are negotiated. When transactions are executed in an over-the-counter market, the Adviser will seek to deal with the primary market makers; but when necessary to obtain best execution, the Adviser will utilize the services of others.

The price of securities purchased from underwriters includes a disclosed fixed commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and prices of securities purchased from dealers serving as market makers reflects the spread between the bid and asked price.

In the case of fixed income and equity securities traded in the over-the-counter markets, there is generally no stated commission, but the price usually includes an undisclosed commission or markup.

Commissions Paid

The Fund paid $116 in brokerage commissions for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019.

 

Adviser Responsibility for Purchases and Sales

The Adviser places orders for the purchase and sale of securities with broker-dealers selected by and in the discretion of the Adviser. The Fund does not have any obligation to deal with a specific broker or dealer in the execution of portfolio transactions. Allocations of transactions to brokers and dealers and the frequency of transactions are determined by the Adviser in its best judgment and in a manner deemed to be in the best interest of the applicable Fund rather than by any formula.

The Adviser seeks “best execution” for all portfolio transactions. This means that the Adviser seeks the most favorable price and execution available. The Adviser’s primary consideration in executing transactions for the Fund is prompt execution of orders in an effective manner and at the most favorable price available.

Choosing Broker-Dealers

The Fund may not always pay the lowest commission or spread available. Rather, in determining the amount of commissions (including certain dealer spreads) paid in connection with securities transactions, the Adviser takes into account factors such as size of the order, difficulty of execution, efficiency of the executing broker’s facilities (including the research services described below) and any risk assumed by the executing broker.

Consistent with applicable rules and the Adviser’s duties, the Adviser may consider payments made by brokers effecting transactions for the Fund. These payments may be made to the Fund or to other persons on behalf of the Fund for services provided to the Fund for which those other persons would be obligated to pay.

The Adviser may also utilize a broker and pay a slightly higher commission if, for example, the broker has specific expertise in a particular type of transaction (due to factors such as size or difficulty), or it is efficient in trade execution.

Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers

From time to time, the Fund may acquire and hold securities issued by its “regular brokers and dealers” or the parents of those brokers and dealers. For this purpose, regular brokers and dealers are the 10 brokers or dealers that: (1) received the greatest amount of brokerage commissions during the Fund’s last fiscal year; (2) engaged in the largest amount of principal transactions for portfolio transactions of the Fund during the Fund’s last fiscal year; or (3) sold the largest amount of the Fund’s shares during the Fund’s last fiscal year. As of January 31, 2019, the Fund did not hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers or their parent companies.

 Table of Contents - Statement of Additional Information

29

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Obtaining Research from Brokers

The Adviser has full brokerage discretion. The Adviser evaluates the range and quality of a broker’s services in placing trades such as securing best price, confidentiality, clearance and settlement capabilities, promptness of execution and the financial stability of the broker-dealer. The Adviser may give consideration to research services furnished by brokers to the Adviser for its use and may cause the Fund to pay these brokers a higher amount of commission than may be charged by other brokers. This research is designed to augment the Adviser’s own internal research and investment strategy capabilities. This research may include reports that are common in the industry such as industry research reports and periodicals, quotation systems, software for portfolio management and formal databases. Typically, the research will be used to service all of the Adviser accounts, although a particular client may not benefit from all the research received on each occasion. The Adviser fees are not reduced by reason of receipt of research services. Most of the brokerage commissions for research are for investment research on specific companies or industries. And, because the Adviser will follow a limited number of securities most of the commission dollars spent on research will directly benefit clients and the Fund’s investors.

Counterparty Risk

The Adviser monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to the Fund’s transactions and intends to enter into a transaction only when it believes that the counterparty presents minimal and appropriate credit risks.

Transactions through Affiliates

The Adviser may effect brokerage transactions through affiliates of the Adviser (or affiliates of those persons) pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund.

Other Accounts of the Adviser

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those for any other account or investment company that is or may in the future become advised by the Adviser or its affiliates. Investment decisions are the product of many factors, including basic suitability for the particular client involved. Likewise, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more clients are selling the security. In some instances, one client may sell a particular security to another client. In addition, two or more clients may simultaneously purchase or sell the same security, in which event, each day’s transactions in such security are, insofar as is possible, averaged as to price and allocated between such clients in a manner which, in the Adviser’s opinion, is in the best interest of the affected accounts and is equitable to each and in accordance with the amount being purchased or sold by each. There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of a portfolio security for one client could have an adverse effect on another client that has a position in that security. In addition, when purchases or sales of the same security for the Fund and other client accounts managed by the Adviser occurs contemporaneously, the purchase or sale orders may be aggregated to obtain any price advantages available to large denomination purchases or sales.

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PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROXY VOTING RECORD

 

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Policies”) on behalf of the Fund which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser’s Proxy Policies (as defined below) 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 also adopted the following Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Adviser’s Proxy Policies”).

In its role as investment adviser to the Fund, the Adviser has adopted those proxy voting policies adopted by the Fund. To the extent that the Fund’s policies do not cover potential voting issues with respect to proxies received by the Fund, the Fund has delegated to the Adviser the authority to act on its behalf to promote the Fund’s investment objective, subject to the provisions of the Trust’s policies regarding resolution of a conflict of interest with respect to the Adviser.

The Adviser will vote proxies in the best interests of the Fund. The Adviser will generally vote in favor of routine corporate housekeeping proposals such as the election of directors and the selection of auditors, absent conflicts of interest ( e.g. , an auditor’s provision of non-audit services). The Adviser will generally vote against proposals that cause board members to become entrenched or cause unequal voting rights. In reviewing proposals, the Adviser may also consider the opinion of management, the effect on management, the effect on shareholder value and the issuer’s business practices.

The Adviser recognizes that under certain circumstances it may have a conflict of interest in voting proxies on behalf of the Fund. A “conflict of interest,” means any circumstance when the Adviser (including officers, directors, agents and employees) knowingly does business with, receives compensation from, or sits on the board of, a particular issuer or closely affiliated entity, and, therefore, may appear to have a conflict of interest between its own interests and the interests of fund shareholders in how proxies of that issuer are voted. The Adviser has adopted the Fund’s procedures as they relate to the resolution of conflicts of interest with respect to voting shares of the Fund.

The Fund will file a Form N-PX, with the Fund’s complete proxy voting record for the 12 months ended June 30, no later than August 31st of each year. Form N‑PX for the Fund will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free (855) 751-4324 and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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TAXATION

 

The tax information set forth in the Prospectus and the information in this section relates solely to Federal income tax law and assumes that the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company (as discussed below). Such information is only a summary of certain key Federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders and is in addition to the information provided in the Prospectus. No attempt has been made to present a complete explanation of the Federal tax treatment of the Fund or the tax implications to shareholders. The discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as substitutes for careful tax planning.

 

This “Taxation” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of the Prospectus. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Fund and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

 

All investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the Federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company

 

The Fund intends, for each tax year, to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the Code.

 

Federal Income Tax Consequences of Qualification

 

As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to Federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders. To be subject to tax as a regulated investment company, generally the Fund must satisfy the following requirements:

 

·

The Fund must distribute an amount at least equal to the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income, determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest, if any, each tax year (certain distributions made by the Fund after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement (“Distribution Requirement”)).

·

The Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each tax year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities, or other income (including gains from options and futures contracts) derived from its business of investing in securities and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

·

The Fund must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash, cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), or in two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

While the Fund presently intends to make cash distributions (including distributions reinvested in Fund shares) for each tax year in an aggregate amount sufficient to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and eliminate Federal income tax, the Fund may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some or all cash distributions) for those purposes. To the extent that the Fund uses equalization accounting it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to repurchases of Fund shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gain that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Fund’s allocation is improper and that the Fund has under-distributed its income and gain for any tax year, the Fund may be liable for Federal income and/or excise tax, and, if the Distribution Requirement has not been met, may also be unable to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company (see discussion below on what happens if the Fund fails to qualify for that treatment).

 

Failure to Qualify

 

If for any tax year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends will generally be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay taxes and make distributions (any of which could be subject to interest charges) before re-qualifying for taxation as a regulated investment company. If the Company fails to satisfy either the income test or asset diversification test described above, in certain cases, however, the Fund may be able to avoid losing its status as a regulated investment company by timely providing notice of such failure to the IRS, curing such failure and possibly paying an additional tax or penalty.

 

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Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Fund’s income and performance. It is possible that the Fund will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year.

 

Fund Distributions

 

The Fund anticipates distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net tax-exempt interest (if any) for each tax year. Distributions paid to you generally would be characterized as ordinary income. A portion of these distributions may qualify for the  dividends-received deduction when paid to certain corporate shareholders.

 

A portion of the Fund’s distributions paid to individuals may be treated as “qualified dividend income,” and may be subject to a maximum Federal income tax rate of either 15% or 20% (depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts). A distribution is treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that the Fund receives dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, provided that holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund and the shareholder. To the extent the Fund’s distributions are attributable to other sources, such as interest or capital gains, such distributions are not treated as qualified dividend income.

 

Given the Fund’s investment strategies, it is not expected that a significant portion of the Fund’s dividends will be eligible to be designated as qualified dividend income or the dividends-received deduction.

 

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from repurchases or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

 

The Fund anticipates distributing substantially all of its net capital gain for each tax year. These distributions generally are made only once a year, usually in November or December, but the Fund may make additional distributions of net capital gain at any time during the year. These distributions to you generally would be characterized as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held shares. These distributions do not qualify for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Fund intends to operate, each year, using a fiscal and taxable year ending January 31.

 

Distributions by the Fund that do not constitute ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income or capital gain dividends will be treated as a return of capital. Return of capital distributions reduce your tax basis in the shares and are treated as gain from the sale of the shares to the extent your basis would be reduced below zero.

 

All distributions by the Fund will be treated in the manner described above regardless of whether the distribution is paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund (or of another fund). If you receive distributions in the form of additional shares, you will be treated as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of cash that could have been received instead of shares.

 

You may purchase shares with a NAV at the time of purchase that reflects undistributed net investment income or recognized capital gain, or unrealized appreciation in the value of the assets of the Fund. Distributions of these amounts are taxable to you in the manner described above, although the distribution economically constitutes a return of capital to you.

 

Ordinarily, you are required to take distributions by the Fund into account in the year in which they are made. A distribution declared in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in those months, however, is deemed to be paid by the Fund and received by you on December 31 of that calendar year if the distribution is actually paid in January of the following year.

 

The Fund will send you information annually as to the Federal income tax consequences of distributions made (or deemed made) during the year.

 

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The Fund will be treated as a “publicly offered regulated investment company” (within the meaning of Section 67 of the Code) if either (i) shares of the Fund are held by at least 500 persons at all times during a taxable year, (ii) shares of the Fund are treated as regularly traded on an established securities market or (iii) shares of the Fund are continuously offered pursuant to a public offering (within the meaning of section 4 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended). If the Fund is not treated as a publicly offered regulated investment company for any calendar year, for purposes of computing the taxable income of U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts or estates, (i) the Fund’s earnings will be computed without taking into account such U.S. shareholders’ allocable shares of the management fees paid to the Fund’s investment adviser and certain of the Fund’s other expenses, (ii) each such U.S. shareholder will be treated as having received or accrued a dividend from the Fund in the amount of such U.S. shareholder’s allocable share of these fees and expenses for the calendar year, (iii) each such U.S. shareholder will be treated as having paid or incurred such U.S. shareholder’s allocable share of these fees and expenses for the calendar year, and (iv) each such U.S. shareholder’s allocable share of these fees and expenses will be treated as miscellaneous itemized deductions by such U.S. shareholder. For taxable years beginning before 2026, miscellaneous itemized deductions generally are not deductible by a U.S. stockholder that is an individual, trust or estate. For taxable years beginning in 2026 or later, miscellaneous itemized deductions generally are deductible by a U.S. stockholder that is an individual, trust or estate only to the extent that the aggregate of such U.S. stockholder’s miscellaneous itemized deductions exceeds 2% of such U.S. stockholder’s adjusted gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, are not deductible for purposes of the alternative minimum tax and are subject to the overall limitation on itemized deductions under Section 68 of the Code.

 

Certain Tax Rules Applicable to Fund Transactions

 

For Federal income tax purposes, when put and call options purchased by the Fund expire unexercised, the premiums paid by the Fund give rise to short- or long-term capital losses at the time of expiration (depending on the length of the respective exercise periods for the options). When put and call options written by the Fund expire unexercised, the premiums received by the Fund give rise to short-term capital gains at the time of expiration. When the Fund exercises a call, the purchase price of the underlying security is increased by the amount of the premium paid by the Fund. When the Fund exercises a put, the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security are decreased by the premium paid. When a put or call written by the Fund is exercised, the purchase price (selling price in the case of a call) of the underlying security is decreased (increased in the case of a call) for tax purposes by the premium received.

 

Some of the debt securities that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt securities that are issued with original issue discount (“OID”). Generally, the amount of the OID is treated as interest income and is included in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. Additionally, some of the debt securities that may be acquired by a Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income. The Fund generally will be required to distribute dividends to shareholders representing discount on debt securities that is currently includable in income, even though cash representing such income may not have been received by the Fund. Cash to pay such dividends may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by the Fund.

 

The Fund may invest a portion of its net assets in below investment grade instruments. Investments in these types of instruments may present special tax issues for the Fund. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease accruing interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless instruments, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Fund to the extent necessary to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income that it does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

 

Certain listed options, regulated futures contracts and forward currency contracts are considered “Section 1256 contracts” for Federal income tax purposes. Section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each tax year are “marked to market” and treated for Federal income tax purposes as though sold for fair market value on the last business day of the tax year. Gains or losses realized by the Fund on Section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses. The Fund can elect to exempt its Section 1256 contracts that are part of a “mixed straddle” (as described below) from the application of Section 1256 of the Code.

 

Any option, futures contract or other position entered into or held by the Fund in conjunction with any other position held by the Fund may constitute a “straddle” for Federal income tax purposes. A straddle of which at least one, but not all, the positions are Section 1256 contracts, may constitute a “mixed straddle.” In general, straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the character and timing of the Fund’s gains and losses with respect to straddle positions by requiring, among other things, that: (1) the loss realized on disposition of one position of a straddle may not be recognized to the extent that the Fund has unrealized gains with respect to the other position in such straddle; (2) the Fund’s holding period in straddle positions being suspended while the straddle exists (possibly resulting in a gain being treated as short-term capital gain rather than long-term capital gain); (3) the losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions which are part of a mixed straddle and which are non-Section 1256 contracts being treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital loss; (4) losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions which would otherwise constitute short-term capital losses be treated as long-term capital losses; and (5) the deduction of interest and carrying charges attributable to certain straddle positions may be deferred. Various elections are available to the Fund, which may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules, particularly with respect to mixed straddles. In general, the straddle rules described above do not apply to any straddles held by the Fund if all of the offsetting positions consist of Section 1256 contracts.

 

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Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time the Fund accrues interest or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities are treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, gains or losses from the disposition of foreign currencies, from the disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, or from the disposition of a forward contract, futures contract or similar financial instrument denominated in a foreign currency which are attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the asset and the date of disposition also are treated as ordinary income or loss. These gains or losses, referred to under the Code as “Section 988” gains or losses, increase or decrease the amount of the Fund’s investment company taxable income available to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount of the Fund’s net capital gain.

 

The Fund may invest in shares of foreign corporations (including equity interests in certain CLOs) which may be treated as passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”) under the Code. In general, a foreign corporation is treated as a PFIC if at least one-half of its assets constitute investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. If the Fund receives a so-called “excess distribution” with respect to PFIC stock, the Fund itself may be subject to a tax on a portion of the excess distribution, whether or not the corresponding income is distributed by the Fund to shareholders. In general, under the PFIC rules, an excess distribution is treated as having been realized ratably over the period during which the Fund held the PFIC shares. The Fund itself will be subject to tax on the portion, if any, of an excess distribution that is so allocated to prior Fund tax years and an interest factor will be added to the tax, as if the tax had been payable in such prior tax years. Certain distributions from a PFIC as well as gain from the sale of PFIC shares are treated as excess distributions. Excess distributions are characterized as ordinary income even though, absent application of the PFIC rules, certain excess distributions might have been characterized as capital gain.

 

The Fund may be eligible to elect alternative tax treatment with respect to PFIC shares. Under an election that currently is available in some circumstances, the Fund generally would be required to include in its gross income its share of the earnings of a PFIC on a current basis, regardless of whether distributions are received from the PFIC in a given tax year. If this election were made, the special rules, discussed above, relating to the taxation of excess distributions, would not apply.

 

Alternatively, the Fund may elect to mark-to-market its PFIC shares at the end of each taxable year, with the result that unrealized gains would be treated as though they were realized and reported as ordinary income. Any mark-to-market losses would be deductible as ordinary losses to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains included in income in prior tax years.

 

Because the application of the PFIC rules may affect, among other things, the character of gains, the amount of gain or loss and the timing of the recognition of income with respect to PFIC shares, as well as subject the Fund itself to tax on certain income from PFIC shares, the amount that must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to a fund that did not invest in PFIC shares.  Furthermore, the IRS recently issued final regulations that generally treat the Fund’s income inclusion with respect to a PFIC with respect to which the Fund has made a qualified electing fund, or “QEF”, election, as qualifying income for purposes of determining the Fund’s ability to be subject to tax as a RIC if (A) there is a current distribution out of the earnings and profits of the PFIC that are attributable to such income inclusion or (B) such inclusion is derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, or currencies.

 

If the Fund holds more than 10% of the interests treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a foreign corporation that is treated as a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) (including equity tranche investments and certain debt tranche investments in a CLO treated as CFC), the Fund may be treated as receiving a deemed distribution (taxable as ordinary income) each tax year from such foreign corporation in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of the corporation’s income for the tax year (including both ordinary earnings and capital gains), whether or not the corporation makes an actual distribution during such year. In general, a foreign corporation will be classified as a CFC if more than 50% of the shares of the corporation, measured by reference to combined voting power or value, is owned (directly, indirectly or by attribution) by U.S. Shareholders. A “U.S. Shareholder,” for this purpose, is any U.S. person that possesses (actually or constructively) 10% or more of the combined value or voting power of all classes of shares of a corporation. If the Fund is treated as receiving a deemed distribution from a CFC, the Fund will be required to include such distribution in the Fund’s investment company taxable income regardless of whether the Fund receives any actual distributions from such CFC, and the Fund must distribute such income to satisfy the distribution requirements applicable to RICs. The IRS recently issued final regulations that generally treat the Fund’s income inclusion with respect to a CFC as qualifying income for purposes of determining the Fund’s ability to be subject to tax as a RIC either if (A) there is a distribution out of the earnings and profits of the CFC that are attributable to such income inclusion or (B) such inclusion is derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, or currencies.

 

The Funds might invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have not yet been issued (but may apply with retroactive effect) a portion of the Fund’s income from a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a REMIC or a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to Federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as the Fund, will generally be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC or TMP residual interest directly.

 

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In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions) and (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income. In addition, because the Code provides that excess inclusion income is ineligible for treaty benefits, a regulated investment company must withhold tax on excess inclusions attributable to its foreign shareholders at a 30% rate of withholding, regardless of any treaty benefits for which a shareholder is otherwise eligible.

 

 Any investment in residual interests of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax problems, especially if the Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders. Under current law, the Fund serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder will recognize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Section 514(b) of the Code. Furthermore, a tax-exempt shareholder may recognize UBTI if a Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” derived from direct or indirect investments in REMIC residual interests or TMPs if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).

 

In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in regulated investment companies that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, a CRT, as defined in Section 664 of the Code, that realizes UBTI for a tax year is subject to an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in a Fund that recognizes “excess inclusion income.” Rather, if at any time during any tax year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the U.S., a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in the Fund that recognizes “excess inclusion income,” then the Fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its “excess inclusion income” for the tax year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the tax year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. The Fund has not yet determined whether such an election will be made. CRTs are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.

 

Federal Excise Tax

 

A 4% nondeductible excise tax is imposed on a regulated investment company that fails to distribute in each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of: (1) 98% of its ordinary taxable income (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) for the calendar year; (2) 98.2% of its capital gain net income (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ended on October 31 of the calendar year; and (3) all ordinary taxable income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed or taxed during such years and on which the regulated investment company did not incur any Federal income tax. The balance of the Fund’s income must be distributed during the next calendar year. The Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it is subject to income tax for any tax year ending in the calendar year.

 

For purposes of calculating the excise tax, the Fund is generally required to: (1) reduce its capital gain net income (but not below its net capital gain) by the amount of any net ordinary loss for the calendar year; and (2) exclude foreign currency gains and losses (and certain other ordinary gains and losses) incurred after October 31 of any tax year in determining the amount of ordinary taxable income for the current calendar year. Each Fund will include such gains and losses incurred after October 31 in determining ordinary taxable income for the succeeding calendar year.

 

The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions of its ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid liability for the excise tax. Investors should note, however, that the Fund might in certain circumstances be required to liquidate portfolio investments to make sufficient distributions to avoid the imposition of any excise tax liability.

 

Sale, Exchange or Repurchase of Shares

 

In general, you will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange or repurchase of Fund shares in an amount equal to the difference between the proceeds of the sale, exchange or repurchase and your adjusted tax basis in the shares. All or a portion of any loss so recognized may be disallowed if you purchase (for example, by reinvesting dividends) shares of the same Fund within 30 days before or after the sale, exchange or repurchase (a “wash sale”). If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares purchased. In general, any gain or loss arising from the sale, exchange or repurchase of Fund shares will be considered capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for longer than one year. Any capital loss arising from the sale, exchange or repurchase of shares held for six months or less, however, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of distributions of net capital gain received on such shares. In determining the holding period of such shares for this purpose, any period during which your risk of loss is offset by means of options, short sales or similar transactions is not counted. Capital losses in any tax year are deductible only to the extent of capital gains plus, in the case of a non-corporate taxpayer, $3,000 of ordinary income.

 

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The repurchase or transfer of shares may result in a taxable gain or loss to a tendering shareholder. Different tax consequences may apply for tendering and non-tendering shareholder in connection with a repurchase offer. For example, if a shareholder does not tender all of his or her shares, such repurchase may not be treated as a sale or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and may result in deemed distributions to non-tendering shareholder. On the other hand, shareholder holding shares as capital assets who tender all of their shares (including shares deemed owned by shareholders under constructive ownership rules) will be treated as having sold their shares and generally will recognize capital gain or loss. The amount of the gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the amount received for the shares and the shareholder adjusted tax basis in the relevant shares. Such gain or loss generally will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder has held such shares as capital assets for more than one year. Otherwise, the gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) is required to report to the IRS and furnish to shareholders the cost basis information for sale transactions of shares. Shareholders may elect to have one of several cost basis methods applied to their account when calculating the cost basis of shares sold, including average cost, FIFO (“first-in, first-out”) or some other specific identification method. Unless you instruct otherwise, the Fund will use average cost as its default cost basis method.   The cost basis method a shareholder elects may not be changed with respect to a repurchase of shares after the settlement date of the repurchase. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best cost basis method for their tax situation. Shareholders that hold their shares through a financial intermediary should contact such financial intermediary with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for their accounts.

 

Backup Withholding

 

The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury at a rate under current law of 24% of taxable distributions and the proceeds of repurchases of shares paid to you if you: (1) have failed to provide your correct taxpayer identification number; (2) are otherwise subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to report the receipt of interest or dividend income properly; or (3) have failed to certify to the Fund that you are not subject to backup withholding or that you are a C corporation or other “exempt recipient.” Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather any amounts so withheld may be credited against your Federal income tax liability or refunded if proper documentation is provided.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

The tax rules of the various states of the U.S. and their local jurisdictions with respect to an investment in the Fund can differ from the Federal income taxation rules described above. These state and local rules are not discussed herein. You are urged to consult your tax advisor as to the consequences of state and local tax rules with respect to an investment in the Fund.

 

Foreign Income Tax

 

Investment income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries as well as gains or the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of foreign securities may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries that may entitle the Fund to a reduced rate of such taxes or exemption from taxes on such income. It is impossible to know the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Fund’s assets to be invested within various countries cannot be determined. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its tax year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible and intends to file an election with the IRS to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign taxes paid by the Fund subject to certain exceptions. However, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to do so. Pursuant to this election, you will be required to: (1) include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund; (2) treat your pro rata share of such foreign taxes as having been paid by you and (3) either deduct such pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing your taxable income or treat such foreign taxes as a credit against Federal income taxes. You may be subject to rules which limit or reduce your ability to fully deduct, or claim a credit for, your pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

 

Foreign Shareholders

 

The foregoing discussion relates only to U.S. Federal income tax law as applicable to U.S. persons ( i.e. , U.S. citizens and residents and U.S. domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates). Shareholders who are not U.S. persons (“foreign shareholders”) should consult their tax advisers regarding U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund including the likelihood that taxable distributions to them (including any deemed distributions with respect to a repurchase offer) would be subject to withholding of U.S. tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate for eligible investors). An investment in the Fund may also be included in determining a foreign shareholder’s U.S. estate tax liability.

 

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Properly designated dividends received by a foreign shareholder from a regulated investment company are generally exempt from U.S. Federal withholding tax when they (i) were paid in respect of the regulated investment company’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, the regulated investment company’s U.S. source interest income, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income), or (ii) are paid in connection with the regulated investment company’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of the regulated investment company’s net short-term capital gain over the regulated investment company’s long-term capital loss for such taxable year). There can be no assurance that the Fund may designate all, some or none of the Fund’s potentially eligible dividends as derived from such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains, and a portion of the Fund’s distributions ( e.g. , interest from non-U.S. sources or any foreign currency gains) would be ineligible for this potential exemption from withholding. Furthermore, in the case of Fund shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may have withheld U.S. Federal income tax, even if the Fund designated all or a portion of such potentially eligible dividends as having been derived from qualified net interest or income or from qualified short-term capital gains.

 

Withholding of U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) is required on payments of taxable dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. The information required to be reported includes the identity and taxpayer identification number of each account holder and transaction activity within the holder’s account. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to the Fund to enable the Fund to determine whether withholding is required.

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

A “principal shareholder” is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of the Fund. To the best knowledge of the Fund, the names and addresses of the record and beneficial holders of 5% or more of the outstanding Class A, Class U and Institutional Class shares of the Fund’s voting securities and the percentage of the outstanding Class A, Class U and Institutional Class shares held by such holders as of [ · ], 2019, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated below, the Fund has no knowledge as to whether all or any portion of the shares owned of record are also owned beneficially.

 

Name and Address	% Ownership	Type of Ownership
[  ]	[  ]%	Record
[  ]	[  ]%	Record

A “control person” is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. As of [ · ], 2019, [  ] owned approximately [  ]% of the voting securities of the Fund.   For so long as [  ] has a greater than 25% interest in the Fund, it may be deemed to be a “control person” of the Fund for purposes of the 1940 Act.

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OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Administrator and Transfer Agent

 

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services”), 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, acts as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent to the Fund pursuant to respective agreements. Fund Services provides certain administrative 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 Fund of all documents required to be filed for compliance by 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, Fund Services 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 Fund shares.

 

Pursuant to the Fund’s administration agreements with Fund Services, Fund Services receives fees from the Fund for services performed as administrator, transfer agent and fund accountant. Fund Services receives a fee based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to an annual minimum amount.

 

The Fund paid $149,761 in fees to Fund Services during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019.

 

Custodian

 

U.S. Bank National Association is the Custodian for the Fund and safeguards and controls the Fund’s cash and securities, determines income and collects interest on Fund investments. The Custodian’s address is 1555 North Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212. The Custodian does not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund. Fund Services, U.S. Bank National Association, 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

 

[  ] (the “Auditor”), has been selected as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The Auditor will perform an annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements and will provide financial, tax and accounting services as requested.

 

Legal Counsel

 

Dechert LLP, 1900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, serves as legal counsel to the Fund.

 

Distributor

 

Quasar Distributors, LLC, (the “Distributor” or “Quasar”), 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, 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 administration 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 the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

The Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Quasar has an initial term of two years and subsequently 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 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 on a 60-day written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).

 

Pursuant to the Fund’s agreement with the Distributor, the Distributor receives fees from the Fund for services performed as the distributor of Shares.

 

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DISTRIBUTION PLAN

 

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to its Class U shares. The Plan was approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund, and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any other Rule 12b‑1 agreement.

 

The Plan provides that the Fund will pay the Distributor and/or any registered securities dealer, financial institution or any other person (the “Recipient”) a distribution fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class U shares of the Fund in connection with the promotion and distribution of such class’ shares or the provision of personal services to such class’ shareholders, including, but not necessarily limited to, advertising, compensation to underwriters, dealers and selling personnel, the printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current Fund shareholders, the printing and mailing of sales literature and servicing such class’ shareholder accounts (“12b‑1 Expenses”). The Class U distribution fee may include up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class U shares for shareholder services. The Fund or the Adviser may pay all or a portion of these fees to any Recipient who renders assistance in distributing or promoting the sale of such class’ shares, or who provides certain shareholder services, pursuant to a written agreement.

 

The Plan is a compensation plan, which means that compensation is provided regardless of 12b-1 Expenses actually incurred. It is anticipated that the Plan will benefit the Fund’s shareholders because an effective sales program typically is necessary for the Fund to reach and maintain a sufficient size to achieve efficiently their investment objectives and to realize economies of scale.

 

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019, no 12b-1 Expenses were incurred by the Fund.

OTHER MATTERS

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, which are designed to eliminate conflicts of interest between the Fund and personnel of the Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor. The codes permit such personnel to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, subject to certain limitations.

 

Registration Statement

 

This SAI and the Prospectus do not contain all the information included in the Fund’s registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered hereby. The registration statement, including the exhibits filed therewith, are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C.

 

Statements contained herein and in the Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, are qualified by, reference to the copy of such contract or other documents filed as exhibits to the registration statement.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Fund’s financial statements are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019 (File No. 811-23289), as filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR on April 4, 2019 (Accession No. 0001193125-19-097446).