Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 18, 2019
1933 Act Registration File No. 333-181202
1940 Act Registration File No. 811-22708
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Pre-Effective Amendment No.
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Post-Effective Amendment No.
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and/or
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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Amendment No.
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(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
901 South Bond Street, Suite 400
Baltimore, Maryland 21231
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (410) 537-5400
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Paul Chew, President and Principal Executive Officer
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Brown Advisory Funds
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901 South Bond Street, Suite 400
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Baltimore, Maryland 21231
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(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
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Patrick W.D. Turley, Esq.
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Dechert LLP
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1900 K Street, NW
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Washington, DC 20006
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
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immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
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60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
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The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted
Subject to Completion—Dated September 18, 2019
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Prospectus
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[ ], 2019
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BROWN ADVISORY TAX-EXEMPT SUSTAINABLE BOND FUND
Institutional Shares ([ ])
Investor Shares ([ ])
Advisor Shares ([ ])
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The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved the Fund’s shares or determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund's annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no
longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website (www.brownadvisory.com/mf), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and
provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and
other communications from the Fund electronically anytime by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or a bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling (800) 540-6807 or by enrolling at www.brownadvisory.com/mf.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to
receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with the Fund, you can call (800) 540-6807 to let the Fund know you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports
in paper will apply to all Funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all Funds held with the fund complex if you invest directly with the Fund.
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Summary Section
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This important section summarizes
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the Fund’s objectives, strategies, fees,
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fees, risks, past performance, portfolio turnover, portfolio managers,
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account and other information.
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Details About the Fund’s Investment Strategies
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8
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This section provides details about the
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Fund’s investment strategies.
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Principal Investment Risks
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This section provides details about the Fund’s principal investment risks.
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Management
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Review this section for information about Brown Advisory LLC (the “Adviser”) and the people who manage the Fund.
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18
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Choosing Your Share Class
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This section explains the differences between each class of shares and the applicable fees and sales charges.
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Your Account
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This section explains how shares are valued and how you can purchase and sell Fund shares.
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26
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31
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Distributions and Taxes
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This section provides details about
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dividends, distributions and taxes.
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Financial Highlights
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42
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Review this section for details on selected financial statements of the Fund.
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Institutional Shares ([ ])
Investor Shares ([ ])
Advisor Shares ([ ])
Investment Objective
The Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide a high level of current income exempt from Federal income tax by investing primarily in intermediate-term
investment grade municipal bonds while giving special consideration to certain environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) criteria.
Fees and Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
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(1)
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“Other Expenses” are estimated for the current fiscal year.
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(2)
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of
other mutual funds, including money market funds and exchange traded funds, and they are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
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(3)
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Brown Advisory LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain expenses
(exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred sales loads, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization and extraordinary expenses) in
order to limit the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Institutional Shares, Investor Shares and Advisor Shares to 0.55%, 0.60% and 0.85%, respectively, of the Fund’s average daily
net assets through October 31, 2021. The Fund may have Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement higher than these expense caps as a result of any acquired fund fees and expenses or other
expenses that are excluded from the calculation. The contractual waivers and expense reimbursements may be changed or eliminated at any time by the Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Fund, upon 60 days written notice to the Adviser.
The contractual waivers and expense reimbursements may not be terminated by the Adviser without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser may recoup any waived amount from the Fund pursuant to this agreement if such
reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed existing expense limitations or the limitations in place at the time the reduction was originally made and the reimbursement is made within three years after the date on which the
Adviser incurred the expense.
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
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Example
The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. This example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods
indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of each period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% annual return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (taking into account the contractual
expense limitation being in effect for the period through October 31, 2021). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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1 Year
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3 Years
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Institutional Shares
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$57
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$193
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Investor Shares
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$62
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$209
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Advisor Shares
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$88
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$288
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Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and
may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. No portfolio turnover rate is provided for the
Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of the value of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed income securities the interest of which is
exempt from Federal income taxes, that do not subject shareholders to the federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”), and that have either an obligor or a use of proceeds that satisfies the Fund’s ESG criteria. This 80% policy cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may fully subject shareholders to Federal income tax, including the AMT. In addition, all capital gains are subject to Federal and state taxes. The
Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or small number of issuers. The Fund may also invest more than 25% of its total assets in municipal bonds that are
related in such a way that an economic, business or political development or change affecting one such security could also affect the other securities (for example, securities whose issuers are located in the same state). Certain of the fixed
income securities that the Fund may invest in are often referred to as “Green Bonds”, “Social Bonds”, or “Sustainability Bonds”.
Under normal conditions, Brown Advisory LLC (the “Adviser”) seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing in municipal securities issued by states, U.S. territories, and
possessions, U.S. Government securities, general obligation securities and revenue securities, including private activity bonds. Municipal securities include state and local general obligation bonds, essential service revenue issues
(principally, water and sewer, transportation, public power, combined utilities and public universities), pre-refunded bonds and municipal leases. Municipal leases are securities that permit government issuers to acquire property and equipment
without the security being subject to constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of long-term fixed income securities. To enhance yield, the Fund may also invest in selective enterprise revenue and/or private activity issues.
The repayment of principal and interest on some of the municipal securities in which the Fund may invest may be guaranteed or insured by a monoline insurance company or other financial institution. The Fund also may invest in other investment
companies, principally money market funds.
The Adviser determines which securities to purchase by first evaluating whether a security falls within the credit guidelines set for the Fund by reviewing the ratings given by a Nationally
Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (an “NRSRO”). Under the credit guidelines, the Fund will hold at least 80% of its total assets in investment grade municipal debt securities, as rated by an NRSRO when purchased, or if unrated,
determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. The credit guidelines provide that the Fund may also hold up to 20% of its total assets in securities rated below investment grade by an NRSRO or, if not rated, determined to be of
equivalent quality by the Adviser. Securities that are rated below investment grade by NRSROs are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Such lower rated securities and other municipal securities may become illiquid due to events relating to
the issuer of the securities, market events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. If NRSROs assign different ratings to the same security, the Fund will use the higher rating for purposes of determining the security’s credit quality.
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
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The Adviser then determines the appropriate maturity date and coupon choice after analyzing the current and targeted portfolio structure, and whether or not the issue is fairly priced. Generally,
the average weighted effective maturity of the Fund’s portfolio securities will be between 4 and 10 years.
In determining the municipal securities in which the Fund may invest, the Adviser will use a process for researching securities for purchase that is based on intensive credit research and involves
extensive due diligence on each issuer, state, municipality and sector relating to a municipal security.
The Fund may invest in derivatives instruments, such as options, futures contracts, including interest rate futures, and options on futures. These investments will typically be made for investment
purposes consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and may also be used to mitigate or hedge risks within the portfolio or for the temporary investment of cash balances. These derivative instruments will be counted toward the Fund’s 80%
policy to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to the securities included within that policy. The Fund intends to use the mark-to-market value of such derivatives for purposes of complying with the Fund’s 80% investment policy.
As part of the fundamental research approach, the Adviser has a process to integrate, identify and consider the Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) risks and opportunities throughout the
investment lifecycle using a proprietary ESG assessment. The Fund has access to this research and considers material ESG issues. The Fund’s ESG evaluation is conducted on an obligor and industry sector basis and includes the use of key
performance indicators that vary in materiality by sector. The Fund will invest primarily in securities of obligors with desirable ESG profiles or where the use of proceeds exhibit one or more positive environmental and social impacts. The
Fund’s environmental evaluation considers matters including clean and renewable energy, climate change and water conservation, efficient mass transit and innovative efficiency solutions. The Fund’s social evaluation factors focus on matters
including economic impact, high quality safety-net health care and overall community health needs, and the reduction of achievement gaps between school districts. The Fund’s governance evaluation considers matters including stewardship of debt
and capital, board governance and transparency. The Fund particularly seeks to invest in fixed-income instruments that provide direct exposure to obligors or individual projects that demonstrate positive social and environmental impact. The ESG
evaluation process will consider all risks and opportunities holistically, meaning that a security will not necessarily be excluded from investment if any particular consideration or subset of considerations is a concern if the overall
consideration results in a favorable evaluation.
The Adviser may sell a security or reduce its position if:
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Revised economic forecasts or interest rate outlook requires a repositioning of the portfolio;
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The security subsequently fails to meet the investment criteria;
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A more attractive security is found;
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The Adviser believes that the security has reached its appreciated potential; or
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The investment no longer meets the Fund’s ESG criteria.
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In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the Fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its investment objective and principal
investment strategy and invest without limit in cash and prime quality cash equivalents such as prime commercial paper and other money market instruments. A defensive position, taken at the wrong time, may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s
performance. The Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective during the employment of a temporary defensive measure.
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
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Principal Investment Risks
As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate finding particular risks and comparing them with other funds. Each risk summarized below is considered a
“principal risk” of investing in the Fund, regardless of the order in which it appears. The following are the principal risks that could affect the value of your investment:
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Credit Risk. The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio
securities. Individual issues of municipal obligations may be subject to the credit risk of the municipality. Therefore, the issuer may experience unanticipated financial problems and may be unable to meet its payment
obligations. Municipal obligations held by the Fund may be adversely affected by political and economic conditions and developments (for example, legislation reducing federal and/or state aid to local governments). Generally,
investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines. Credit ratings are essentially opinions of the credit quality of an issuer and may prove to be inaccurate.
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Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk. An increase in interest rates typically causes a fall in the value of the debt securities in which the Fund
may invest. The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio of debt securities. Interest rates in the United States are at, or near, historic lows, which may
increase the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with rising interest rates. Moreover, rising interest rates or lack of market participants may lead to decreased liquidity in the bond and loan markets, making it more difficult for the
Fund to sell its holdings at a time when the Fund’s manager might wish to sell. Lower rated securities (“junk bonds”) are generally subject to greater risk of loss of your money than higher rated securities. Issuers may (increase)
decrease prepayments of principal when interest rates (fall) increase, affecting the maturity of the debt security and causing the value of the security to decline.
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Derivatives Risk. The risk that an investment in derivatives will not perform as anticipated, cannot be closed out at a favorable time or price,
or will increase the Fund’s volatility; that derivatives may create investment leverage; that, when a derivative is used as a substitute or alternative to a direct cash investment, the transaction may not provide a return that
corresponds precisely with that of the cash investment; that a derivative will not perform in the manner anticipated by the Adviser; or that, when used for hedging purposes, derivatives will not provide the anticipated protection,
causing the Fund to lose money on both the derivatives transaction and the exposure the Fund sought to hedge. Additionally, any derivatives held by the Fund will have counterparty associated risks, which are the risks that the other
party to the derivative contract will fail to make required payments or otherwise to comply with the terms of the contract. In the event the counterparty to such a derivative instrument becomes insolvent, the Fund potentially could
lose all or a large portion of its investment in the derivative instrument.
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Environmental, Social and Governance Policy Risk. The risk that because the Fund’s ESG criteria exclude
securities of certain issuers for nonfinancial reasons, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use these criteria.
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Interest Rate Risk. An increase in interest rates typically causes a fall in the value of the fixed income securities in which the Fund may
invest. Interest rates currently are at, or near, historic lows, and may increase, with potentially sudden and unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund’s investments.
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Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk. Shareholders of the Fund will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the other
investment companies (principally, money market funds) in which the Fund invests. In addition, shareholders will be exposed to the investment risks associated with investments in the other investment companies.
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
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Liquidity Risk. Certain securities held by the Fund may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Adviser would
like. As a result, the Fund may have to hold these securities longer than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that the Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains
if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price.
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Management Risk. The Fund may not meet its investment objective based on the Adviser’s success or failure to implement investment strategies for
the Fund.
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Maturity Risk. Generally, a bond with a longer maturity will entail greater interest rate risk but have a higher yield. Conversely, a bond with
a shorter maturity will entail less interest rate risk but have a lower yield.
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Municipal Securities Risk. Changes in economic, business or political conditions relating to a particular state, or states, or type of projects
may have a disproportionate impact on the Fund. Municipalities continue to experience difficulties in the current economic and political environment. National governmental actions, such as the elimination of tax-exempt status, also
could affect performance. In addition, a municipality or municipal project that relies directly or indirectly on national governmental funding mechanisms may be negatively affected by the national government’s current budgetary
constraints. Municipal obligations that the Fund may acquire include municipal lease obligations, which are issued by a state or local government or authority to acquire land and a wide variety of equipment and facilities. If the
funds are not appropriated for the following year’s lease payments, then the lease may terminate, with the possibility of default on the lease obligation and significant loss to the Fund. The repayment of principal and interest on
some of the municipal securities in which the Fund may invest may be guaranteed or insured by a monoline insurance company or other financial institution. If a company insuring municipal securities in which the Fund invests
experiences financial difficulties, the credit rating and price of the security may deteriorate. The credit and quality of private activity bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities and therefore
such bonds are subject to the risks of the corporate user. The Fund may invest more heavily in bonds from certain cities, states or regions than others, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to losses resulting from economic,
political, or regulatory occurrences impacting these particular cities, states or regions.
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New Fund Risk. The Fund is new with no operating history and there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically
viable size.
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Non-Diversification Risk. Investment by the Fund in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and
potential monetary losses than if its assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of issuers.
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Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade, i.e., Ba or BB and lower
(“junk bonds”), are subject to greater risks of loss of your money than higher rated securities. Compared with issuers of investment grade fixed-income securities, junk bonds are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and to
be materially affected by these difficulties.
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Private Placement Risk. The Fund may invest in privately issued securities of domestic common and preferred stock, convertible debt securities,
ADRs and REITs, including those which may be resold only in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not publicly traded. Delay or
difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to the Fund.
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Rating Agencies Risk. Ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators that reflect only the view of the
originating rating agencies from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained. There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be
revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant. A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on the liquidity or
market price of the securities in which the Fund invests. The ratings of securitized assets may not adequately reflect the credit risk of those assets due to their structure.
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
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Tax Risk. Municipal securities may decrease in value during times when tax rates are falling. The Fund’s investments are affected by changes in
federal income tax rates applicable to, or the continuing federal tax-exempt status of, interest income on municipal obligations. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the
liquidity, marketability and supply and demand for municipal obligations, which would in turn affect the Fund’s ability to acquire and dispose of municipal obligations at desirable yield and price levels.
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Valuation Risk. The prices provided by the Fund’s pricing services or independent dealers or the fair value determinations made by the valuation
committee of the Adviser may be different from the prices used by other mutual funds or from the prices at which securities are actually bought and sold. The prices of certain securities provided by pricing services may be subject to
frequent and significant change, and will vary depending on the information that is available.
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Performance Information
Performance information for the Fund is not included because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this prospectus. Performance information will be available once the Fund has at least one
calendar year of performance. Updated performance information is available online at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com/mf or by calling 800-540-6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064.
Management
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Investment Advisor
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Portfolio Managers
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Brown Advisory LLC
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Stephen M. Shutz, CFA, and Amy Hauter, CFA, have served as portfolio managers of the Fund since its inception in 2019.
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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any business day by written request via mail (Brown Advisory Funds, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701),
by wire transfer, by telephone at 800-540-6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064, or through the Internet at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com/mf/client-login. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should
contact the broker-dealer directly. The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below.
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Type of Account
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Minimum Initial Investment
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Minimum Additional Investment
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Institutional Shares
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– Standard Accounts
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$1,000,000
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$100
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Investor Shares
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– Standard Accounts
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$100
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$100
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– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
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$100
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N/A
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– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
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$100
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$100
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Advisor Shares
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– Standard Accounts
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$100
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$100
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– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
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$100
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N/A
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– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
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$100
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$100
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– Qualified Retirement Plans
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N/A
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N/A
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The minimum investment requirements are waived for retirement plans that are qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”) and tax-exempt under Section
501(a) of the IRC, and plans operating consistent with Section 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, 457 or 223(d) of the IRC.
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Summary Section – Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
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Tax Information
It is anticipated that the Fund’s distributions will generally be exempt from Federal income taxes, including Federal alternative minimum tax. However, a portion of the Fund’s distributions may
not qualify as exempt. Interest, dividends and all capital gains may be subject to Federal, state and Federal alternative minimum tax, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA, and then you
may be taxed later upon withdrawal of your investment from these tax-deferred accounts.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a fund-supermarket), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund
shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your
financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
Investment Objective
The Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund seeks to provide a high level of current income exempt from Federal income tax by investing primarily in intermediate-term investment grade
municipal bonds while giving special consideration to certain ESG criteria.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of the value of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed income securities the interest of which is
exempt from Federal income taxes, that do not subject shareholders to the federal AMT, and that have either an obligor or a use of proceeds that satisfies the Fund’s ESG criteria. This 80% policy cannot be changed without shareholder approval.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may fully subject shareholders to Federal income tax, including the AMT. In addition, all capital gains are subject to Federal and state taxes in addition to AMT. The Fund is
non-diversified, which means that the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or small number of issuers. The Fund may also invest more than 25% of its total assets in municipal bonds that are
related in such a way that an economic, business or political development or change affecting one such security could also affect the other securities (for example, securities whose issuers are located in the same state). Certain of the fixed
income securities that the Fund may invest in are often referred to as “Green Bonds”, “Social Bonds”, and “Sustainability Bonds”.
Under normal conditions, the Adviser seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing in municipal securities issued by states, U.S. territories, and possessions, U.S. Government
securities, general obligation securities and revenue securities, including private activity bonds. Municipal securities include state and local general obligation bonds, essential service revenue issues (principally, water and sewer,
transportation, public power, combined utilities and public universities), pre-refunded bonds and municipal leases. Municipal leases are securities that permit government issuers to acquire property and equipment without the security being
subject to constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of long-term fixed income securities. To enhance yield, the Fund may also invest in selective enterprise revenue and/or private activity issues. The repayment of principal
and interest on some of the municipal securities in which the Fund may invest may be guaranteed or insured by a monoline insurance company or other financial institution. The Fund also may invest in other investment companies, principally
money market funds.
The Adviser determines which securities to purchase by first evaluating whether a security falls within the credit guidelines set for the Fund by reviewing the ratings given by a Nationally
Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”). Under the credit guidelines, the Fund will hold at least 80% of its total assets in investment grade municipal debt securities, as rated by independent rating agencies when purchased, or if
unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. The credit guidelines provide that the Fund may also hold up to 20% of its total assets in securities rated below investment grade by an independent rating agency or, if not rated,
determined to be of equivalent quality by the Adviser. Securities that are rated below investment grade by independent rating agencies are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Such lower rated securities and other municipal securities may
become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the securities, market events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. If independent rating agencies assign different ratings to the same security, the Fund will use the higher
rating for purposes of determining the security’s credit quality.
The Adviser then determines the appropriate maturity date and coupon choice after analyzing the current and targeted portfolio structure, and whether or not the issue is fairly priced. Generally,
the average weighted effective maturity of the Fund’s portfolio securities will be between 4 and 10 years.
In determining the municipal securities in which the Fund may invest, the Adviser will use a process for researching securities for purchase that is based on extensive credit research and involves
due diligence on each issuer, state, municipality and sector relating to a municipal security. The Fund may invest in derivatives instruments, such as options, futures contracts, including interest rate futures, and options on futures. These
investments will typically be made for investment purposes consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and may also be used to mitigate or hedge risks within the portfolio or for the temporary investment of cash balances. These derivative
instruments will be counted toward the Fund’s 80% policy to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to the securities included within that policy. The Fund intends to use the mark-to-market value of such derivatives for purposes
of complying with the Fund’s 80% investment policy.
As part of the fundamental research approach, the Adviser has a process to integrate, identify and consider the ESG risks and opportunities throughout the investment lifecycle using a proprietary
ESG assessment. The Fund’s ESG evaluation is conducted on an obligor and industry sector basis and includes the use of key performance indicators that vary in materiality by sector. The Fund will invest primarily in securities of obligors with
desirable ESG profiles or where the use of proceeds exhibit one or more positive environmental and social impacts. The Fund’s environmental evaluation considers matters including clean and renewable energy, climate change and water
conservation, efficient mass transit and innovative efficiency solutions. The Fund’s social evaluation factors focus on matters including economic impact, high quality safety-net health care and overall community health needs, and the reduction
of achievement gaps between school districts. The Fund’s governance evaluation considers matters including stewardship of debt and capital, board governance and transparency. The Fund particularly seeks to invest in fixed-income instruments
that provide direct exposure to obligors or individual projects that demonstrate positive social and environmental impact. The ESG evaluation process will consider all risks and opportunities holistically, meaning that a security will not
necessarily be excluded from investment if any particular consideration or subset of considerations is a concern if the overall consideration results in a favorable evaluation.
The Adviser’s Process — Purchasing Portfolio Securities. The Adviser regularly monitors economic factors such as interest rate outlook and technical
factors such as the shape of the yield curve in combination with the stated objective of the Fund to determine an appropriate maturity profile for the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Adviser then principally searches for securities that
satisfy the maturity profile of the Fund and that provide the greatest potential return relative to the risk of the security.
The Adviser’s Process — Selling Portfolio Securities. The Adviser may sell a fixed income security or reduce its position if:
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•
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Revised economic forecasts or interest rate outlook requires a repositioning of the portfolio;
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The security subsequently fails to meet the Adviser’s investment criteria;
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A more attractive security is found or funds are needed for another purpose;
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The Adviser believes that the security has reached its appreciation potential; or
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The investment no longer meets the Fund’s ESG criteria.
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Temporary Defensive Position. In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may assume a temporary defensive
position that is inconsistent with its investment objective and principal investment strategies and invest, without limitation, in cash or tax-exempt quality cash equivalents. A defensive position, taken at the wrong time, may have an adverse
impact on the Fund’s performance. The Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective during the employment of a temporary defensive measure.
Who May Want to Invest in the Fund
The Fund may be appropriate for you if you:
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Are interested in including ESG principles into your investments;
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Are an income-oriented investor in a high tax bracket and desire tax-exempt income;
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Seek income and more price stability than stocks offer; or
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Are pursuing a long-term investment goal.
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The Fund may not be appropriate for you if you:
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Are pursuing a short-term investment goal or are investing emergency reserves;
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Are investing funds in a tax-deferred or tax-exempt account (such as an IRA); or
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Do not desire tax-exempt income.
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Brown Advisory Tax-
Exempt Sustainable
Bond Fund
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Credit Risk
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Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk
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Derivatives Risk
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Environmental, Social and Governance Policy Risk
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Interest Rate Risk
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Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk
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Liquidity Risk
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Management Risk
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Maturity Risk
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Municipal Securities Risk
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New Fund Risk
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Non-Diversification Risk
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Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk
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Private Placement Risk
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Ratings Agency Risk
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Tax Risk
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Valuation Risk
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As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, and an investment in the Fund is not by itself a complete or balanced investment
program. The following provides additional information regarding the principal risks that could affect the value of your investment:
Credit Risk
In connection with the Fund’s investments in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio securities. The
degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines. The financial condition of an issuer of a fixed income security
held by the Fund may cause it to default or become unable to pay interest or principal due on the security. The Fund cannot collect interest and principal payments on a fixed income security if the issuer defaults. Investments in fixed income
securities that are issued by U.S. Government sponsored entities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Banks involve credit risk as they are not backed by the
full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk
The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in interest rates. An increase in interest rates typically causes a fall in the value of the debt securities in which
the Fund invests. Interest rates in the United States are at, or near, historic lows, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with rising interest rates. Moreover, rising interest rates or lack of market participants may lead
to decreased liquidity in the bond and loan markets, making it more difficult for the Fund to sell its holdings at a time when the Fund’s manager might wish to sell. The longer the duration of a debt security, the more its value typically
falls in response to an increase in interest rates. The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio of debt securities. The degree of risk for a particular security may be
reflected in its credit rating. Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines. The financial condition of an issuer of a debt security held by the Fund may cause it to default or become unable
to pay interest or principal due on the security. The Fund cannot collect interest and principal payments on a debt security if the issuer defaults. Prepayment and extension risks may occur when interest rates decline and issuers of debt
securities experience acceleration in prepayments. The acceleration can shorten the maturity of the debt security and force the Fund to invest in securities with lower interest rates, reducing the Fund’s return. Issuers may decrease
prepayments of principal when interest rates increase, extending the maturity of the debt security and causing the value of the security to decline. Distressed debt securities (“junk bonds”) involve greater risk of default or downgrade and are
more volatile than investment grade securities. Distressed debt securities may also be less liquid than higher quality debt securities.
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Principal Risks
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Derivatives Risk
Derivatives are financial instruments that have a value which depends upon, or derived from, a reference asset, such as one or more underlying securities, pools of securities, options, futures,
indexes or currencies. Derivatives may result in investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest; in other words, a small investment in a derivative may have a large impact on the Fund’s performance. The successful use of
derivatives generally depends on the manager’s ability to predict market movements.
The Fund may use derivatives in various ways. The Fund may use derivatives as a substitute for taking a position in the reference asset or to gain exposure to certain asset classes; under such
circumstances, the derivatives may have economic characteristics similar to those of the reference asset, and the Fund’s investment in the derivatives may be applied toward meeting a requirement to invest a certain percentage of its net assets
in instruments with such characteristics. The Fund may use derivatives to hedge (or reduce) its exposure to a portfolio asset or risk. The Fund may use derivatives for leverage. The Fund may also use derivatives to manage cash.
Derivatives are subject to a number of risks described elsewhere in this section, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, credit risk and general market risks. The Fund’s use of derivatives
may entail risks greater than, or possibly different from, such risks and other Principal Risks to which the Fund is exposed, as described below. Certain of the different risks to which the Fund might be exposed due to its use of derivatives
include the following:
Hedging Risk is the risk that derivative instruments used to hedge against an opposite position may offset losses, but they also may
offset gains.
Correlation Risk is the risk that derivative instruments may be mispriced or improperly valued and that changes in the value of the
derivatives may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset or security.
Volatility Risk is the risk that, because the Fund may use some derivatives that involve economic leverage, this economic leverage will
increase the volatility of the derivative instruments as they may increase or decrease in value more quickly than the underlying currency, security, interest rate or other economic variable.
Credit Derivatives Risk is the risk associated with the use of derivatives, which is a highly specialized activity that involves
strategies and risks different from those with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If the Adviser is incorrect in its forecast of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors, the Fund’s investment performance would diminish
compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. Moreover, even if the Adviser is correct in its forecast, there is a risk that a credit derivative position may correlate imperfectly with the price of the asset or
liability being hedged. The Fund’s risk of loss in a credit derivative transaction varies with the form of the transaction.
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Principal Risks
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Segregation Risk is the risk associated with any requirement, which may be imposed on the Fund, to segregate assets or enter into
offsetting positions in connection with investments in derivatives. Such segregation will not limit the Fund’s exposure to loss, and the Fund may incur investment risk with respect to the segregated assets to the extent that, but for the
applicable segregation requirement, the Fund would sell the segregated assets.
Environmental, Social and Governance Policy Risk
The risk that because the Fund’s ESG criteria exclude securities of certain issuers for nonfinancial reasons, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use these
criteria. The application of ESG principles and the perceptions of the commitment of a given issuer to ESG principles vary among vendors, investors, analysts and other market observers. Additionally, it may be difficult in certain instances for
the Adviser to correctly evaluate an issuer’s commitment to positive ESG practices, and a failure to do so may result in investment in issuers with practices that are not consistent with the Fund’s aspirations.
Interest Rate Risk
In connection with the Fund’s investments in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in interest rates. An increase in interest rates
typically causes a fall in the value of the securities in which the Fund invests. The longer the duration of a fixed income security, the more its value typically falls in response to an increase in interest rates. Interest rates currently are
at, or near, historic lows, and may increase, with potentially sudden and unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund’s investments.
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk
Investments in other investment companies, including money market funds, may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses. By investing in other investment companies, the Fund becomes a
shareholder of that company. As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly bear their proportionate share of the other investment company’s fees and expenses which are paid by the Fund as a shareholder of the other investment company. These fees
and expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations. If the other investment company fails to achieve its investment objective, the Fund’s investment in the
other investment company may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Liquidity Risk
Certain securities held by the Fund may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Adviser would like. As a result, the Fund may have to hold these securities longer
than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that the Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price.
Management Risk
The Fund is actively managed and its performance may reflect the Adviser’s ability to make decisions which are suited to achieving the Fund’s investment objectives. Due to its active management,
the Fund could under perform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
Maturity Risk
Generally, a bond with a longer maturity will entail greater interest rate risk but have a higher yield. Conversely, a bond with a shorter maturity will entail less interest rate risk but have a
lower yield.
Municipal Securities Risk
Changes in economic, business or political conditions relating to a particular state, or states, or type of projects may have a disproportionate impact on the Fund. Municipalities continue to
experience difficulties in the current economic and political environment. National governmental actions, such as the elimination of tax-exempt status, also could affect performance. In addition, a municipality or municipal project that relies
directly or indirectly on national governmental funding mechanisms may be negatively affected by the national government’s current budgetary constraints. Municipal obligations that the Fund may acquire include municipal lease obligations,
which are issued by a state or local government or authority to acquire land and a wide variety of equipment and facilities. If the funds are not appropriated for the following year’s lease payments, then the lease may terminate, with the
possibility of default on the lease obligation and significant loss to the Fund. The repayment of principal and interest on some of the municipal securities in which the Fund may invest may be guaranteed or insured by a monoline insurance
company or other financial institution. If a company insuring municipal securities in which the Fund invests experiences financial difficulties, the credit rating and price of the security may deteriorate. The credit and quality of private
activity bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities and therefore such bonds are subject to the risks of the corporate user. The Fund may invest more heavily in bonds from certain cities, states or regions
than others, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to losses resulting from economic, political, or regulatory occurrences impacting these particular cities, states or regions.
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Principal Risks
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New Fund Risk
There can be no assurance that the newly organized Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board may determine to liquidate the Fund. Liquidation can be
initiated without shareholder approval by the Board if it determines it is in the best interest of shareholders. As a result, the timing of any liquidation may not be favorable to certain individual shareholders.
Non-Diversification Risk
Since the Fund is “non-diversified,” then its investments are not required to meet certain diversification requirements under Federal law. A “non-diversified” Fund is permitted to invest a greater
percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund. Thus, the Fund may have fewer holdings than other funds. As a result, a decline in the value of those investments would cause the Fund’s overall value to
decline to a greater degree than if the Fund held a more diversified portfolio.
Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk
Securities rated below investment grade, i.e., Ba or BB and lower (“junk bonds”), are subject to greater risks of loss of your money than higher rated
securities. Compared with issuers of investment grade fixed-income securities, junk bonds are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and to be materially affected by these difficulties.
Private Placement Risk
The Fund may invest in privately issued securities of domestic common and preferred stock, convertible debt securities, ADRs and REITs, including those which may be resold only in accordance with
Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not publicly traded. Accordingly, the liquidity of the market for specific privately issued securities may vary. Delay or difficulty in selling such
securities may result in a loss to the Fund. Privately issued securities that are determined by the Adviser to be “illiquid” are subject to the Fund’s policy of not investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Rating Agencies Risk
Ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators that reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies from which an explanation of the significance of such
ratings may be obtained. There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the
rating, circumstances so warrant. A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on the liquidity or market price of the securities in which the Fund invests. The ratings of securitized assets may not
adequately reflect the credit risk of those assets due to their structure.
Rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings and an issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates. In addition, rating agencies are
subject to an inherent conflict of interest because they are often compensated by the same issuers whose securities they grade.
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Principal Risks
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Tax Risk
Municipal securities may decrease in value during times when tax rates are falling. The Fund’s investments are affected by changes in federal income tax rates applicable to, or the continuing
federal tax-exempt status of, interest income on municipal obligations. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the liquidity, marketability and supply and demand for municipal
obligations, which would in turn affect the Fund’s ability to acquire and dispose of municipal obligations at desirable yield and price levels.
Valuation Risk
The prices provided by the Fund’s pricing services or independent dealers or the fair value determinations made by the valuation committee of the Adviser may be different from the prices used by
other mutual funds or from the prices at which securities are actually bought and sold. The prices of certain securities provided by pricing services may be subject to frequent and significant change, and will vary depending on the information
that is available.
The Fund is a series of Brown Advisory Funds (the “Trust”). The business of the Trust and the Fund is managed under the oversight of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Board meets
periodically to review the Fund’s performance, monitor investment activities and practices, and discuss other matters affecting the Fund. Additional information regarding the Board, as well as the Trust’s executive officers, may be found in
the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Brown Advisory LLC. The Fund’s Adviser is Brown Advisory LLC, 901 South Bond Street, Suite 400, Baltimore, Maryland 21231. The Adviser does business under
the name of Brown Advisory. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brown Advisory Management, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company. Brown Advisory Management, LLC is controlled by Brown Advisory Incorporated, a holding company
incorporated under the laws of Maryland in 1998. The Adviser and its affiliates (“Brown Advisory”) have provided investment advisory and management services to clients for over 10 years. As of September 30, 2019, Brown Advisory had
approximately $[...] billion in assets under management and advisement, including both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.
The Adviser receives an advisory fee from the Fund at an annual rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets as indicated below. The annual advisory fee for the Fund is as follows:
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Contractual
Advisory Fee
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Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
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0.30%
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The Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this prospectus.
A discussion summarizing the basis on which the Board approved the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust with respect to the Fund will be available in the Fund’s next
Semi-Annual or Annual Report to Shareholders.
Subject to the general oversight of the Board, the Adviser is directly responsible for making the investment decisions for the Fund.
The Adviser also provides certain business management services to the Fund pursuant to a separate Business Management Agreement. Pursuant to the Business Management Agreement, the Adviser
supervises all aspects of the management and operations of the Fund, which includes monitoring the Fund’s relationships with third-party service providers to the Fund and other related business management services. For these services, the Fund
pays the Adviser a fee of 0.05% of its average daily net assets.
The Trust and Adviser have applied to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for an exemptive order (the “Exemptive Order”) that would permit the Brown Advisory Funds and the Adviser,
subject to certain conditions and approval by the Board of Trustees, but without shareholder approval, to hire sub-advisers for the Brown Advisory Funds, change the terms of particular agreements with sub-advisers or continue the employment of
existing sub-advisers after events that would otherwise cause an automatic termination of a sub-advisory agreement (“Manager of Managers Arrangement”). Within 90 days of retaining a new sub-adviser, shareholders of any affected Fund will
receive written notification of the change. However, as of the date of this Prospectus, the Trust and Adviser have not yet received the Exemptive Order.
Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund. Stephen Shutz and Amy Hauter serve as the Fund’s portfolio managers and retain equal decision-making
authority in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.
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Management – Portfolio Managers
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Amy Hauter, CFA, has served as portfolio manager of the Fund its inception in 2019. Ms. Hauter is an ESG analyst with the Fixed Income
team at Brown Advisory. She provides environmental, social and governance analysis of various holdings, including corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and structured bonds. Prior to joining the firm in 2012, she worked at Morgan Stanley in Fixed
Income Client Service. She received a B.S. from Old Dominion University in 2008. Ms. Hauter obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2017.
Stephen M. Shutz, CFA, has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2019. Mr. Shutz joined the Fixed Income
Investment Team at Brown Advisory in 2010 and primarily concentrates on the management, trading and analysis of tax-exempt bonds. Prior to joining Brown Advisory, Mr. Shutz was a Vice President and Assistant Portfolio Manager at Cavanaugh
Capital Management (CCM) responsible for the trading of tax-exempt securities and portfolio analytics. Before joining CCM in 2003, he was a portfolio and research analyst at Merrill Lynch from 1998-2003. Mr. Shutz began his investment career
at Legg Mason in 1996. Mr. Shutz is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. Shutz earned a B.S. from Frostburg State University.
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (the “Transfer Agent”) provides certain administration, fund accounting and transfer agency services to the Fund.
ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) serves as the Fund’s distributor and principal underwriter in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor may enter into
arrangements with banks, broker-dealers and other financial institutions through which investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares.
U.S. Bank N.A. serves as custodian to the Fund. The Transfer Agent and U.S. Bank N.A. are affiliates.
In addition to the advisory fees discussed above, the Fund incurs other expenses such as custodian, transfer agency, interest, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and other customary Fund expenses.
(Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are indirect fees that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies.) The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain expenses (exclusive of any
front-end or contingent deferred sales loads, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization and extraordinary expenses) in order to limit the Total
Annual Fund Operating Expenses to the amounts shown below of each Class’s average daily net assets through October 31, 2021.
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Institutional
Shares
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Investor Shares
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Advisor Shares
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Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
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0.55%
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0.60%
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0.85%
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The contractual waivers and expense reimbursements may be changed or eliminated at any time by the Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Fund, upon 60 days written notice to the Adviser. The
contractual waivers and expense reimbursements may not be terminated by the Adviser without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser may recoup any waived amount from the Fund pursuant to this agreement if such reimbursement does not
cause the Fund to exceed existing expense limitations or the limitations in place at the time the reduction was originally made and the reimbursement is made within three years after the date on which the Adviser incurred the expense.
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Management – Fund Expenses
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The table below sets forth data relating to the historical performance of the Tax-Exempt Sustainable Composite (the “Composite”), a composite of separate investment advisory accounts managed by
the Adviser since October 1, 2014, which have substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Fund, as compared to the Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year Blended Municipal Bond Index. The Composite contains all of the
Adviser’s separate investment advisory accounts that are managed in a manner similar to the Fund.
The performance information for the Composite is the gross total return as adjusted to reflect all applicable account fees and expenses applicable to the Composite. Because the operating expenses
incurred by the separate investment advisory accounts are less than the expected operating expenses of the Fund, the performance results of the Composite would be greater than what Fund performance would have been. The accounts in the Composite
are not mutual funds and, thus, were not subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, which, if imposed, could have affected their performance. The performance of
the Composite was calculated in compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) maintained by the CFA Institute. This performance calculation
method differs from the SEC performance standards applicable to registered investment companies, such as the Fund. Investors should be aware that the use of a methodology different from that used to calculate the performance of the Fund could
result in differing performance data.
THE INVESTMENT RESULTS PRESENTED BELOW ARE NOT THOSE OF THE FUND and are not intended to predict or suggest returns that might be experienced by the Fund or an individual
investor having an interest in the Fund. These total return figures represent past performance and do not indicate future results, which will vary, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE COMPOSITE AND
BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS 1-10 YEAR BLENDED MUNICIPAL BOND INDEX
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Year
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Composite
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Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year Blended
Municipal Bond Index†
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1/1/2019- 9/30/2019
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[...]%
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[ ]%
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2018
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1.05%
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1.64%
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2017
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3.17%
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3.49%
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2016
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-0.52%
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-0.10%
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2015
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1.66%
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2.45%
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10/1/2014 – 12/31/2014
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0.65%
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0.57%
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Average Annual Total Returns
For the period ended December 31, 2018
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1 Year
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Since
Inception
(10/1//2014)
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Composite
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1.05%
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1.42%
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Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year Blended Municipal Bond Index†
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses and taxes)
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1.64%
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2.42%
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† The Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year Blended Municipal Bond Index is a market index of high quality, domestic fixed
income securities with maturities of less than 10 years. A direct investment in an index is not possible.
The Fund offers three classes of shares, Institutional Shares, Investor Shares and Advisor Shares ([not all of the share classes of the Fund are currently being offered for sale]). Each class of shares is designed for specific investors.
The following is a summary of the differences between the three classes for each of the Fund:
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Institutional Shares
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Investor Shares
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Advisor Shares
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Eligible Shareholder
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(i) Investors who meet the investment minimum for Institutional Shares;
(ii) Certain institutions (financial institutions, corporations, trusts, endowments, foundations, government entities, estates and religious and charitable organizations investing on their
own behalf);
(iii) Certain fund of funds;
(iv) Certain retirement plans whose sponsors and/or administrators have entered into arrangements with the Fund’s distributor;
(v) Certain investors investing through omnibus accounts held by financial intermediaries that charge transaction fees and have entered into arrangements with the Fund’s distributor to offer
Institutional Shares;
(vi) Current and former trustees of the Fund;
(vii) Certain other investors that have been approved by the Fund; and
(viii) Retirement plans that are qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”) and tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the IRC, and plans operating
consistent with Section 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, 457 or 223(d) of the IRC.
Notwithstanding the above, the Funds reserve the right to broaden or limit the eligible shareholders.
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(i) Investors who meet the investment minimum for Investor Shares;
(ii) Certain investors investing through omnibus accounts held by financial intermediaries that do not charge transaction fees and have entered into arrangements with the Fund’s distributor
to offer Investor Shares; and
(iii) Investors who invest unsolicited directly by application through the Transfer Agent.
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(i) Investors who meet the investment minimum for Advisor Shares;
(ii) Certain investors investing through omnibus accounts held by financial intermediaries that charge transaction fees and have entered into arrangements with the Fund’s distributor to offer
Advisor Shares; and
(iii) Certain retirement plans whose sponsors and/or administrators have entered into arrangements with the Fund’s distributor.
|
|
Initial Sales Charge
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
|
Choosing a Share Class
|
|
|
|
Institutional Shares
|
Investor Shares
|
Advisor Shares
|
|
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
|
Redemption/
Exchange Fee |
1.00% if shares are redeemed 14 days or less from purchase
|
1.00% if shares are redeemed 14 days or less from purchase
|
1.00% if shares are redeemed 14 days or less from purchase
|
|
Distribution/Service (12b‑1) Fees
|
None
|
None
|
0.25% of the class’ average
daily net assets for the Fund
|
|
Shareholder Service Fees
|
None
|
0.05% of the class’ average daily net assets.
|
0.05% of the class’ average daily net assets.
|
|
Annual Expenses
|
Lowest expense ratio because there is no Rule 12b‑1 distribution/service fee or shareholder service fees.
|
Higher fees than Institutional Shares because of shareholder service fees and lower fees than Advisor Shares because no Rule 12b-1 distribution/service fee.
|
Highest expense ratio because of Rule 12b-1 distribution/service fee and shareholder service fees.
|
|
Initial Minimum Investment
|
$1,000,000
|
$100
|
$100
|
The Trust has adopted a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan under which the Fund is authorized to pay to the Distributor or such other entities as approved by the Board, as compensation for the
distribution-related and/or shareholder services provided by such entities, an aggregate fee equal to the percentage shown below of the average daily net assets of Advisor Shares, as applicable. The Distributor may pay any or all amounts
received under the Rule 12b‑1 Plan to other persons, including the Adviser, for any distribution service or activity designed to retain Fund shareholders.
|
Advisor Shares
|
|
|
Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
|
0.25%
|
Because the Advisor Shares of the Fund pay distribution and shareholder service fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost over time may be higher than paying other types of sales charges.
The Trust has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan under which the Fund may pay a fee of up to 0.05% for shareholder services provided to the Fund’s Investor Shares and Advisor Shares by financial
institutions, including the Adviser. The types of services for which entities may be compensated under the terms of the Shareholder Servicing Plan include various types of shareholder administrative support services such as assisting
shareholders with their fund accounts and records, their fund purchase and redemption orders and other similar types of non-distribution related services involving the administrative servicing of shareholder accounts. These shareholder
servicing fees may be increased without shareholder approval.
In addition to dealer reallowances and payments made by the Fund for distribution and shareholder servicing, the Adviser or its affiliates may make additional payments (“Additional Payments”) to
certain selling or shareholder servicing agents for the Fund, which includes broker-dealers. The Adviser has entered into an arrangement with its affiliated broker/dealer, Brown Advisory Securities, LLC, through which investors may purchase or
redeem Fund shares. Accordingly, the Adviser may, out of its own resources, compensate Brown Advisory Securities, LLC for the sales efforts of Brown Advisory Securities, LLC. These Additional Payments are made in connection with the sale and
distribution of shares of the Fund or for services to the Fund and its shareholders. These Additional Payments, which may be significant, are paid by the Adviser or its affiliates, out of their revenues, which generally come directly or
indirectly from fees paid by the entire Fund complex. Such payments by such parties may create an incentive for these financial institutions such as Brown Advisory Securities, LLC to recommend that you purchase Fund shares.
|
Choosing a Share Class
|
|
In return for these Additional Payments, the Adviser expects to receive certain marketing or servicing advantages that are not generally available to mutual funds that do not make such payments.
Such advantages are expected to include, without limitation, placement of the Fund on a list of mutual funds offered as investment options to the selling agent’s clients (sometimes referred to as “Shelf Space”); access to the selling agent’s
registered representatives; and/or ability to assist in training and educating the selling agent’s registered representatives.
Certain selling or shareholder servicing agents receive these Additional Payments to supplement amounts payable by the Fund under the shareholder servicing plans. In exchange, these agents
provide services including, but not limited to, establishing and maintaining accounts and records; answering inquiries regarding purchases, exchanges and redemptions; processing and verifying purchase, redemption and exchange transactions;
furnishing account statements and confirmations of transactions; processing and mailing monthly statements, prospectuses, shareholder reports and other SEC-required communications; and providing the types of services that might typically be
provided by the Fund’s Transfer Agent (e.g., the maintenance of omnibus or omnibus-like accounts, the use of the National Securities Clearing Corporation for the transmission of transaction information
and the transmission of shareholder mailings).
The Additional Payments may create potential conflicts of interests between an investor and a selling agent who is recommending a particular mutual fund over other mutual funds. Before investing,
you should consult with your financial consultant and review carefully any disclosure by the selling agent as to what monies they receive from mutual fund advisers and distributors, as well as how your financial consultant is compensated.
More information on the FINRA member firms that have received the Additional Payments described in this section is available in the Statement of Additional Information, which is on file with the
SEC and is also available on the Fund’s website www.brownadvisoryfunds.com.
|
Write to us at:
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
Overnight address:
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
615 East Michigan Street, Third Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202-5207
Telephone us at:
(800) 540-6807 (toll free)
Visit our Web site at:
www.brownadvisoryfunds.com
|
You may purchase shares of the Fund class or sell (redeem) such shares on each weekday that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open. Under unusual circumstances, the Fund class may accept
and process shareholder orders when the NYSE is closed if deemed appropriate.
You may purchase shares of the Fund class or sell (redeem) such shares at the net asset value (“NAV”) of a share of the Fund class next calculated (or minus a redemption/exchange fee in the case
of redemptions or exchanges) after the Transfer Agent receives your request in proper form (as described in the section entitled “Your Account – How to Buy Shares” in this Prospectus).
When and How NAV is Determined
The Fund’s share price is known as its NAV. The NAV is determined by dividing the value of the Fund’s securities, cash and other assets, minus all liabilities, by the number of shares
outstanding (assets – liabilities / number of shares = NAV). The NAV takes into account the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration and other fees, which are accrued daily. Due to the fact that different expenses
are charged to the Institutional Shares, Investor Shares and Advisor Shares of the Fund, the NAV of the three classes of the Fund may vary. The Fund’s share price is calculated as of the Fund’s close which is the close of regular trading
(generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business.
All shareholder transaction orders received in proper form (as described below under “How to Purchase Shares”) by the Transfer Agent, or a Financial Intermediary by 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time will
be processed at that day’s NAV. Transaction orders received after 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time will be priced at the next business day’s NAV. The Fund’s NAV, however, may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as permitted
by the SEC. The Fund does not determine the NAV of its shares on any day when the NYSE is not open for trading, such as weekends and certain national holidays as disclosed in the SAI (even if there is sufficient trading in its portfolio
securities on such days to materially affect the NAV per share). The NYSE also may be closed on national days of mourning or due to natural disaster or other extraordinary events or emergency. Fair value determinations may be made as
described below under procedures as adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. 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 and redemption orders until, and calculate the Fund’s NAV as of, the normally scheduled close
of regular trading on the NYSE for that day, so long as the Adviser believes there remains an adequate market to meet purchase and redemption orders for that day. On any business day when the Securities Industry and Financial Markets
Association recommends that the bond markets close trading early, the Fund reserves the right to close at such earlier closing time, and therefore accept purchase and redemption orders until, and calculate the Fund’s NAV as of, such earlier
closing time.
|
Your Account – General Information
|
|
Fair Value Pricing. Occasionally, reliable market quotations are not readily available or there may be events affecting the value of foreign securities
or other securities held by the Fund that occur when regular trading on foreign or other exchanges is closed, but before trading on the NYSE is closed. Fair value determinations are then made in good faith in accordance with procedures
adopted by the Board. Under the procedures adopted by the Board, the Board may delegate fair value determinations to the Adviser or third-party pricing services, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. Generally, the fair
value of a portfolio security or other asset shall be the amount that the owner of the security or asset might reasonably expect to receive upon its current sale. With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that are invested in one or
more open-end management investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund’s net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of such registered open-end management investment companies,
and the prospectuses for such companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
Attempts to determine the fair value of securities introduce an element of subjectivity to the pricing of securities. As a result, the price of a security determined through fair valuation
techniques may differ from the price quoted or published by other sources and may not accurately reflect the market value of the security when trading resumes. If a reliable market quotation becomes available for a security formerly valued
through fair valuation techniques, the Fund would compare the new market quotation to the fair value price to evaluate the effectiveness of its fair valuation determination. If any significant discrepancies are found, the Fund may adjust its
fair valuation procedures.
|
Your Account – General Information
|
|
Types of Accounts
|
Type of Account
|
Requirement
|
|
Individual, Sole Proprietorship and Joint Accounts
Individual accounts and sole proprietorship accounts are owned by one person. Joint accounts have two or more owners (tenants).
|
• Instructions must be
signed by all persons required to sign exactly as their names appear on the account
• Provide a power of
attorney or similar document for each person that is authorized to open or transact
business for the account if not a named account owner.
|
|
Gifts or Transfers to a Minor (UGMA, UTMA)
These custodial accounts provide a way to give money to a child and obtain tax benefits.
|
• Depending on state laws,
you can set up a custodial account under the UGMA or the UTMA
• The custodian must sign
instructions in a manner indicating custodial capacity.
|
|
Business Entities
|
• Provide certified
articles of incorporation, a government-issued business license or certificate,
partnership agreement or similar document evidencing the identity and existence of the business entity
• Submit a secretary’s (or
similar) certificate listing the person(s) authorized to open or transact business
for the account.
|
|
Trusts (including corporate pension plans)
|
• The trust must be
established before an account can be opened
• You must supply
documentation to substantiate existence of your organization
(i.e. Articles of Incorporation/Formation/Organization, Trust Agreements, Partnership
Agreement or other official documents).
• Remember to include a
separate sheet detailing the full name, date of birth, social security number
and permanent street address for all authorized individuals.
|
Retirement Accounts
You may invest in Fund shares through an IRA account sponsored by the Adviser, including traditional and Roth IRAs. The Fund may also be appropriate for other retirement plans. Before
investing in any IRA or other retirement plan, you should consult your tax adviser. Whenever making an investment in an IRA, be sure to indicate the year in which the contribution is made.
Minimum Investments
To purchase shares of the Fund, you must make at least the minimum initial investment (or subsequent investment) as shown in the table below. The minimum investment requirements are waived for
retirement plans that are qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”) and tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the IRC, and plans operating consistent with Section 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, 457 or
223(d) of the IRC.
|
Your Account – General Information
|
|
|
Type of Account
|
Minimum Initial Investment
|
Minimum Additional Investment
|
|
Institutional Shares
|
||
|
– Standard Accounts
|
$1,000,000
|
$100
|
|
Investor Shares
|
||
|
– Standard Accounts
|
$100
|
$100
|
|
– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
|
$100
|
N/A
|
|
– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
|
$100
|
$100
|
|
Advisor Shares
|
||
|
– Standard Accounts
|
$100
|
$100
|
|
– Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
|
$100
|
N/A
|
|
– Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
|
$100
|
$100
|
|
– Qualified Retirement Plans
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
This section explains how you can purchase shares of the Brown Advisory Funds. If you’re opening a new account, an Account Application is available online at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com or by calling 800-540-6807
(toll free) or 414-203-9064. For Fund shares held through brokerage and other types of accounts, please consult your Financial Intermediary.
|
Buying Shares
|
Opening an Account
|
Adding to an Account
|
|
Through a Financial Intermediary
|
Contact your Financial Intermediary
|
Contact your Financial Intermediary
|
|
By Mail (with Check)
|
• Mail your completed
application (along with other
required documents as
described in the application) and a check to:
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
|
– Write your account number
on your check
– Send your check with (a) a
completed
investment slip from a prior statement or
confirmation or (b) letter of instruction to:
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
|
|
By Wire
|
• Submit your completed
application (and other
required documents as described in the application).
An account will be established for you and you will
be contacted with the account number.
• Instruct your financial
institution to wire your money
using the instructions in the section entitled “Your
Account – How to Buy Shares – Purchase By Wire”
in this Prospectus.
|
– Call to notify us of your
incoming wire
– Instruct your financial
institution to wire
your money using the instructions in the
section entitled “Your Account – How to Buy
Shares – Purchase By Wire” in this Prospectus.
|
|
By Telephone
|
Not accepted for initial purchases
|
– If you have telephone
purchase privileges on
the account, you may purchase additional shares
in the amount of $100 or more using the bank
account on record by calling 800‑540‑6807
(toll free) or 414-203-9064.
|
|
Your Account – How to Buy Shares
|
|
|
Buying Shares
|
Opening an Account
|
Adding to an Account
|
|
By Internet (must have a United States bank account)
|
• Log onto the Fund’s website
at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com
• Click on “Open an Account
Today”
• Be prepared to have the
required information to
open your new account.
• Accept the terms of the
online Account Application.
• Complete the online Account
Application.
• The Fund will
electronically deduct your purchase
proceeds from the financial institution you have
identified on your Account Application.
• Note – you may be
responsible for any unauthorized
Internet order as long as the Transfer Agent has taken
reasonable measures to verify that the order is genuine.
|
• Log onto the Fund’s website
at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com
• Click on “Shareholder
Access”
• Provide your User ID and
password.
• Select the
Transaction/Purchase menu option.
• Follow the instructions
provided.
|
|
By Automatic Investment Plan
(must have a United States bank account)
|
Not accepted for initial purchases
|
• Complete the Automatic
Investment Plan section
of the application or submit a letter of instruction
if your account was opened without this being done.
• Attach a voided check or
savings deposit slip to
your application or letter of instruction.
• Mail the completed
application or letter and voided
check or savings deposit slip.
• Your purchase will be
electronically debited from
the bank account on record as directed in your request.
|
General Notes for Buying Shares
Unless purchased through a Financial Intermediary, all investments must be made by check, ACH, or wire. All checks must be payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. In
the absence of the granting of an exception consistent with the Trust’s anti-money laundering procedures, the Fund does not accept purchases made by credit card check, starter check, third-party check, cash or cash equivalents (for instance,
you may not pay by money order or traveler’s check). The Fund is unable to accept post‑dated checks or any conditional order or payment.
|
•
|
Checks for all accounts, including individual, sole proprietorship, joint, Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (“UGMA”) or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
(“UTMA”) accounts, the check must be made payable to “Brown Advisory Funds.” A $25 charge may be imposed on any returned payment; you will also be responsible for any losses suffered by the Fund as a result.
|
|
•
|
ACH (must have a United States bank account) refers to the “Automated Clearing House” System maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank, which allows
banks to process checks, transfer funds and perform other tasks. Your financial institution may charge you a fee for this service. A $25 charge may be imposed on any rejected transfers; you will also be responsible for any losses
suffered by the Fund as a result.
|
|
Your Account – How to Buy Shares
|
|
|
•
|
Wires instruct your financial institution with whom you have an account to make a Federal Funds wire payment to us. Your financial institution
may charge you a fee for this service.
|
Purchase through Financial Intermediaries. You may buy and sell shares of the Fund through certain financial intermediaries and their agents that have
made arrangements with the Fund and are authorized to buy and sell shares of the Fund (collectively, “Financial Intermediaries”). Your order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after it is received by a Financial Intermediary, or if
applicable, a Financial Intermediary’s designee. A Financial Intermediary may hold your shares in an omnibus account in the Financial Intermediary’s name and the Financial Intermediary may maintain your individual ownership records. The Fund
may pay the Financial Intermediary for maintaining individual ownership records as well as providing other shareholder services. Financial Intermediaries may charge fees for the services they provide to you in connection with processing your
transaction order or maintaining your account with them. Financial Intermediaries are responsible for placing your order correctly and promptly with the Fund, forwarding payment promptly, as well as ensuring that you receive copies of the
Fund’s Prospectus. If you transmit your order with these Financial Intermediaries before the close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on a day that the NYSE is open for business, your order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV
next computed after it is received by the Financial Intermediary. Investors should check with their Financial Intermediary to determine if it is subject to these arrangements.
Institutional Shares may also be available on certain brokerage platforms. An investor transacting in Institutional Shares through a broker that is acting as an agent for the investor may be
required by such broker to pay a separate commission and/or other forms of compensation to their broker. Such broker commissions are not reflected in the Fund’s fee table or expense examples.
Purchase by Mail. Follow the instructions outlined in the table above. The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery
services to be their agents. Therefore, deposits in the mail or with such services, or receipt at the Transfer Agent’s post office box of purchase orders or redemption requests, do not constitute receipt by the Transfer Agent. Receipt will be
deemed to occur when the Transfer Agent physically picks up such mailings.
Purchase by Wire. If you are making your first investment in the Fund, before you wire funds, please contact the Transfer Agent by phone to make
arrangements with a telephone service representative to submit your completed Account Application via mail, overnight delivery or facsimile. Upon receipt of your completed application, your account will be established and a service
representative will contact you to provide your new account number and wiring instructions. If you do not receive this information within one business day, you may call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-540-6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064. Once your
account has been established, you may instruct your bank to initiate the wire using the instructions you were given.
For either initial or subsequent investments, prior to sending the wire, please call the Transfer Agent at 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064 to advise the Transfer Agent of your wire to
ensure proper credit upon receipt. Your bank must include the name of the Fund, your name and account number so that your wire can be correctly applied.
|
Instruct your bank to send the wire to:
|
|
U.S. Bank, N.A.
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
ABA #075000022
Credit: U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Account #112-952-137
Further Credit: Brown Advisory Funds, [Insert Fund Name and Class]
(Shareholder Name, Shareholder Account #)
|
|
Your Account – How to Buy Shares
|
|
Your bank may impose a fee for investments by wire. Wired funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, to be eligible for same day pricing. The Fund and the Transfer Agent are not
responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system or from incomplete wiring instructions. If you have questions about how to invest by wire, you may call the Fund at 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free)
or 414-203-9064.
Purchase by Telephone. If your account has been open for at least 7 business days, and you did not decline telephone privileges on your Account
Application, you may purchase additional shares in the amount of $100 or more from your bank account upon request by telephoning the Transfer Agent toll free at 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064. You may not make your initial purchase
of the Fund’s shares by telephone. Telephone orders will be accepted via electronic funds transfer from your pre-designated bank account through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) network. You must have banking information established on
your account prior to making a purchase. Only bank accounts held at domestic institutions that are ACH members may be used for telephone transactions. If your order is received prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, shares will be purchased at the
price next calculated on that date. For security reasons, requests by telephone may be recorded.
Purchase by Internet (must have a United States bank account). You will automatically receive online privileges when you open your account, allowing you
to obtain or view your account information, and conduct a number of transactions online, including: buy or sell shares of the Fund; use electronic funds transfer to buy or sell shares of the Fund.
To view your account information or request online transactions, you will first need to register for these services at the shareholder section of our website at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com. You
will be asked to accept the terms of an online agreement(s) and establish a password for online services. Using our shareholder website means you are consenting to sending and receiving personal financial information over the Internet, so you
should be sure you are comfortable with the associated risks.
As long as we follow reasonable security procedures and act on instructions we reasonably believe are genuine, we will not be responsible for any losses that may occur from unauthorized requests.
We will request passwords or other information, and may also record calls. To help safeguard your account, keep your password confidential and verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them. Contact us
immediately if you believe someone has obtained unauthorized access to your account or password. For transactions done over the Internet, we recommend the use of an Internet browser with 128-bit encryption. Certain methods of contacting us
(such as by Internet) may be unavailable or delayed during periods of unusual market activity.
You can choose not to register for online privileges. If you have online privileges on your account and want to discontinue them, please contact us for instructions. You may reinstate these
privileges at any time in writing.
Automatic Investment Plan (must have a United States bank account). For your convenience, the Fund offers an Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”). Under the
AIP, after you make your initial investment, you may authorize the Fund to withdraw automatically from your personal checking or savings account an amount that you wish to invest, which must be at least $100 on a monthly or quarterly basis. If
you wish to enroll in the AIP, complete the “Automatic Investment Plan” section in the Account Application or call the Transfer Agent at 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064 for additional information. In order to participate in the AIP,
your bank or financial institution must be a member of the ACH network. The Fund may terminate or modify this privilege at any time. You may terminate your participation in the AIP at any time by notifying the Transfer Agent at least five
days prior to the effective date. A fee ($25) will be charged if your bank does not honor the AIP draft for any reason.
|
Your Account – How to Buy Shares
|
|
The AIP is a method of using dollar cost averaging as an investment strategy that involves investing a fixed amount of money at regular time intervals. However, a program of regular investment cannot ensure a profit
or protect against a loss as a result of declining markets. By continually investing the same amount, you will be purchasing more shares when the price is low and fewer shares when the price is high. Please call 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or
414-203-9064 for additional information regarding the Fund’s AIP.
The Fund processes redemption orders received in good order, promptly. The Fund typically expects that it will take one to three days following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out
redemption proceeds; however, while not expected, payment of redemption proceeds may take up to seven days. If the Fund class has not yet collected payment for the shares you are selling, it may delay sending redemption proceeds until it
receives payment, which may be up to 15 calendar days.
|
Selling Shares
|
|
|
Through a Financial Intermediary
|
• Contact
your Financial Intermediary
|
|
By Mail
|
• Prepare
a written request including:
• Your
name(s) and signature(s)
• Your
account number
• The
Fund name and class
• The
dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell
• How and
where to send the redemption proceeds
• Obtain
a signature guarantee (if required) (See the section entitled “Signature Guarantee Requirements below”)
• Obtain
other documentation (if required)
• Mail us
your request and documentation.
|
|
By Wire
|
• Wire redemptions are only available if you did not decline telephone and Internet options on your Account
Application and you provided a voided check or s savings deposit slip
• Call us
with your request (unless you declined telephone and Internet options on your Account Application)
(See the section entitled “By Telephone”) or
• Mail us
your request (See the section entitled “By Mail”).
|
|
By Telephone
|
• Call us
with your request (unless you declined telephone and Internet options on your Account Application)
• Provide
the following information:
• Your
account number
• Exact
name(s) in which the account is registered
• Additional
form of identification
• Redemption
proceeds will be:
• Mailed
to you or
• Electronically
credited to your account at the financial institution identified on your Account Application.
|
|
By Internet
|
• Log
onto the Fund’s website at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com
• Click
on “Shareholder Access”
• Provide
your User ID and password.
• Select
the Transaction/Redemption menu option.
• Follow
the instructions provided.
• Note –
you may be responsible for any unauthorized Internet order as long as the Transfer Agent has taken
reasonable measures to verify that the order is genuine.
|
|
Systematically
|
• Complete
the systematic withdrawal program section of the application
• Attach
a voided check or savings deposit slip to your application
• Mail us
your completed application
• Redemption
proceeds will be electronically credited to your account at the financial institution identified
on your Account Application or sent by check to your address of record.
|
General Notes for Selling Shares
In general, orders to sell or “redeem” shares may be placed either directly with the Fund, the Transfer Agent or with your Financial Intermediary. You may redeem part or all of the Fund’s shares
at the next determined NAV after the Fund receives your order. You should request your redemption prior to the close of the applicable Fund, generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, to obtain that day’s closing NAV. Redemption requests received
after the close of the NYSE will be treated as though received on the next business day.
|
Your Account – How to Sell Shares
|
|
Through a Financial Intermediary. You may redeem Fund shares through your Financial Intermediary. Redemptions made through a Financial Intermediary may be
subject to procedures established by that institution. Your Financial Intermediary is responsible for sending your order to the Fund and for crediting your account with the proceeds. For redemption through Financial Intermediaries, orders
will be processed at the NAV per share next effective after receipt of the order by the Financial Intermediary. Please keep in mind that your Financial Intermediary may charge additional fees for its services. Investors should check with
their Financial Intermediary to determine if it is subject to these arrangements.
By Mail. You may redeem Fund shares by simply sending a written request to the Transfer Agent. Please provide the name of the Fund, account number and
state the number of shares or dollar amount you would like redeemed. The letter should be signed by all shareholders whose names appear on the account registration with a signature guarantee, if applicable. Redemption requests will not become
effective until all documents have been received in good form by the Fund. Additional documents are required for certain types of shareholders, such as corporations, partnerships, executors, trustees, administrators, or guardians (i.e., corporate resolutions, or trust documents indicating proper authorization). Shareholders should contact the Fund for further information concerning documentation required for redemption of Fund
shares.
Shareholders who have an IRA or other retirement plan must indicate on their written redemption request whether or not to withhold federal income tax. Redemption requests failing to indicate an
election not to have tax withheld will generally be subject to a 10% withholding tax.
Shares held in IRA accounts or other retirement plan accounts may be redeemed by telephone at 1-800-540-6807. Investors will be asked whether or not to withhold taxes from any distribution.
Telephone or Wire Redemption. You may redeem Fund shares by telephone unless you declined telephone privileges on your Account Application. You may also
request telephone privileges after your account is opened by calling the Transfer Agent at 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064 for additional information. A signature guarantee or a signature verification from a Signature Validation
Program member or other acceptable form of authentication from a financial institution source may be required of shareholders in order to qualify for or to change telephone privileges on an existing account. During periods of high market
activity, you may encounter higher than usual wait times. Please allow sufficient time to ensure that you will be able to complete your telephone transaction prior to market close. If you are unable to contact the Transfer Agent by telephone,
you may also mail the requests to the Fund at the address listed under “Contacting the Fund.” Once a telephone transaction has been placed, it cannot be canceled or modified after the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally, 4:00 p.m.,
Eastern time).
You may redeem Fund shares by calling the Transfer Agent at 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064 prior to the close of the applicable Fund, generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Redemption proceeds will be sent on
the next business day to the mailing address that appears on the Fund’s records. Per your request, redemption proceeds may be wired or may be sent by electronic funds transfer via the ACH network to your pre-designated bank account. The
Transfer Agent will charge a $15 wire fee from your redemption proceeds from any complete share redemption. For partial redemptions, or share specific redemptions, any wire fee will be deducted from your remaining account balance. You will not
incur any charge when proceeds are sent via the ACH network; however, most ACH transfers require two days for the bank account to receive credit. Telephone redemptions cannot be made if you notify the Transfer Agent of a change of address
within 30 days before the redemption request.
Prior to executing instructions received to redeem shares by telephone, the Fund will use reasonable procedures to confirm that the telephone instructions are genuine. If an account has more than
one owner or authorized person, the Fund will accept telephone instructions from any one owner or authorized person. The telephone call may be recorded and the caller may be asked to verify certain personal identification information. If the
Fund or its agents follow these procedures, they cannot be held liable for any loss, expense, or cost arising out of any telephone redemption request that is reasonably believed to be genuine. This includes any fraudulent or unauthorized
request. The Fund may change, modify or terminate these privileges at any time upon at least a 60-day notice to shareholders.
Systematic Withdrawal Program (must have a United States bank account). The Fund offers a Systematic Withdrawal Program (“SWP”) whereby shareholders or
their representatives may request a redemption in a predetermined amount each month, calendar quarter or annually. Proceeds can be sent via check to the address on the account or proceeds can be sent by electronic funds transfer via the ACH
network to a designated bank account. To start this program, your account must have Fund shares with a value of at least $2,500, and the minimum amount that may be withdrawn each month, quarter or annually is $50. This program may be
terminated or modified by the Fund at any time. You may also elect to terminate your participation in the SWP at any time by contacting the Transfer Agent at least five calendar days prior to the next scheduled withdrawal.
A withdrawal under the SWP involves a redemption of Fund shares, and may result in a gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes. In addition, if the amount withdrawn exceeds the dividends
credited to your account, the account ultimately may be depleted. To establish the SWP, complete the SWP section of the Account Application. Please call 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064 for additional information regarding the SWP.
Exchange Privileges
You may exchange your Fund shares for the same class of shares of certain other Brown Advisory Funds. Be sure to confirm with the Transfer Agent that the Fund into which you exchange is available
for sale in your state. To obtain the necessary exchange authorization forms, call the Transfer Agent at 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064. Not all Brown Advisory Funds available for exchange may be available for purchase in your
state. Because exchanges are a sale and purchase of shares, they may have tax consequences.
If you exchange Fund shares 14 days or less from the date of purchase, you will be charged a redemption fee of 1.00% of the current NAV of shares redeemed or exchanged, subject to limited
exceptions. Please see the section entitled “Your Account – Account and Transaction Policies – Redemption/Exchange Fee” for additional information.
Requirements. You may make exchanges only between identically registered accounts (name(s), address, and taxpayer ID number). There is currently no limit
on exchanges, but the Fund reserves the right to limit exchanges (see the section entitled “Tools to Combat Frequent Transaction”). You may exchange your shares by mail or telephone, unless you declined telephone privileges on your Account
Application. You may be responsible for any unauthorized telephone order as long as the transfer agent takes reasonable measures to verify that the order is genuine.
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Your Account – Exchange Privileges
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Exchanging Shares
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Through a Financial Intermediary
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• Contact your Financial
Intermediary
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By Mail
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• Prepare a written request
including:
• Your name(s) and
signature(s)
• Your account number
• The names of the Fund (and
class) you are exchanging
• The dollar amount or number
of shares you want to sell (and exchange)
• Open a new account and
complete an Account Application if you are requesting different shareholder privileges
• Mail us your request and
documentation.
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By Telephone
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• Call us with your request
(unless you declined telephone and Internet options on your Account Application)
• Provide the following
information:
• Your account number
• Exact name(s) in which
account is registered
• Additional form of
identification.
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Redemption/Exchange Fee. The sale of Fund shares is subject to a redemption fee of 1.00% of the current NAV of shares redeemed or exchanged 14 days or less
from the date of purchase. The Fund uses the “first in first out” (“FIFO”) method to determine the holding period; this means that if you purchase shares on different days, the shares you held longest will be redeemed first for purposes of
determining whether the short-term trading fee applies. The redemption/exchange fee is charged for the benefit of its long-term shareholders and is deducted from your proceeds and retained by the Fund to help offset transaction costs. The
Fund reserves the right to waive redemption/exchange fees, withdraw exceptions, or otherwise modify the terms of the redemption/exchange fee at its discretion at any time, to the extent permitted by law.
There are limited exceptions to the imposition of the redemption fee. The following redemptions are exempt from application of the redemption fee:
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Redemptions in a deceased shareholder account if such an account is registered in the deceased’s name;
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Redemptions in the account of a disabled individual (disability of the shareholder as determined by the Social Security Administration);
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Redemptions of shares purchased through a dividend reinvestment program;
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Redemptions pursuant to the Fund’s systematic programs; or
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•
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Redemptions in qualified retirement plans under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), and plans operating consistent with 401(k), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, 457, and
223(d) of the IRC.
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Although the Fund has the goal of applying this redemption/exchange fee to most redemptions of shares held for 14 days or less, the Fund may not always be able to track short-term trading effected
through Financial Intermediaries in non-disclosed or omnibus accounts. While the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with such Financial Intermediaries as described under “Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions” which
contractually require such Financial Intermediaries to provide the Fund with information relating to its customers investing in the Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts, the Fund cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information
provided to them from Financial Intermediaries and may not always be able to track short-term trading effected through these Financial Intermediaries. In addition, because the Fund is required to rely on information provided by the Financial
Intermediary as to the applicable redemption/exchange fee, the Fund cannot ensure that the Financial Intermediary is always imposing such fee on the underlying shareholder in accordance with the Fund’s policies.
Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions. The Fund is intended for long-term investors and do not accommodate frequent transactions. Short-term
“market-timers” who engage in frequent purchases and redemptions can disrupt the Fund’s investment program and create additional transaction costs that are borne by all of the Fund’s shareholders. The Board has adopted policies and procedures
that are designed to discourage excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm performance. In addition, the Fund discourages excessive, short-term trading and other
abusive trading practices and the Fund may use a variety of techniques to monitor trading activity and detect abusive trading practices. These steps may include, among other things, the imposition of redemption fees, if applicable, monitoring
trading activity, or using fair value pricing when appropriate, under procedures as adopted by the Board when the Adviser determines current market prices are not readily available. As approved by the Board, these techniques may change from
time to time as determined by the Fund in its sole discretion.
In an effort to discourage abusive trading practices and minimize harm to the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to reject any purchase order, in
whole or in part, for any reason (including, without limitation, purchases by persons whose trading activity in Fund shares is believed by the Adviser to be harmful to the Fund) and without prior notice. The Fund may decide to restrict
purchase and sale activity in its shares based on various factors, including whether frequent purchase and sale activity will disrupt portfolio management strategies and adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Although these efforts are
designed to discourage abusive trading practices, these tools cannot eliminate the possibility that such activity will occur. The Fund seeks to exercise their judgment in implementing these tools to the best of its ability in a manner that it
believes is consistent with shareholder interests. Except as noted in the Prospectus, the Fund applies all restrictions uniformly in all applicable cases.
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Your Account – Account and
Transaction Policies
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Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying abusive trading activity and the volume of shareholder transactions the Fund handles, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s
efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive. In particular, since the Fund receives purchase and sale orders through Financial Intermediaries that use group or omnibus accounts, the Fund cannot always
detect frequent trading. However, the Fund will work with Financial Intermediaries as necessary to discourage shareholders from engaging in abusive trading practices and to impose restrictions on excessive trades. In this regard, the Fund has
entered into information sharing agreements with Financial Intermediaries pursuant to which these intermediaries are required to provide to the Fund, at the Fund’s request, certain information relating to their customers investing in the Fund
through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts. The Fund will use this information to attempt to identify abusive trading practices. Financial Intermediaries are contractually required to follow any instructions from the Fund to restrict or
prohibit future purchases from shareholders that are found to have engaged in abusive trading in violation of the Fund’s policies. However, the Fund cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to them from Financial
Intermediaries and cannot ensure that they will always be able to detect abusive trading practices that occur through non-disclosed and omnibus accounts. As a consequence, the Fund’s ability to monitor and discourage abusive trading practices
in omnibus accounts may be limited.
Proceeds. You may receive proceeds of your sale in a check, ACH, or federal wire transfer. The Fund typically expects that it will take one to three days
following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out redemption proceeds; however, while not expected, payment of redemption proceeds may take up to seven days. The Fund typically expects that it will hold cash or cash equivalents to
meet redemption requests. The Fund may also use the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if consistent with the management of the Fund. These redemption methods will be used regularly and may also be used
in stressed market conditions. The Fund reserves the right to redeem in-kind as described under “Redemption In-Kind” below. Redemptions in-kind are typically used to meet redemption requests that represent a large percentage of the Fund’s net
assets in order to minimize the effect of large redemptions on the Fund and its remaining shareholders. Redemptions in-kind may be used regularly in circumstances as described above, and may also be used in stressed market conditions. The Fund
has a line of credit in place that may be used to meet redemption requests during stressed market conditions.
Share Class Conversion within Certain Intermediary Accounts. Investors who hold shares of the Fund through a fee-based
program at a financial intermediary but who subsequently become ineligible to participate in the program, withdraw from the program, or change to a non-fee based program, may be subject to conversion of their shares by their financial
intermediary to another class of shares of the Fund having expenses (potentially including Rule 12b-1 fees) that may be higher than the expenses of their original class of shares. Investors should contact their financial intermediary to
obtain information about their eligibility for the intermediary’s program, whether the intermediary prescribes any circumstances which may result in the type of share class conversion described herein, and the class of shares they would
receive upon such a conversion. A conversion from one share class to another share class of the same Fund should generally not be a taxable exchange for Federal income tax purposes. Any such conversion by a financial intermediary will be made in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus, and investors would not be charged a redemption/exchange fee by the Fund in connection with such a conversion.
Check and ACH Clearance. The proceeds from a redemption request may be delayed up to 15 calendar days from the date of the receipt of a purchase by check
or electronic funds transfer through the ACH network until the payment for the purchase clears. If the purchase amount does not clear, you will be responsible for any losses suffered by the relevant Fund as well as a $25 service charge imposed
by the Transfer Agent. This delay can be avoided by purchasing shares by wire.
Suspension of Redemptions. We may temporarily suspend the right of redemption or postpone payments under certain emergency circumstances or when the SEC orders a
suspension.
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Your Account – Account and
Transaction Policies
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Signature Guarantees. The Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee for certain requests. A signature guarantee assures that your signature is
genuine and protects you from unauthorized account transactions. A signature guarantee, from either a Medallion program member or a non-Medallion program member, of each owner is required in the following situations:
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•
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When a redemption is received by the Transfer Agent and the account address has changed within the last 30 calendar days;
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When requesting a change in ownership on your account; or
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•
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When redemption proceeds are payable or sent to any person, address or bank account not on record.
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In addition to the situations described above, the Fund and/or the Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee in other instances based on the circumstances relative to the particular
situation. Non-financial transactions including establishing or modifying certain services on an account may require a signature guarantee, signature verification from a Signature Validation Program member, or other acceptable form of
authentication from a financial institution source. Signature guarantees will generally be accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and
savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program and the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”). A notary public is not an acceptable signature guarantor.
The Fund reserves the right to waive any signature requirement at their discretion.
Customer Identification Program. Please note that, in compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, the Transfer Agent will verify certain information on
your Account Application as part of the Fund’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. As requested on the Account Application, you must supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. If you are opening the
account in the name of a legal entity (e.g., partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, etc.), you must also supply the identity of
the beneficial owners. Mailing addresses containing only a P.O. Box will not be accepted. If you do not supply the necessary information, the Transfer Agent may not be able to open your account. Please contact the Transfer Agent at
1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064 if you need additional assistance when completing your application. If the Transfer Agent is unable to verify your identity or that of another person authorized to act on your behalf, or if it
believes it has identified potentially criminal activity, the Fund reserves the right to temporarily limit additional share purchases, close your account or take any other action they deem reasonable or required by law. The Trust has appointed
an Anti-Money Laundering Officer to oversee the operation of and compliance with the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Program.
No Certificates. The Fund does not issue share certificates.
Right to Reject Purchases. The Fund reserves the right to reject or cancel within one business day, without any prior notice, any purchase order,
including transactions that, in the judgment of the Adviser, represent excessive trading, may be disruptive to the management of the Fund’s portfolio, may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, administrative costs or taxes, and those that may
otherwise be detrimental to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The purpose of such action is to limit increased Fund expenses incurred when certain investors buy and sell shares of the Fund for the short-term when the markets are
highly volatile. The Fund’s right to cancel or revoke such purchase orders would be limited to within one business day following receipt by the Fund of such purchase orders.
Redemption In-Kind. The Fund generally pays redemption proceeds in cash. However, the Fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds to you by a
distribution of liquid securities from the Fund’s portfolio (a “redemption in-kind”). It is not expected that the Fund would do so except during unusual market conditions. If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of liquid
securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in subsequently converting the securities to cash and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash. The securities delivered in a redemption
in-kind transaction will be selected in the sole discretion of the Fund and will not necessarily be representative of the Fund’s entire portfolio and they will be valued in the same manner that the Fund’s portfolio securities are valued for
purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV. A redemption in-kind is treated as a taxable transaction and a sale of the redeemed shares, generally resulting in capital gain or loss to you, subject to certain loss limitation rules.
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Your Account – Account and
Transaction Policies
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Small Accounts. To reduce our expenses, if the value of your account falls below $1,000 (excluding Qualified Retirement Accounts) with respect to
Institutional Shares, or $500 (excluding Qualified Retirement Accounts) with respect to Advisor Shares and Investor Shares, the Fund may ask you to increase your balance. If after 60 days, the account value is still below $1,000 (excluding
Qualified Retirement Accounts) for Institutional Shares, or $500 (excluding Qualified Retirement Accounts) for Advisor Shares and Investor Shares, the applicable Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. The Fund will not close
your account if it falls below these amounts solely as a result of a reduction in your account’s market value. There are no minimum balance requirements for Qualified Retirement Accounts.
Internet Transactions. You may open the Fund account as well as purchase or sell Fund shares online at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com. Establishing an
account online is permitted only for individual, IRA, joint and UGMA/UTMA accounts. If you conduct transactions or open an account online, you are consenting to sending and receiving personal financial information over the Internet.
Electronic Delivery. Consistent with the Fund’s commitment to environmental sustainability, you may sign up to receive daily transaction confirmations,
quarterly statements, and tax form statements electronically. You may also sign up to receive the Fund’s financial statements and Prospectuses electronically on www.brownadvisoryfunds.com. You may change your delivery preference and resume
receiving these documents through the mail at any time by updating your electronic delivery preferences on www.brownadvisoryfunds.com or contacting the Fund at 1‑800‑540‑6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064.
Householding. In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund will reduce the number of duplicate Prospectuses and annual and semi-annual reports that you receive
by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shown by two or more accounts. Please call the Transfer Agent toll free at 1‑800‑540‑6807 to request individual copies of these documents. The Fund will begin sending individual copies 30
days after receiving your request. This policy does not apply to account statements.
Confirmations. If you purchase shares directly from the Fund, you will receive a confirmation statement detailing the transaction. Automatic
reinvestments of distributions may be confirmed via a monthly or quarterly statement. Systematic investments/withdrawals will be confirmed only on a quarterly statement. You may consent to receive confirmations and quarterly statements
electronically at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com, otherwise your confirmation and quarterly statements will be sent in the mail. You should verify the accuracy of all transactions in your account as soon as you receive your confirmations
and quarterly statements.
Portfolio Holdings. A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s
SAI.
Policy on Prohibition of Foreign Shareholders. Shares of the Fund have not been registered for sale outside of the United States. Accordingly, the Fund
generally requires that all shareholders must be U.S. persons with a valid U.S. taxpayer identification number to open an account with the Fund. The Fund generally does not sell shares to investors residing outside the United States, even if
they are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents, except to investors with United States military APO or FPO addresses, investors who are clients of the Adviser or its affiliates, or other investors meeting eligibility requirements
as determined by the Adviser. The Fund reserves the right to close the account within 5 business days if clarifying information or documentation is not received.
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Your Account – Account and
Transaction Policies
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Canceled or Failed Payments. The Fund accepts checks and ACH transfers at full value subject to collection. If the Fund does not receive your payment for
shares or you pay with a check or ACH transfer that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled within 2 business days of bank notification. You will be responsible for any actual losses or expenses incurred by the Fund or the Transfer
Agent as a result of the cancellation, and the Fund may redeem shares you own in the account (or another identically registered account that you maintain with the Transfer Agent) as reimbursement. The Fund and its agents have the right to
reject or cancel any purchase or exchange (purchase side only) due to nonpayment.
Lost Shareholders, Inactive Accounts and Unclaimed Property. It is important that the Fund maintains a correct address for each shareholder. An incorrect
address may cause a shareholder’s account statements and other mailings to be returned to the Fund. Based upon statutory requirements for returned mail, the Fund will attempt to locate the shareholder or rightful owner of the account. If the
Fund is unable to locate the shareholder, then it will determine whether the shareholder’s account can legally be considered abandoned. Your mutual fund account may be transferred to the state government of your state of residence if no
activity occurs within your account during the “inactivity period” specified in your state’s abandoned property laws. The Fund is legally obligated to escheat (or transfer) abandoned property to the appropriate state’s unclaimed property
administrator in accordance with statutory requirements. The shareholder’s last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction. Please proactively contact the Transfer Agent at 800-540-6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064 at
least annually to ensure your account remains in active status.
If you are a resident of the state of Texas, you may designate a representative to receive notifications that, due to inactivity, your mutual fund account assets may be delivered to the Texas
Comptroller. Please contact the Transfer Agent if you wish to complete a Texas Designation of Representative form.
Additional Information
The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, principal underwriter, custodian, administrator and transfer agent who
provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to any such contractual arrangements or intended beneficiaries of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any shareholder any
right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.
This prospectus provides information concerning the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase Fund shares. Neither this prospectus, the Statement of Additional Information,
any documents filed as exhibits, nor any other communications, disclosure documents or regulatory filings from or on behalf of the Trust or the Fund is intended, or should be read, to be or give rise to an agreement or contract between the
Trust, the Trustees or the Fund and any investor, or to give rise to any rights in any shareholder or other person other than any rights under federal or state law that may not be waived.
Distributions
The Fund will declare distributions from net investment income, if any, on a daily basis, with the distributions payable each month. Any net capital gain realized by the Fund will be distributed
at least annually. The Fund may make an additional payment of dividends or distributions if it deems it desirable at other times during any year.
All distributions of the Fund are reinvested in additional shares, unless you choose one of the following options:
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(1)
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receive dividends in cash, while reinvesting capital gain distributions in additional Fund shares;
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(2)
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receive all distributions in cash; or
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(3)
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reinvest dividends in additional Fund shares while receiving capital gain distributions in cash.
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You may change your dividend and capital gain distribution election in writing or by calling the Transfer Agent in advance of the next distribution.
For Federal income tax purposes, distributions are treated the same whether they are received in cash or reinvested. Shares become entitled to receive distributions on the day after the shares
are issued.
If an investor elects to receive distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check, or if a check remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest
the distribution check in the shareholder’s account at the Fund’s then current NAV and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.
The Fund intends to qualify to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, the
Fund generally will not be subject to tax if it distributes its income as required by the tax law and satisfies certain other requirements that are described in the SAI.
Dividends paid by the Fund will qualify as “exempt-interest dividends,” and will be excludable from gross income by its shareholders, because the Fund will invest at least 50% of the value of its
total assets in securities the interest on which is excludable from gross income.
You will generally be taxed on the Fund’s taxable distributions, regardless of whether you reinvest them or receive them in cash. The Fund’s taxable distributions of net investment income and
short-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to you as ordinary income. The Fund’s distributions of long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to you as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held your shares.
Distributions may also be subject to certain state and local taxes. Some Fund distributions may also include nontaxable returns of capital. Return of capital distributions reduce your tax basis in your Fund shares and are treated as gain from
the sale of the shares to the extent your basis would be reduced below zero.
A portion of the Fund’s taxable distributions may be treated as “qualified dividend income,” taxable to individuals at a maximum federal tax rate of 15% or 20%, depending on whether the
individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. A distribution may be 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 certain 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, the distributions
are not treated as qualified dividend income. The Fund’s distributions of dividends that it receives from REITs generally do not constitute “qualified dividend income.”
The maximum federal tax rate for individual taxpayers applicable to long-term capital gains and income from certain qualifying dividends on certain corporate stock is generally either 15% or 20%,
depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. A shareholder will also have to satisfy a more than 60-day holding period for the Fund shares with respect to any distributions of qualifying dividends in order to
obtain the benefit of the lower tax rates. These rate reductions do not apply to corporate taxpayers.
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Distributions and Taxes
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A 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions 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.
Distributions of capital gain and distributions of net investment income reduce the NAV of the Fund’s shares by the amount of the distribution. If you purchase shares prior to these distributions,
you are taxed on the distributions even though the distributions represent a return of your investment.
Individuals (and certain other non-corporate entities) are generally eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to taxable ordinary dividends from REITs and certain taxable income from publicly
traded partnerships. Currently, there is not a regulatory mechanism for the Fund to pass-through the special character of this income to shareholders.
The sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable transaction for Federal income tax purposes. You will recognize a gain or loss on such transactions equal to the difference, if any, between the
amount of your net sales proceeds and your tax basis in the Fund shares. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if you held your Fund shares as capital assets. Any capital gain or loss will generally be treated as long-term capital
gain or loss if you held the Fund shares for more than one year at the time of the sale or exchange, and otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss.
The Fund may be required to withhold Federal income tax at the Federal backup withholding rate on all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds otherwise payable to you if you fail to provide
the Fund with your correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or if you have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts
withheld may be credited against your Federal income tax liability, so long as you provide the required information or certification. Investment income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income
taxes withheld at the source.
After December 31 of each year, the Fund will mail you reports containing information about the income tax classification of distributions paid during the year.
If more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of its taxable year consists of foreign stock or securities, the Fund may elect to “pass through” to its investors certain foreign income
taxes paid by the Fund, with the result that each investor will (i) include in gross income, even though not actually received, the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s foreign income taxes, and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S.
taxable income) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal tax), subject to certain limitations, the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s foreign income taxes. See the discussion in the SAI under “Taxation – Foreign Income Tax” for more
information.
Additional Tax Matters. It is anticipated that substantially all of the Fund’s net income will be exempt from Federal income taxes.
Generally, you are not subject to Federal income tax on the Fund’s distributions of its tax-exempt interest income, although such distributions may be subject to the Federal alternative minimum
tax (“AMT”). Distributions from the Fund’s net investment income from other sources and net short-term capital gain, if any, generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions will generally be subject to state and local taxes.
For further information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund, including state and local tax matters, please see the SAI and consult your tax adviser.
No financial highlights are presented because the Fund had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.
At Brown Advisory, we believe that you deserve frank and open communication on all aspects of our relationship. In this spirit, we provide this annual summary of our policies relating to confidentiality and privacy of
client information, mutual funds, conflicts of interest, trading commissions, proxy voting and Form ADV annual notice.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY POLICY
Brown Advisory takes the confidentiality of your personal information and the privacy of your account very seriously. Our commitment to safeguard your personal information goes beyond our legal obligation to process
your transactions accurately and securely. Whether we serve you online, in person, on the telephone or by mail, the principles that guide the way in which we conduct business are built upon the core values of trust and integrity.
We limit access to your personal information to only those employees with a business reason to know such information. We train and consistently remind all employees to respect client privacy and to recognize the
importance of the confidentiality of such information. Those who violate our privacy policy are subject to disciplinary action. This commitment also applies to the sharing of information among Brown Advisory and its affiliates.
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, including various measures to protect your personal information while
it is stored electronically.
Federal law requires us to inform you that we have on record personal information about you and that we obtain such information from you directly (e.g., information you provide to us on account applications and other
forms, such as your name, address, social security number, occupation, assets and income) and indirectly (e.g., information on our computer systems about your transactions with us, such as your account balance and account holdings). Any
personal information you choose to provide is kept confidential and allows us to: (i) provide better and more complete investment and strategic advice; (ii) develop new services that meet additional needs you may have; and, (iii) comply with
legal and regulatory requirements.
In addition, in the normal conduct of our business, it may become necessary for us to share information relating to our clients that we have on record, as described above, with companies not affiliated with us who are
under contract to perform services on our behalf. For example, we have contracted with companies to assist us in complying with anti-terrorist and anti-money laundering statutory requirements (including the identification and reporting of
activities that may involve terrorist acts or money laundering activities), companies that provide clearing services, and other vendors that provide services directly related to your account relationship with us. Our agreements with these
companies require that they keep your information confidential and not use such information for any unrelated purpose.
We do not sell information about you to third parties, and we do not otherwise disclose information to third parties without your permission or unless required by law.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Annual/Semi-Annual Reports
As of the date of this Prospectus, annual and semi-annual reports for the Fund are not yet available as this Fund had not commenced operations. The annual and semi-annual
reports will provide additional information about the Fund’s investments, as well as the most recent financial reports and portfolio listings. The annual report will contain a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies
that affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”)
The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into, and is legally part of, this Prospectus.
Contacting the Fund
You can get free copies of the Prospectus, SAI and annual/semi-annual reports or other information by visiting the Fund’s website at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com or by contacting the Fund at:
Brown Advisory Funds
c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
800-540-6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064
Securities and Exchange Commission Information
You may also view and copy information about the Trust and the Fund, including the SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders, by visiting the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. You
may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Distributor
ALPS Distributors, Inc.
1290 Broadway Street, Suite 1100
Denver, Co 80203
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BROWN ADVISORY TAX-EXEMPT SUSTAINABLE BOND FUND
Institutional Shares ([ ])
Investor Shares ([ ])
Advisor Shares ([ ])
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Investment Company Act File No. 811‑22708
The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion—Dated September 18, 2019
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS
[ ], 2019
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BROWN ADVISORY TAX-EXEMPT SUSTAINABLE BOND FUND
Institutional Shares ([ ])
Investor Shares ([ ])
Advisor Shares ([ ])
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This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) provides additional information to the Prospectus dated [ ], 2019, as may be amended from time to time. This SAI is not a prospectus and should only be read
in conjunction with the Prospectus. You may obtain the Prospectus without charge by contacting U.S. Bank Global Fund Services at the address or telephone number listed above or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com/mf.
Investors in the Fund will be informed of the Fund’s progress through periodic reports. Financial statements certified by an independent registered public accounting firm will be submitted to shareholders at
least annually. Since the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, financial statements are not currently available. The Annual Report for this Fund will become available after the Fund has commenced investment
operations and has completed its fiscal year.
Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained, without charge, upon request by contacting U.S. Bank Global Fund Services at the address or telephone number listed above.
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As used in this SAI, the following terms have the meanings listed:
“Accountant” means U.S. Bank Global Fund Services.
“Administrator” means U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services.
“Adviser” means Brown Advisory LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser.
“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
“CFTC” means Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended the rules thereunder, IRS interpretations and any private letter rulings or similar authority upon which the Fund may rely.
“Custodian” means U.S. Bank National Association.
“Distributor” means ALPS Distributors, Inc.
“Fund” means the Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund.
“Fund Services” means U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services.
“Independent Trustee” means a Trustee that is not an interested person of the Trust as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
“IRS” means U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service.
“NAV” means net asset value per share.
“NRSRO” means a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
“SAI” means Statement of Additional Information.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings.
“Transfer Agent” means U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services.
“Trust” means Brown Advisory Funds.
“U.S.” means United States.
“U.S. Government Securities” means obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
“1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and including rules and regulations as promulgated thereunder.
“1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and including rules and regulations as promulgated thereunder.
“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and including rules and regulations, SEC interpretations and any exemptive order applicable to the Fund or interpretive relief promulgated
thereunder.
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized on May 1, 2012 and is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) permits
the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest, without par value, which may be issued in any number of series and classes, with each series representing a separate
portfolio of investments with its own investment objectives, policies and restrictions. The Board may, from time to time, issue additional series, the assets and liabilities of which will be separate and distinct from any other series. The
Trust currently offers 19 separate investment series, or mutual funds, 18 of which are offered in a separate SAI. This SAI discusses the Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund (the “Fund”).
As a Delaware statutory trust, the Trust is subject to Delaware law, including the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The Delaware Statutory Trust Act provides that a shareholder of a Delaware statutory trust shall
be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to shareholders of Delaware corporations, and the Declaration of Trust further provides that no shareholder of the Trust shall be personally liable for the obligations of the
Trust or of any series or class thereof except by reason of his or her own acts or conduct.
The Fund is a non-diversified series of the Trust. Please see the Prospectus for a discussion of the principal investment policies and risks of investing in the Fund.
The Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI are a part of the Trust’s Registration Statement filed with the SEC. Copies of the Trust’s complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the
prescribed fee or may be accessed free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The Fund’s principal investment strategies and the risks associated with the same are described in the “Summary Section,” “Additional Information about the Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal
Risks” sections of the Prospectus. The following discussion provides additional information about those principal investment strategies and related risks, as well as information about investment strategies (and related risks) that the Fund may
utilize, even though they are not considered to be “principal” investment strategies. Accordingly, an investment strategy (and related risk) that is described below, but which is not described in the Fund’s Prospectus, should not be considered
to be a principal strategy (or related risk) applicable to that Fund.
Equity Securities
Common and Preferred Stock
General. The Fund may invest in common stock. Common stock represents an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends.
Dividends on common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation
potential because increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price.
The Fund may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated,
although preferred stock is usually junior to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.
Risks. The fundamental risk of investing in common and preferred stock is the risk that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response to the
activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. Historically, common stocks have provided greater long-term returns and have entailed greater short-term risks than preferred stocks, fixed-income
and money market investments. The market value of all securities, including common and preferred stocks, is based upon the market’s perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measures of a company’s
worth. If you invest in the Fund, you should be willing to accept the risks of the stock market and should consider an investment in the Fund only as a part of your overall investment portfolio.
Convertible Securities
General. The Fund may invest in convertible securities. The Fund may also invest in U.S. or foreign securities convertible into foreign common stock. Convertible
securities include debt securities, preferred stock or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a given amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer during a specified period and at a specified price in the
future. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest on debt or the dividend on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.
Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a company’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities. Convertible securities have unique investment
characteristics in that they generally: (1) have higher yields than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities; (2) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying stocks since they have fixed income
characteristics; and (3) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases.
A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security is called for redemption, the
Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party.
Risks. Investment in convertible securities generally entails less risk than an investment in the issuer’s common stock. Convertible securities are typically issued by
smaller capitalization companies whose stock price may be volatile. Therefore, the price of a convertible security may reflect variations in the price of the underlying common stock in a way that nonconvertible debt does not. The extent to
which such risk is reduced, however, depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security.
Security Ratings Information. The Fund’s investments in convertible securities are subject to the credit risk relating to the financial condition of the issuers of the
securities that the Fund holds. The Fund may purchase convertible securities of any rating – investment grade or non-investment grade. The Fund may purchase unrated convertible securities and preferred stock if, at the time of purchase, the
Adviser believes that they are of comparable quality to rated securities that the Fund may purchase.
Unrated securities may not be as actively traded as rated securities. The Fund may retain securities whose rating has been lowered below the lowest permissible rating category (or that are unrated and determined
by the Adviser to be of comparable quality to securities whose rating has been lowered below the lowest permissible rating category) if the Adviser determine that retaining such security is in the best interests of the Fund. Because a downgrade
often results in a reduction in the market price of the security, the sale of a downgraded security may result in a loss.
Moody’s, S&P and other NRSROs are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations, including convertible securities. A description of the range of ratings assigned to various
types of bonds and other securities by several NRSROs is included in Appendix A to this SAI. The Fund may use these ratings to determine whether to purchase, sell or hold a security. Ratings are
general and are not absolute standards of quality. Securities with the same maturity, interest rate and rating may have different market prices. To the extent that the ratings given by an NRSRO may change as a result of changes in such
organizations or their rating systems, the Adviser will attempt to substitute comparable ratings. Credit ratings attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value.
Also, rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings. An issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates.
Credit ratings for debt securities provided by rating agencies evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not market value risk. The rating of an issuer is a rating agency’s view of past and future
potential developments related to the issuer and may not necessarily reflect actual outcomes. There can be a lag between the time of developments relating to an issuer and the time a rating is assigned and updated. See Appendix A for additional information on credit ratings.
Warrants
General. The Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are securities, typically issued with preferred stock or bonds that give the holder the right to purchase a given number
of shares of common stock at a specified price and time. The price of the warrant usually represents a premium over the applicable market value of the common stock at the time of the warrant’s issuance. Warrants have no voting rights with
respect to the common stock, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
Risks. Investments in warrants involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for the resale of the warrants, potential price fluctuations due to
adverse market conditions or other factors and failure of the price of the common stock to rise. If the warrant is not exercised within the specified time period, it becomes worthless.
Depositary Receipts
General. The Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts
(“GDRs”), Holding Company Depositary Receipts (“HOLDRs”), New York Registered Shares (“NYRs”) American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), or Non-Voting Depositary Receipts (“NVDRs”). ADRs typically are issued by a U.S. bank or trust company, evidence
ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign company, and are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. EDRs are issued by European financial institutions and typically trade in Europe and GDRs are issued by European financial
institutions and typically trade in both Europe and the United States. HOLDRs trade on the American Stock Exchange and are fixed baskets of U.S. or foreign stocks that give an investor an ownership interest in each of the underlying stocks.
NYRs, also known as Guilder Shares since most of the issuing companies are Dutch, are dollar-denominated certificates issued by foreign companies specifically for the U.S. market. ADSs are shares issued under a deposit agreement that represents
an underlying security in the issuer’s home country. (An ADS is the actual share trading, while an ADR represents a bundle of ADSs). NVDRs are listed securities through which investors receive the same financial benefits as those who invest
directly in a company’s common stock; however, unlike common stockholders, NVDR holders cannot be involved in proxy voting if the company solicits votes from stockholders.
The Fund invests in depositary receipts in order to obtain exposure to foreign securities markets. For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, the Fund’s investment in an ADR will be considered an investment
in the underlying securities of the applicable foreign company.
Risks. Unsponsored depositary receipts may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these receipts generally bear all the costs of the
depositary receipt facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs of a sponsored depositary receipt. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored depositary receipt may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder
communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. Accordingly, available information concerning the issuer may not be current and the prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than the prices
of sponsored depositary receipts.
Foreign Securities
The Fund may invest in foreign securities. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may involve risks in addition to those normally associated with investments in the securities of U.S. issuers. All
foreign investments are subject to risks of: (1) foreign political and economic instability; (2) adverse movements in foreign exchange rates; (3) the imposition or tightening of exchange controls or other limitations on repatriation of foreign
capital; and (4) changes in foreign governmental attitudes towards private investment, including potential nationalization, increased taxation or confiscation of the Fund’s assets. The Fund may invest in non-US dollar denominated securities
including debt obligations denominated in foreign or composite currencies (such as the European Currency Unit) issued by (1) foreign national, provincial, state or municipal governments or their political subdivisions; (2) international
organizations designated or supported by governmental entities (e.g., the World Bank and the European Community); (3) non-dollar securities issued by the U.S. Government; and (4) foreign corporations.
In addition, interest and dividends payable on foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thereby reducing the income available for distribution to you. Some foreign brokerage commissions and
custody fees are higher than those in the U.S. Foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards differ from those in the U.S. and therefore, less information may be available about foreign companies than is available about issuers
of comparable U.S. companies. Foreign securities also may trade less frequently and with lower volume and may exhibit greater price volatility than U.S. securities.
Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the U.S. dollar value of all foreign currency-denominated securities held by the Fund. Exchange rates are influenced generally by the forces of supply and demand in
the foreign currency markets and by numerous other political and economic events occurring outside the United States, many of which may be difficult, if not impossible, to predict.
Income from foreign securities will be received and realized in foreign currencies and the Fund is required to compute and distribute income in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, a decline in the value of a particular
foreign currency against the U.S. dollar after the Fund’s income has been earned and computed in U.S. dollars may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio securities to acquire sufficient U.S. dollars to make a distribution. Similarly, if the
exchange rate declines between the time the Fund incurs expenses in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses are paid, the Fund may be required to liquidate additional foreign securities to purchase the U.S. dollars required to meet such
expenses.
Emerging Markets
Investing in emerging markets can have more risk than investing in developed foreign markets. The risks of investing in these markets may be exacerbated relative to investments in foreign markets. Governments
of developing and emerging market countries may be more unstable as compared to more developed countries. Developing and emerging market countries may have less developed securities markets or exchanges, and legal and accounting systems. It
may be more difficult to sell securities at acceptable prices and security prices may be more volatile than in countries with more mature markets. Currency values may fluctuate more in developing or emerging markets. Developing or emerging
market countries may be more likely to impose government restrictions, including confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, and restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies. In addition, emerging
markets may impose restrictions on the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital and thus, may adversely affect the operations of the Fund. Certain emerging markets may impose constraints on currency exchange and some
currencies in emerging markets may have been devalued significantly against the U.S. dollar. For these and other reasons, the prices of securities in emerging markets can fluctuate more significantly than the prices of securities of companies
in developed countries. The less developed the country, the greater effect these risks may have on the Fund.
European Securities Risks
European countries can be significantly affected by the actions of their own individual governments as well as the actions of other European institutions, such as the European Union (“EU”), the European Economic
and Monetary Union (“EMU”) and the European Central Bank. The EU is an intergovernmental and supranational union consisting of 28 member states. One of the key responsibilities of the EU is to create and administer a unified trade policy.
The member states created the EMU that established different stages and commitments that member states need to follow to achieve greater economic policy coordination and monetary cooperation. Member states relinquish their monetary control to
the European Central Bank and use a single unified currency, the euro.
Investments in Europe are also subject to currency risks. Further, because many countries are dependent on foreign exports, any fluctuations in the euro exchange rate could have a negative effect on an issuer’s
profitability and performance.
The EU has been extending its influence to the east as it has accepted several new Eastern European countries as members. Some of the new members remain burdened by the inherited inefficiencies of centrally
planned economies. Additionally, these countries are dependent on Western Europe for trade and credit. The current and future status of the EU continues to be the subject of political and regulatory controversy, with widely differing views
both within and between member countries.
The European financial markets have experienced uncertainty over the past few years, largely because of concerns about rising government debt levels and increased budget deficits. Political and regulatory
responses to address structural and policy issues have created even greater instability throughout the region. The high levels of public debt increases the likelihood that certain European issuers will either default or restructure their debt
obligations, which would have a negative effect on asset values. The use of austerity measures in countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Ireland during times in which the eurozone has high levels of unemployment has limited
economic growth. European countries can be adversely affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU requires its members to comply with. Due to the severity and prolonged economic crisis in Europe, it is possible that one or
more of the EU members could abandon the euro and revert to a national currency, or otherwise cease to be a member of the EU. Although it is impossible to predict the effects of one or more countries exiting the EU, the outcome would likely
lead to economic instability that would impact not only the EU member countries but the global economy as well.
In a 2016 referendum, citizens of the United Kingdom voted to withdraw from the EU, which caused significant volatility in global financial markets. The United Kingdom has formally notified the European Council
of its intention to withdraw from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”) by invoking Article 50, which triggered negotiations on the terms of Brexit. There is significant uncertainty regarding the potential consequences and precise timeframe
for Brexit. During this period of uncertainty, the United Kingdom and European economies and the broader global economy may experience increased volatility and illiquidity, and companies that conduct a significant amount of business in the
United Kingdom or Europe may experience lower revenue and/or profit growth, all of which may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Brexit also may cause additional member states to contemplate departing the EU, which would
likely perpetuate political and economic instability in the region and cause additional market disruption in global financial markets.
Derivatives
Some of the instruments in which the Fund may invest may be referred to as “derivatives,” because their value “derives” from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. These instruments include
options, futures contracts, forward currency contracts, swap agreements and similar instruments. The market value of derivative instruments and securities sometimes may be more volatile than those of other instruments and each type of
derivative instrument may have its own special risks.
Some over-the-counter derivative instruments may expose the Fund to the credit risk of its counterparty. In the event the counterparty to such a derivative instrument becomes insolvent, the Fund potentially
could lose all or a large portion of its investment in the derivative instrument.
Investing for hedging purposes or to increase the Fund’s return may result in certain additional transaction costs that may reduce the Fund’s performance. In addition, when used for hedging purposes, no
assurance can be given that each derivative position will achieve a close correlation with the security or currency that is the subject of the hedge, or that a particular derivative position will be available when sought by the Adviser. While
hedging strategies involving derivatives can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other Fund investments. Certain derivatives may create a
risk of loss greater than the amount invested.
Options and Futures
General
The Fund may (1) purchase or write options on securities in which it may invest or on market indices based in whole or in part on the securities in which it may invest; (2) invest in futures contracts on market
indices based in whole or in part on securities in which it may invest; and (3) purchase or write put and call options on these futures contracts. The Fund may invest in futures contracts on indices based in whole or in part on the securities
in which it may invest including municipal bond futures and Treasury bond and note futures. The Fund will participate in such transactions to enhance the Fund’s performance or hedge against a decline in the value of securities owned by the Fund
or an increase in the price of securities that the Fund plans to purchase.
Options purchased or written by the Fund must be traded on an exchange or over-the-counter. Options and futures contracts are considered to be derivatives. Use of these instruments is subject to regulation by the
SEC, the options and futures exchanges on which futures and options are traded or by the CFTC. No assurance can be given that any hedging or income strategy will achieve its intended result.
The Fund may invest more than 5% of its respective net assets in options and futures for purposes of achieving their investment objective, portfolio management, risk mitigation, hedging, equitizing cash or for
purposes of enhancing total return. If the Fund will be financially exposed to another party due to its investments in options or futures, the Fund will comply with SEC guidelines with respect to coverage of these strategies and, if the
guidelines require, will maintain either: (1) an offsetting (“covered”) position in the underlying security or an offsetting option or futures contract; or (2) cash, receivables and/or liquid debt securities with a value sufficient at all times
to cover its potential obligations. The Fund will set aside such cash, liquid securities and other permissible assets (“Segregated Assets”) on the books and records of the Fund’s Custodian. Segregated Assets cannot be sold or closed out while
the hedging strategy is outstanding, unless the Segregated Assets are replaced with similar assets. As a result, there is a possibility that the use of cover or segregation involving a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede
portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
To the extent that the Fund uses futures and/or options on futures, it will do so in accordance with Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”).
Options and Futures Contracts
Options on Securities. A call option is a contract under which the purchaser of the call option, in return for a premium paid, has the right to buy the security (or index)
underlying the option at a specified price at any time during the term of the option. The writer of the call option, who receives the premium, has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security against payment of
the exercise price. A put option gives its purchaser, in return for a premium, the right to sell the underlying security at a specified price during the term of the option. The writer of the put, who receives the premium, has the obligation to
buy, upon exercise of the option, the underlying security (or a cash amount equal to the value of the index) at the exercise price. The amount of a premium received or paid for an option is based upon certain factors including the market price
of the underlying security, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price, the historical price volatility of the underlying security, the option period and interest rates.
Options on Stock Indices. A stock index assigns relative values to the stock included in the index, and the index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the
stocks included in the index. Stock index options operate in the same way as the more traditional options on securities except that stock index options are settled exclusively in cash and do not involve delivery of securities. Thus, upon
exercise of stock index options, the purchaser will realize and the writer will pay an amount based on the differences between the exercise price and the closing price of the stock index.
Options on Futures. Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return
for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract rather than to purchase or sell a security, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures
position to the holder of the option will be accompanied by transfer to the holder of an accumulated balance representing the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case
of a put, the exercise price of the option on the future.
Futures Contracts and Index Futures Contracts. A futures contract is a bilateral agreement where one party agrees to accept, and the other party agrees to make, delivery
of cash or an underlying debt security, as called for in the contract, at a specified date and at an agreed upon price.
An index futures contract involves the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount multiplied by the difference between the index value at the close of trading of the contract and at the
price designated by the futures contract. No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made. Generally, these futures contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contracts.
A municipal bond futures contract is based on the value of the Bond Buyer Index (“BBI”) which is comprised of 40 actively traded general obligation and revenue bonds. The rating of a BBI issue must be at least
“A.” To be considered, the issue must have at least 19 years remaining to maturity, a first call date between 7 and 16 years, and at least one call at par prior to redemption. No physical delivery of the securities is made in connection with
municipal bond futures. Rather these contracts are usually settled in cash if they are not closed out prior to their expiration date.
A Treasury bond futures contract is based on the value of an equivalent 20-year, 6% Treasury bond. Generally, any Treasury bond with a remaining maturity or term to call of 15 years as of the first day of the
month in which the contracts are scheduled to be exercised will qualify as a deliverable security pursuant to a Treasury bond futures contract. A Treasury note futures contract is based on the value of an equivalent 10-year, 6% Treasury note.
Generally, any Treasury note with a remaining maturity or term to call of 6 1/2 years or 10 years, respectively, as of the first day of the month in which the
contracts are scheduled to be exercised will qualify as a deliverable security pursuant to Treasury note futures contract.
Since a number of different Treasury notes will qualify as a deliverable security upon the exercise of the option, the price that the buyer will actually pay for those securities will depend on which ones are
actually delivered. Normally, the exercise price of the futures contract is adjusted by a conversion factor that takes into consideration the value of the deliverable security if it were yielding 6% as of the first day of the month in which the
contract is scheduled to be exercised.
Risks of Options and Futures Transactions
There are certain investment risks associated with options and futures transactions. These risks include: (1) dependence on the Adviser’s ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities and
fluctuations in the general securities markets; (2) imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of options and movements in the price of the securities (or indices) hedged or used for cover which may cause a given hedge not to achieve
its objective; (3) the fact that the skills and techniques needed to trade these instruments are different from those needed to select the securities in which the Fund invests; and (4) lack of assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist
for any particular instrument at any particular time, which, among other things, may hinder the Fund’s ability to limit exposures by closing its positions. The potential loss to the Fund from investing in certain types of futures transactions
is unlimited.
Other risks include the inability of the Fund, as the writer of covered call options, to benefit from any appreciation of the underlying securities above the exercise price, and the possible loss of the entire
premium paid for options purchased by the Fund. In addition, the futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices or related options during a single trading day. The Fund may be forced,
therefore, to liquidate or close out a futures contract position at a disadvantageous price. There is no assurance that a counterparty in an over-the-counter option transaction will be able to perform its obligations. The Fund may use various
futures contracts that are relatively new instruments without a significant trading history. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market in those contracts will develop or continue to exist. The Fund’s activities in
the futures and options markets may result in higher portfolio turnover rates and additional brokerage costs, which could reduce the Fund’s yield.
Short Sales
The Fund may make short sales as a part of overall portfolio management or to offset a potential decline in the value of a security. A short sale involves the sale of a security that the Fund does not own, or if
the Fund owns the security, is not to be delivered upon consummation of the sale. When the Fund makes a short sale of a security that it does not own, it must borrow from a broker-dealer the security sold short and deliver the security to the
broker-dealer upon conclusion of the short sale.
If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund
will realize a short-term capital gain. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is theoretically unlimited.
Typically, the Fund will segregate liquid assets, which are marked-to-market daily, equal to the difference between (a) the market value of the securities sold short at the time they were sold short and (b) the
value of the collateral deposited with the broker in connection with the short sale (not including the proceeds from the short sale). While the short position is open, the Fund must maintain segregated assets at such a level that the amount
segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral equal the current market value of the securities sold short. When a short position is closed out, it may result in a short term capital gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes. To the extent that in a generally rising market the Fund maintains short positions in securities rising with the market, the net asset value of the Fund would be expected to increase to a lesser extent than the net asset value of an
investment company that does not engage in short sales.
Typically, the Fund will only make short sales “against the box,” which occurs when the Fund enters into a short sale transaction with respect to a security it either owns or has the right to obtain at no additional cost. However, with respect to the Fund the dollar amount of short sales at any one time (not including short sales against the box) may not exceed 25% of the net assets of the Fund, and it is expected that normally the dollar amount of such sales will not exceed 10% of the net assets of the Fund.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities
Illiquid Investments. The Fund may not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets
in illiquid investments that are assets. An “illiquid investment” is any investment that may not reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition
significantly changing the market value of the investment. The Adviser will monitor the amount of illiquid investments in the Fund’s portfolio, under the supervision of the Board, to ensure compliance with the Fund’s investment restrictions.
If securities that were liquid at the time of purchase subsequently become illiquid and result in the Fund holding illiquid investments in excess of 15% of its net assets, the Fund will no longer purchase additional illiquid investments and
will reduce its holdings of illiquid investments in an orderly manner, but it is not required to dispose of illiquid holdings immediately if it is not in the interest of the Fund.
Historically, illiquid investments have included securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), securities which are otherwise not readily marketable and repurchase agreements having a maturity of longer than seven days. As described below, in some cases, securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on
resales may not be deemed to be illiquid (see “Restricted Securities” below). Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of these illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation.
Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities, and the Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid investment promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying
redemption requests within seven days.
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “LRM Program”) pursuant to which the Fund identifies illiquid investments. Under the LRM Program, the Adviser has been designated to
administer the LRM Program and the Adviser has in turn delegated certain responsibilities to a Liquidity Risk Management Committee, which is comprised of certain operations, compliance, trading, and portfolio management representatives of the
Adviser. The Adviser preliminarily identifies illiquid investments based on, among other things, the trading characteristics and market depth of a particular investment.
The Adviser classifies all portfolio holdings of the Fund at least monthly into one of four liquidity classifications pursuant to the procedure set forth in the LRM Program. The liquidity
classifications, which are defined in Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, are highly liquid, moderately liquid, less liquid, and illiquid investments. In determining these classifications, the Adviser will consider the relevant market, trading, and
investment-specific considerations for a particular investment. Moreover, in making such classification determinations, the Fund must determine whether trading varying portions of a position in a particular portfolio investment or asset class,
in sizes that the Fund would reasonably anticipate trading, is reasonably expected to significantly affect its liquidity, and if so, the Fund must take this determination into account when classifying the liquidity of that investment. In
addition, the Adviser may also consider the following factors in its determination: (i) the existence of an active market; (ii) whether it is exchange-traded; (iii) frequency of trades or quotes and average daily trading volume; (iv) volatility
of trading prices; (v) bid-ask spreads; (vi) whether the asset has a relatively standardized and simple structure; (vii) the maturity and date of issue (as applicable); and (viii) any restrictions on transfer.
Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest in securities that are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the Securities Act. These
securities are sometimes referred to as private placements. Although securities which may be resold only to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act are technically considered
“restricted securities,” the Fund may purchase Rule 144A securities without regard to the limitation on investments in illiquid securities described above in the “Illiquid Securities” section, provided that a determination is made that such
securities have a readily available trading market. The Fund may also purchase certain commercial paper issued in reliance on the exemption from regulations in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (“4(a)(2) Paper”). The Adviser, as
appropriate, will determine the liquidity of Rule 144A securities and 4(a)(2) Paper under the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. The liquidity of Rule 144A securities and 4(a)(2) Paper will be monitored by the Adviser, as appropriate,
and if as a result of changed conditions it is determined that a Rule 144A security or 4(a)(2) Paper is no longer liquid, the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities will be reviewed to determine what action, if any, is appropriate. The Fund
may determine that it is appropriate to continue to hold such instrument for a period of time to avoid a distressed sale which would be harmful to shareholders.
Limitations on the resale of restricted securities may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted securities promptly or at
reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemption requirements. The Fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse
market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.
Determination of Liquidity
The Board has the ultimate responsibility for determining whether specific securities are liquid or illiquid and has delegated the function of making determinations of liquidity to the Valuation Committee and the
Adviser, pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board. The Adviser (under the supervision of the Adviser), determine and monitor the liquidity of the portfolio securities and report periodically on their decisions to the Board. In making such
determinations they take into account a number of factors in reaching liquidity decisions, including but not limited to: (1) the frequency of trades and quotations for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the
security and the number of other potential buyers; (3) the willingness of dealers to undertake to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the marketplace trades, including the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of
soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer.
Private placement and other restricted securities may be considered illiquid securities as they typically are subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Restricted
securities that are “illiquid” are subject to the Fund’s policy of not investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. The Adviser will evaluate the liquidity characteristics of restricted securities on a case-by-case basis
and will consider the factors described above in connection with its evaluation.
An institutional market has developed for certain restricted securities. Accordingly, contractual or legal restrictions on the resale of a security may not be indicative of the liquidity of the security. If such
securities are eligible for purchase by institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act or other exemptions, the Adviser may determine that the securities are liquid.
Risks. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of a security and the Fund might also have to register a restricted security in order to
dispose of it, resulting in expense and delay. The Fund might not be able to dispose of private placements, restricted or illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemption
requests. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist for any security at any particular time. Any security, including securities determined by the Adviser to be liquid, can become illiquid.
Investment Company Securities
Open-End and Closed-End Investment Companies
General. The Fund may invest in other open-end and closed-end investment companies consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and strategies. The Fund may also
invest in money market mutual funds, pending investment of cash balances. The Fund will limit its investment in the securities of other open-end and closed-end investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. With certain
exceptions, such provisions generally permit the Fund to invest up to 5% of their assets in another investment company, up to 10% of their assets in investment companies generally and hold up to 3% of the shares of another investment company,
and may invest greater than 10% of their assets in other investment companies subject to applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The Fund’s investment in other investment companies may include money market mutual
funds, which are not subject to certain of the percentage limitations set forth above.
Risks. The Fund, as a shareholder of another investment company, will bear its pro-rata portion of the other investment company’s advisory fee and other expenses, in
addition to its own expenses and will be exposed to the investment risks associated with the other investment company. To the extent that the Fund invests in closed-end companies that invest primarily in the common stock of companies located
outside the United States, see the risks related to foreign securities set forth in the section entitled “Investment Policies and Risks – Equity Securities – Foreign Securities Risks” above.
Exchange-Traded Funds and Exchange-Traded Notes
General. The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). ETFs are investment companies that are bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF represents a
fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. The Fund may also invest in exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), which are structured debt securities. Whereas ETFs’ liabilities are secured by their portfolio
securities, ETNs’ liabilities are unsecured general obligations of the issuer. Most ETFs and ETNs are designed to track a particular market segment or index. ETFs and ETNs have expenses associated with their operation, typically including, with
respect to ETFs, advisory fees. When the Fund invests in an ETF or ETN, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear its pro rata portion of the ETF’s or ETN’s expenses. The Fund’s investments in
ETFs are also subject to the limitations on investments in other investment companies discussed above.
Risks. The risks of owning an ETF or ETN generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying market segment or index it is designed to track. Lack of liquidity in an ETF,
however, could result in it being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. In addition, the Fund will incur expenses in connection with investing in ETFs and ETNs that may increase the cost of investing in the ETF or ETN
versus the cost of directly owning the securities in the ETF or an ETN. The value of an ETN security should also be expected to fluctuate with the credit rating of the issuer.
Trust Securities and Unit Investment Trusts
General. The Fund may invest in trusts and unit investment trusts (“UITs”), including HOLDRS. HOLDRS are trust-issued receipts that represent beneficial ownership in the
specific group of stocks held by the issuing trust. UITs are registered investment companies that are similarly unmanaged, or passively managed, and as such generally hold a static portfolio of securities, or track an index. The liabilities of
trusts (including HOLDRS trusts) and UITs incur some expenses in connection with their operations; thus, when the Fund invests in a trust, HOLDR or UIT, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear
its pro rata portion of the trust’s, HOLDRS’ or UIT’s expenses. Like ETFs, HOLDRS are exchange-listed and, therefore, may be purchased and sold on the secondary market. The Fund will limit its investment in the securities of trusts and unit
investment trusts to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.
Risks. The risks of owning a trust security (including a HOLDR) or a UIT security generally reflect the risks of owning the securities in the trust or UIT’s portfolio. Due
to the unmanaged or passively managed nature or such vehicles, the relative weights of their portfolio securities may change over time, resulting in a change in the nature of the investment. In addition, due to the additional expenses
associated with trusts (including HOLDRS trusts) and UITs, it may be more costly to own their securities than it would be directly to own their portfolio securities. In addition, there could be a lack of liquidity in the secondary market for
HOLDRS, which could cause the market for HOLDRS to be more volatile than the market for the underlying portfolio securities.
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
General. The Fund may invest in pooled investment vehicles, including limited partnerships. Examples of such vehicles include private equity funds and private equity funds
of funds. A private equity fund generally invests in non-public companies that the fund’s manager believes will experience significant growth over a certain time period. A private equity fund of funds invests in other private equity funds of
the type described. Investments in private equity funds, once made, typically may not be redeemed for several years, though they may be sold to other investors under certain circumstances. The Fund will limit its investment in the securities of
pooled investment vehicles, including limited partnerships, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.
Risks. To the extent that the Fund invests in Pooled Investment Vehicles, such investments generally will be deemed illiquid. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” for
the risks of investing in illiquid securities above). If such an investment is determined by the Adviser to be illiquid, it is subject to the Fund’s policy of not investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. In addition,
the Fund will bear its ratable share of such vehicles’ expenses, including its management expenses and performance fees. Performance fees are fees paid to the vehicle’s manager based on the vehicle’s investment performance (or returns) as
compared to some benchmark. The fees the Fund pays to invest in a Pooled Investment Vehicle may be higher than the fees it would pay if the manager of the Pooled Investment Vehicle managed the Fund’s assets directly. Further, the performance
fees payable to the manager of a Pooled Investment Vehicle may create an incentive for the manager to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than those it might make in the absence of an incentive fee.
Segregated Assets. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may be subject to SEC guidelines regarding asset segregation, or coverage, with respect to investments by the Fund
in Pooled Investment Vehicles. The Fund will comply with such SEC guidelines, including, as necessary, by designating on its books or maintaining in a separate account, cash, liquid securities and other permissible assets. As prescribed by SEC
guidelines, the value of such assets will be at least equal to the Fund’s commitment to the relevant Pooled Investment Vehicle(s) and will be marked to market daily.
Fixed Income Securities
Municipal Securities
General. The Fund may invest in municipal securities. Municipal securities are issued by the states, territories and possessions of the United States, their political
subdivisions (such as cities, counties and towns) and various authorities (such as public housing or redevelopment authorities), instrumentalities, public corporations and special districts (such as water, sewer or sanitary districts) of the
states, territories, and possessions of the United States or their political subdivisions. In addition, municipal securities include securities issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately-operated facilities, such
as industrial development bonds, that are backed only by the assets and revenues of the non-governmental user (such as hospitals and airports). The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in municipal securities of issuers located in any
one territory or possession of the United States. The Fund will not invest in municipal securities rated “B” or lower by an NRSRO at the time of purchase.
Municipal securities are issued to obtain funds for a variety of public purposes, including general financing for state and local governments, or financing for specific projects or public facilities. Municipal
securities are classified as general obligation or revenue bonds or notes. General obligation securities are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue securities
are payable from revenue derived from a particular facility, class of facilities, or the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source, but not from the issuer’s general taxing power. The Fund will not invest more than 25%
of its total assets in a single type of revenue bond. Private activity bonds and industrial revenue bonds do not carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality, but generally are guaranteed by the corporate entity on whose behalf
they are issued.
Municipal leases are entered into by state and local governments and authorities to acquire equipment and facilities such as fire and sanitation vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and other assets. Municipal
leases (which normally provide for title to the leased assets to pass eventually to the government issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory
requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt-issuance limitations of many state constitutions and statutes are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that
the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis.
Tender Option Bond Securities. The Fund may invest in tender option bond (“TOB”) securities. In a typical TOB transaction, a Fund or another party transfers fixed-rate
municipal bonds or other securities into a special purposes entity, referred to as a tender option bond trust (a “TOB Trust”). The TOB Trust generally issues short-term floating rate interests (“Floaters”), which are generally sold to third
party investors (often money market funds) and residual interests (“Residual Interests”), which are generally held by the Fund or party that contributed the securities to the TOB Trust. The interest rates payable on the Residual Interests bear
an inverse relationship to the interest rate on the Floaters. The interest rate on the Floaters is reset by a remarketing process typically every 7 to 35 days. After income is paid on the Floaters at current, short-term rates, the residual
income from the underlying bond held by the TOB Trust goes to the Residual Interests. If a Fund is the seller of the municipal bonds or other securities to the TOB Trust, the Fund will receive the proceeds from the TOB Trust’s sale of the
Floaters, less certain transaction costs. These proceeds may be used by the Fund to invest in other securities, which would have a leveraging effect on the Fund. The Fund does not currently intend to invest in Residual Interests issued by a
TOB Trust that was not formed for the Fund, although each Fund reserves the right to do so in the future. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in TOB Trust-related investments.
Residual Interests may be more volatile and less liquid than other municipal bonds of comparable maturity. In most circumstances, the holder of the Residual Interests bears substantially all of the underlying
bond’s downside investment risk and also benefits from any appreciation in the value of the underlying bond. Investments in Residual Interests typically will involve greater risk than investments in the underlying municipal bond, including the
risk of loss of principal. Because changes in the interest rate on the Floaters inversely affect the residual interest paid on the Residual Interests, the value of the Residual Interests is generally more volatile than that of a fixed-rate
municipal bond. Floaters and Residual Interests are subject to interest rate adjustment formulas which generally reduce or, in the extreme, eliminate the interest received by the Residual Interests when short-term interest rates rise, and
increase the interest received when short-term interest rates fall.
The Residual Interests held by the Fund provide the Fund with the right to: (1) cause the holders of the Floaters to tender their notes at par, and (2) cause the sale of the underlying bond held by the TOB Trust,
thereby collapsing the TOB Trust. The Fund may invest in a TOB Trust on either a non-recourse and recourse basis. The Fund does not currently intend to invest in a TOB Trust on a recourse basis, although the Fund reserves the right to do so in
the future. TOB Trusts are typically supported by a liquidity facility provided by a third-party bank or other financial institution (the “Liquidity Provider”) that allows the holders of the Floaters to tender their Floaters in exchange for
payment of par plus accrued interest on any business day (subject to the non-occurrence of a TOTE, as such term is defined below). Depending on the structure of the TOB Trust, the Liquidity Provider may purchase the tendered Floaters, or the
TOB Trust may draw upon a loan from the Liquidity Provider to purchase the tendered Floaters.
When the Fund invests in TOB Trusts on a non-recourse basis, and the Liquidity Provider is required to make a payment under the liquidity facility, the Liquidity Provider will typically liquidate all or a portion
of the municipal bonds held in the TOB Trust and then fund the balance, if any, of the amount owed under the liquidity facility over the liquidation proceeds (the “Liquidation Shortfall”). If the Fund invests in a TOB Trust on a recourse basis,
it will typically enter into a reimbursement agreement with the Liquidity Provider pursuant to which the Fund is required to reimburse the Liquidity Provider the amount of any Liquidation Shortfall. As a result, if the Fund invests in a
recourse TOB Trust, the Fund will bear the risk of loss with respect to any Liquidation Shortfall.
The TOB Trust may also be collapsed without the consent of the Fund, as the holder of the Residual Interest, upon the occurrence of certain “tender option termination events” (or “TOTEs”) as defined in the TOB
Trust agreements. Such termination events typically include the bankruptcy or default of the municipal bond, a substantial downgrade in credit quality of the municipal bond, or a judgment or ruling that interest on the underlying municipal bond
is subject to federal income taxation. Upon the occurrence of a TOTE, the TOB Trust would generally be liquidated in full with the proceeds typically applied first to any accrued fees owed to the trustee, remarketing agent and liquidity
provider, and then to the holders of the Floaters up to par plus accrued interest owed on the Floaters and a portion of gain share, if any, with the balance paid out to the holder of the Residual Interests. In the case of a mandatory
termination event, as defined in the TOB Trust agreements, after the payment of fees, the holders of the Floaters would be paid before the holders of the Residual Interests (i.e., the Fund). In contrast,
in the case of a TOTE, after payment of fees, the holders of the Floaters and the holders of the Residual Interests would be paid pro rata in proportion to the respective face values of their certificates.
The use of Residual Interests will require the Fund to earmark or segregate liquid assets in an amount equal to any Floaters, plus any accrued but unpaid interest due on the Floaters, issued by a TOB Trust
sponsored by, or on behalf of, the Fund that are not owned by the Fund. The use of Residual Interests may also require the Fund to earmark or segregate liquid assets in an amount equal to loans provided by the Liquidity Provider to the TOB
Trust to purchase tendered Floaters. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future to the extent that such changes are in accordance with applicable regulations or interpretations. Future regulatory
requirements or SEC guidance may necessitate more onerous contractual or regulatory requirements, which may increase the costs or reduce the degree of potential economic benefits of TOB Trust transactions or limit the Fund’s ability to enter
into or manage TOB Trust transactions.
Under accounting rules, securities of the Fund that are deposited into a TOB Trust are treated as investments of the Fund, and are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Investments and outstanding Floaters issued
by a TOB Trust are presented as liabilities in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Interest income from the underlying security is recorded by the Fund on an accrual basis. Interest expense incurred on the Floaters and other
expenses related to remarketing, administration and trustee services to a TOB Trust are reported as expenses of the Fund. In addition, under accounting rules, loans made to a TOB Trust sponsored by a Fund may be presented as loans of the Fund
in the Fund’s financial statements even if there is no recourse with respect to the Fund’s assets.
Interests in Residual Interests in which the Fund will invest will pay interest or income that, in the opinion of counsel to the Funds, is exempt from regular U.S. Federal income tax. Neither the Fund nor the
Adviser, will conduct its own analysis of the tax status of the interest or income paid by the Residual Interests held by the Fund, but will rely on the opinion of counsel to the Fund. There can be no assurances that the IRS will agree with
such counsel’s opinion and, accordingly, there is a risk that the IRS may find that the Fund is not the owner of the underlying municipal bond and that the Fund is therefore not entitled to treat such interest or income as exempt from U.S.
Federal income tax. Moreover, the U.S. Federal income tax treatment of certain other aspects of TOB Trust-related investments is uncertain.
U.S. Government Securities
General. The Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and by U.S. Government agencies and
instrumentalities. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Treasury to lend to the
issuer; or solely by the creditworthiness of the issuer. Holders of U.S. Government Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing the obligation for
repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States in the event that the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide support if it were not
obligated to do so by law. Neither the U.S. Government nor any of its agencies or instrumentalities guarantees the market value of the securities they issue. On September 7, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency placed Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac into conservatorship, which, in effect, has caused Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to become supported by the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given as to whether the U.S. Government will continue to support Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac.
Yields on short-, intermediate- and long-term U.S. government securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money and bond markets, the size of a particular offering
and the maturity of the obligation. Debt securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher capital appreciation and depreciation than obligations with shorter maturities and lower yields. The market value of U.S. government securities
generally varies inversely with changes in the market interest rates. An increase in interest rates, therefore, generally would reduce the market value of the Fund’s portfolio investments in U.S. government securities, while a decline in
interest rates generally would increase the market value of the Fund’s portfolio investments in these securities.
Corporate Debt Obligations
General. The Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations. Corporate debt obligations include corporate bonds, debentures, notes, commercial paper and other similar
corporate debt instruments. These instruments are used by companies to borrow money from investors. The issuer pays the investor a fixed or variable rate of interest and must repay the amount borrowed at maturity. Commercial paper (short-term
unsecured promissory notes) is issued by companies to finance their current obligations and normally has a maturity of less than 9 months. The Fund may also invest in corporate fixed income securities registered and sold in the U.S. by foreign
issuers (Yankee bonds) and those sold outside the U.S. by foreign or U.S. issuers (Eurobonds).
Mortgage-Backed Securities
General. The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in a pool of mortgage loans originated by lenders such as
commercial banks, savings associations and mortgage bankers and brokers. Mortgage-backed securities may be issued by governmental or government-related entities or by non-governmental entities such as special purpose trusts created by
commercial lenders.
Pools of mortgages consist of whole mortgage loans or participations in mortgage loans. The majority of these loans are made to purchasers of 1-4 family homes. The terms and characteristics of the mortgage
instruments are generally uniform within a pool but may vary among pools. For example, in addition to fixed-rate, fixed-term mortgages, the Fund may purchase pools of adjustable-rate mortgages, growing equity mortgages, graduated payment
mortgages and other types. Mortgage poolers apply qualification standards to lending institutions, which originate mortgages for the pools as well as credit standards and underwriting criteria for individual mortgages included in the pools. In
addition, many mortgages included in pools are insured through private mortgage insurance companies.
Mortgage-backed securities differ from other forms of fixed income securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or on specified call
dates. Most mortgage-backed securities, however, are pass-through securities, which means that investors receive payments consisting of a pro-rata share of both principal and interest (less servicing and other fees), as well as unscheduled
prepayments, as loans in the underlying mortgage pool are paid off by the borrowers. Additional prepayments to holders of these securities are caused by prepayments resulting from the sale or foreclosure of the underlying property or
refinancing of the underlying loans. As prepayment rates of individual pools of mortgage loans vary widely, it is not possible to predict accurately the average life of a particular mortgage-backed security. Although mortgage-backed securities
are issued with stated maturities of up to forty years, unscheduled or early payments of principal and interest on the mortgages may shorten considerably the securities’ effective maturities.
Government and Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in government agency and mortgage-backed securities. The principal issuers or guarantors of
mortgage-backed securities are the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Fannie Mae (“FNMA”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC” or “Freddie Mac”). GNMA, a wholly-owned U.S. Government corporation creates
pass-through securities from pools of government guaranteed (Farmers’ Home Administration, Federal Housing Authority or Veterans Administration) mortgages. The principal and interest on GNMA pass-through securities are backed by the full faith
and credit of the U.S. Government.
FNMA and Freddie Mac are U.S. Government-sponsored corporations and are subject to regulation by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (“OFHEO”). Both issue pass-through securities from pools of
conventional and Federally insured and/or guaranteed residential mortgages. FNMA guarantees full and timely payment of all interest and principal, and FHLMC guarantees timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal of its
pass-through securities. Mortgage-backed securities from FNMA and FHLMC are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has the authority to support FNMA and FHLMC by purchasing limited
amounts of their respective obligations, and the U.S. government has, in the past, provided financial support to FNMA and FHLMC with respect to their debt obligations. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do
so or would do so yet again. Congress has been considering proposals to reduce the U.S. Government’s role in the mortgage market and whether to wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The proposals include, among others, whether Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac should be nationalized, privatized, restructured or eliminated. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also are the subject of several continuing legal actions and investigations over certain accounting, disclosure and corporate governance
matters, which may have an adverse effect on these entities. As a result, the future for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is uncertain, as is the impact of such proposals, actions and investigations on the Fund’s investments in securities issued by
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Except for U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities may or may not be supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some are backed by the right of
the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agencies’ obligations; while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. In the case of securities not
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United
States itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The Fund will invest in securities of such agencies or instrumentalities only when the Adviser is satisfied that the credit risk is acceptable.
Privately Issued Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in privately issued
mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities offered by private issuers include pass-through securities consisting of pools of residential mortgage loans; mortgage-backed bonds, which are considered to be debt obligations of the
institution issuing the bonds and are collateralized by mortgage loans; and bonds and collateralized mortgage obligations that are collateralized by mortgage-backed securities issued by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC or by pools of conventional mortgages
of multi-family or of commercial mortgage loans.
Privately-issued mortgage-backed securities generally offer a higher rate of interest (but greater credit and interest rate risk) than securities issued by U.S. Government issuers because there
are no direct or indirect governmental guarantees of payment. Many non-governmental issuers or servicers of mortgage-backed securities guarantee or provide insurance for timely payment of interest and principal on the securities. The market for
privately-issued mortgage-backed securities is smaller and less liquid than the market for mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government issuers.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage-backed
securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are multi-class mortgage-backed securities that are created by separating the securities into their principal and interest components and selling each piece separately. Stripped mortgage-backed
securities are usually structured with different classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions in a pool of mortgage assets.
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. The Fund may invest in collateralized mortgage obligations
(“CMOs”) that are collateralized by mortgage-backed securities issued by GNMA, FHLMC or FNMA (“Mortgage Assets”). CMOs are multiple-class debt obligations. Payments of principal and interest on the Mortgage Assets are passed through to the
holders of the CMOs as they are received, although certain classes (often referred to as “tranches”) of CMOs have priority over other classes with respect to the receipt of mortgage prepayments. Each tranche is issued at a specific or floating
coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution date. Interest is paid or accrues in all tranches on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis. Payments of principal and interest on Mortgage Assets are commonly applied to the
tranches in the order of their respective maturities or final distribution dates, so that generally, no payment of principal will be made on any tranche until all other tranches with earlier stated maturity or distribution dates have been paid
in full.
Risks – Specific to Mortgage-Backed Securities. The value of mortgage-backed securities may be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, the markets’ perception
of issuers, the structure of the securities and the creditworthiness of the parties involved. The ability of the Fund to successfully utilize mortgage-backed securities depends in part upon the ability of the Adviser to forecast interest rates
and other economic factors correctly. Some mortgage-backed securities have structures that make their reaction to interest rate changes and other factors difficult to predict.
Prepayments of principal of mortgage-backed securities by mortgagors or mortgage foreclosures affect the average life of the mortgage-backed securities. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by
various factors, including the level of interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of the mortgages and other social and demographic conditions. In periods of rising interest rates, the prepayment rate tends to decrease,
lengthening the average life of a pool of mortgage-backed securities. In periods of falling interest rates, the prepayment rate tends to increase, shortening the average life of a pool. The volume of prepayments of principal on the mortgages
underlying a particular mortgage-backed security will influence the yield of that security, affecting the Fund’s yield. Because prepayments of principal generally occur when interest rates are declining, it is likely that the Fund, to the
extent it retains the same percentage of fixed income securities, may have to reinvest the proceeds of prepayments at lower interest rates than those of their previous investments. If this occurs, the Fund’s yield will correspondingly decline.
Thus, mortgage-backed securities may have less potential for capital appreciation in periods of falling interest rates (when prepayment of principal is more likely) than other fixed income securities of comparable duration, although they may
have a comparable risk of decline in market value in periods of rising interest rates. A decrease in the rate of prepayments may extend the effective maturities of mortgage-backed securities, increasing their sensitivity to changes in market
interest rates. To the extent that the Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a premium, unscheduled prepayments, which are made at par, result in a loss equal to an unamortized premium.
To the extent that the Fund invests in commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), CMBS are subject to credit risk and prepayment risk. Although prepayment risk is
present, it is of a lesser degree in CMBS than in the residential mortgage market; commercial real estate property loans often contain provisions which substantially reduce the likelihood that such securities will be prepaid (e.g., significant
prepayment penalties on loans and, in some cases, prohibition on principal payments for several years following origination).
To lessen the effect of the failures by obligors on Mortgage Assets to make payments, CMOs and other mortgage-backed securities may contain elements of credit enhancement, consisting of either (1) liquidity
protection; or (2) protection against losses resulting after default by an obligor on the underlying assets and allocation of all amounts recoverable directly from the obligor and through liquidation of the collateral. This protection may be
provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of these. The Fund will not pay any
additional fees for credit enhancements for mortgage-backed securities, although the credit enhancement may increase the costs of the mortgage-backed securities.
The Fund may manage counterparty exposure for forward-settling agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) transactions, including TBA purchase commitments, by requiring that such transactions be bilaterally
margined.
TBA Purchase Commitments. The Fund may enter into “To Be Announced” (“TBA”) purchase commitments to purchase mortgage-backed securities for a fixed price at a future date.
TBA purchase commitments may be considered securities in themselves and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of
the Fund’s other assets. In addition, the counterparty may not deliver the securities as promised. Unsettled TBA purchase commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities. To facilitate such acquisitions, the
Fund identifies on its books cash or liquid assets in an amount at least equal to such commitments. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase
commitments than when it sets aside cash. On delivery dates for such transactions, the Fund will meet its obligations from maturities or sales of the segregated securities and/or from cash flow. If the Fund chooses to dispose of the TBA
security prior to its settlement, it could, as with the disposition of any other portfolio obligation, incur a gain or loss due to market fluctuation.
Asset-Backed Securities
General. The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to mortgage-backed securities but have underlying
assets that are not mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans. Asset-backed securities represent fractional interests in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as motor vehicle installment sales contracts, installment
loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property and receivables from revolving credit (for example, credit card) agreements. Assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose corporations that issue
securities that are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. Repayments relating to the assets underlying the asset-backed securities depend largely on the cash flows generated by such
assets. The credit quality of most asset-backed securities depends primarily on the credit quality of the assets underlying such securities, how well the entity issuing the security is insulated from the credit risk of the originator or any
other affiliated entities, and the amount and quality of any credit enhancements associated with the securities. Payments or distributions of principal and interest on asset-backed securities may be supported by credit enhancements including
letters of credit, an insurance guarantee, reserve funds and over collateralization. Asset-backed securities have structures and characteristics similar to those of mortgage-backed securities and, accordingly, are subject to many of the same
risks, although often, to a greater extent.
Risks – Specific to Asset-Backed Securities. Like mortgages-backed securities, the collateral underlying asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment, which may reduce
the overall return to holders of asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities present certain additional and unique risks. Primarily, these securities do not always have the benefit of a security interest in collateral comparable to the
security interests associated with mortgage-backed securities. Credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and Federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors
the right to set-off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due. Automobile receivables generally are secured by automobiles. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit the loan servicers to retain possession
of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the asset-backed securities. In addition, because of
the large number of vehicles involved in a typical issuance and the technical requirements under state laws, the trustee for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in the underlying automobiles. As a
result, the risk that recovery on repossessed collateral might be unavailable or inadequate to support payments on asset-backed securities is greater for asset-backed securities than for mortgage-backed securities. In addition, because
asset-backed securities are relatively new, the market experience in these securities is limited and the market’s ability to sustain liquidity through all phases of an interest rate or economic cycle has not been tested.
Variable Amount Master Demand Notes
General. The Fund may invest in variable amount master demand notes. Variable amount master demand notes are unsecured demand notes that permit investment of fluctuating
amounts of money at variable rates of interest pursuant to arrangements with issuers who meet certain quality criteria. All variable amount master demand notes acquired by the Fund will be payable within a prescribed notice period not to exceed
seven days.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities
The Fund may invest in variable and floating rate securities. Fixed Income securities that have variable or floating rates of interest may, under certain limited circumstances, have varying principal amounts.
These securities pay interest at rates that are adjusted periodically according to a specified formula, usually with reference to one or more interest rate indices or market interest rates (the “underlying index”). The interest paid on these
securities is a function primarily of the underlying index upon which the interest rate adjustments are based. These adjustments minimize changes in the market value of the obligation. Similar to fixed rate debt instruments, variable and
floating rate instruments are subject to changes in value based on changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. The rate of interest on securities may be tied to U.S. Government Securities or indices on those
securities as well as any other rate of interest or index.
Variable and floating rate demand notes of corporations are redeemable upon a specified period of notice. These obligations include master demand notes that permit investment of fluctuating amounts at varying
interest rates under direct arrangements with the issuer of the instrument. The issuer of these obligations often has the right, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligations upon a specified number of
days’ notice.
Certain securities may have an initial principal amount that varies over time based on an interest rate index, and, accordingly, the Fund might be entitled to less than the initial principal amount of the
security upon the security’s maturity. The Fund intends to purchase these securities only when the Adviser believes the interest income from the instrument justifies any principal risks associated with the instrument. The Adviser may attempt to
limit any potential loss of principal by purchasing similar instruments that are intended to provide an offsetting increase in principal. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will be able to limit the effects of principal fluctuations
and, accordingly, the Fund may incur losses on those securities even if held to maturity without issuer default.
There may not be an active secondary market for any particular floating or variable rate instruments, which could make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of the instrument during periods that the Fund is not
entitled to exercise any demand rights it may have. The Fund could, for this or other reasons, suffer a loss with respect to those instruments. The Adviser monitors the liquidity of the Fund’s investment in variable and floating rate
instruments, but there can be no guarantee that an active secondary market will exist.
Non-U.S. Dollar Denominated Securities and Other Fixed Income Securities
The Fund may invest in short-term money market instruments issued in the U.S. or abroad, denominated in U.S. dollars or any foreign currency. Short-term money market instruments include repurchase agreements,
short-term fixed or variable rate certificates of deposit, time deposits with a maturity no greater than 180 days, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper rated A-1 by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s or in similar other money market securities.
Certificates of deposit represent an institution’s obligation to repay funds deposited with it that earn a specified interest rate over a given period. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable obligations of a bank to pay a draft, which has been
drawn by a customer, and are usually backed by goods in international trade. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits with a banking institution that earn a specified interest rate over a given period. Certificates of deposit and time deposits
generally may be withdrawn on demand by the Fund but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties that could reduce the Fund’s performance.
The Fund may also invest in other high quality fixed income securities denominated in U.S. dollars, any foreign currency or in a multi-national currency unit (e.g. the European Currency Unit).
The Fund may invest in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities including debt obligations denominated in foreign or composite currencies (such as the European Currency Unit) issued by (1) foreign national,
provincial, state or municipal governments or their political subdivisions; (2) international organizations designated or supported by governmental entities (e.g., the World Bank and the European Community); (3) non-dollar securities issued by
the U.S. Government; and (4) foreign corporations.
Inflation-Protected Securities
The Fund may invest in U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (“U.S. TIPS”), to the extent permitted by the Prospectus. U.S. TIPS are fixed income securities issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, the
principal amounts of which are adjusted daily based upon changes in the rate of inflation. The Fund may also invest in other inflation-protected securities issued by non-U.S. governments or by private issuers. U.S. TIPS pay interest on a
semi-annual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. The interest rate on these bonds is fixed at issuance, but over the life of the bond this interest may be paid on an increasing or decreasing principal
value that has been adjusted for inflation.
Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed for U.S. TIPS, even during a period of deflation. However, because the principal amount of U.S. TIPS would be
adjusted downward during a period of deflation, the Fund will be subject to deflation risk with respect to its investments in these securities. In addition, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate. If the
Fund purchases in the secondary market U.S. TIPS whose principal values have been adjusted upward due to inflation since issuance, the Fund may experience a loss if there is a subsequent period of deflation. The Fund may also invest in other
inflation-related bonds which may or may not provide a guarantee of principal. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal amount.
The periodic adjustment of U.S. TIPS is currently tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated by the U.S. Department of Treasury. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes
in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-protected bonds issued by a non-U.S. government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that
government. There can no assurance that the CPI-U or any non-U.S. inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example,
due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure. In addition, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation
in a non-U.S. country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.
In general, the value of inflation-protected bonds is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of
inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-protected bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a
faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-protected bonds. If inflation is lower than expected during the period the Fund holds the security, the Fund may earn less on the security
than on a conventional bond. Any increase in principal value is taxable in the year the increase occurs, even though holders do not receive cash representing the increase at that time. As a result, when the Fund invests in inflation-protected
securities, it could be required at times to liquidate other investments, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) and to eliminate any
fund-level income tax liability under the Code.
Infrastructure Investments
The Fund may invest in securities and other obligations of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers providing exposure to infrastructure investment. Infrastructure investments may be related to physical structures and networks
that provide necessary services to society, such as transportation and communications networks, water and energy utilities, and public service facilities. Securities, instruments and obligations of infrastructure-related companies and projects
are more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting their industries. Infrastructure companies may be subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest
costs in connection with capital construction programs, high leverage, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services,
uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Infrastructure companies and projects also may be affected by or subject to (i) regulation by various
government authorities, including rate regulation; (ii) service interruption due to environmental, operational or other mishaps; (iii) the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards; and
(iv) general changes in market sentiment towards infrastructure and utilities assets.
Short-Term Instruments
The Fund may invest in short-term money market instruments issued in the U.S. or abroad, denominated in U.S. dollars or any foreign currency. Short-term money market instruments include repurchase agreements,
short-term fixed or variable rate certificates of deposit, time deposits with a maturity no greater than 180 days, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper rated A-1 by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s or in similar other money market securities.
Certificates of deposit represent an institution’s obligation to repay funds deposited with it that earn a specified interest rate over a given period. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable obligations of a bank to pay a draft, which has been
drawn by a customer, and are usually backed by goods in international trade. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits with a banking institution that earn a specified interest rate over a given period. Certificates of deposit and time deposits
generally may be withdrawn on demand by the Fund but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties that could reduce the Fund’s performance.
The Fund may also invest in other high quality fixed income securities denominated in U.S. dollars, any foreign currency or in a multi-national currency unit (e.g. the European Currency Unit).
Risks of Debt Securities
General. Yields on debt securities, including municipal securities, are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the debt securities markets,
the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. Debt securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields and are generally subject to greater price movements than obligations with
shorter maturities. A portion of the municipal securities held by the Fund, may be supported by credit and liquidity enhancements such as letters of credit (which are not covered by federal deposit insurance) or puts or demand features of third
party financial institutions, general domestic and foreign banks.
Certain debt securities may be subject to extension risk, which refers to the change in total return on a security resulting from an extension or abbreviation of the security’s maturity. Issuers may prepay fixed
rate debt securities when interest rates fall, forcing the Fund to invest in securities with lower interest rates. Issuers of debt securities are also subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors that may restrict the ability of the issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its debt securities. The possibility exists therefore, that, as a result of bankruptcy, litigation or other conditions, the
ability of an issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its debt securities may become impaired.
Interest Rate Risk. The market value of the interest-bearing debt securities held by the Fund will be affected by changes in interest rates. There is normally an inverse
relationship between the market value of securities sensitive to prevailing interest rates and actual changes in interest rates. The longer the remaining maturity (and duration) of a security, the more sensitive the security is to changes in
interest rates. All debt securities, including U.S. Government Securities, can change in value when there is a change in interest rates. As a result, an investment in the Fund is subject to risk even if all debt securities in the Fund’s
investment portfolio are paid in full at maturity. Interest rates are currently low by historical standards. In the past few years, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Fed”) has gradually raised the “federal funds rate,”
and the Fed has indicated that additional increases to this rate are likely. During periods of rising interest rates, the Fund is subject to heightened levels of interest rate risk. Interest rate increases may have sudden and unpredictable
effects on the markets and the Fund’s investments. Debt securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, often making them more volatile in response to interest rate changes than debt securities with
shorter durations.
Credit Risk. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets’ perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect
the market value of that issuer’s debt securities. The financial condition of an issuer of a debt security held by the Fund may cause it to default on interest or principal payments due on a security. This risk generally increases as security
credit ratings fall.
To limit credit risk, the Fund may purchase unrated fixed income securities if, at the time of purchase, the Adviser believe that they are of comparable quality to rated securities that the Fund may purchase.
Moody’s, S&P and other NRSROs are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations, including convertible securities. A description of the range of ratings assigned to various
types of bonds and other securities by several NRSROs is included in Appendix A to this SAI. The Adviser may use these ratings to determine whether to purchase, sell or hold a security. Ratings are
general and are not absolute standards of quality. Securities with the same maturity, interest rate and rating may have different market prices. If an issue of securities ceases to be rated or if its rating is reduced after it is purchased by
the Fund, the Adviser will determine whether the Fund should continue to hold the obligation. Credit ratings attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value. The
rating of an issuer is a rating agency’s view of potential developments related to the issuer and may not necessarily reflect actual outcomes. Also, rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings. An issuer’s current
financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates. Unrated securities may not be as actively traded as rated securities. Because a downgrade often results in a reduction in the market price of the security, the sale of a
downgraded security may result in a loss.
Credit ratings for debt securities provided by rating agencies evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not market value risk. The rating of an issuer is a rating agency’s view of past and future
potential developments related to the issuer and may not necessarily reflect actual outcomes. There can be a lag between the time of developments relating to a issuer and the time a rating is assigned and updated.
Foreign Debt Securities Risks. To the extent that the Fund invests in fixed income securities of companies located outside the United States, see the risks related to
foreign securities set forth in the section entitled “Investment Policies and Risks – Equity Securities – Foreign Securities Risks” above.
Foreign Currencies Transactions
General
The Fund may temporarily hold funds in bank deposits in foreign currencies during the completion of investment programs and may conduct foreign currency exchange transactions either on a cash basis or at the rate
prevailing in the foreign exchange market.
The Fund may enter into a forward foreign currency contract. A forward currency contract (“forward contract”) involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of a specific currency at a future date,
which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. At or before settlement of a forward currency contract, the Fund may either
deliver the currency or terminate its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by purchasing an offsetting contract. If the Fund makes delivery of the foreign currency at or before the settlement of a forward contract, it may be required
to obtain the currency through the conversion of assets of the Fund into the currency. The Fund may close out a forward contract obligating it to purchase currency by selling an offsetting contract, in which case, it will realize a gain or a
loss.
Forward contracts are considered “derivatives,” financial instruments whose performance is derived, at least in part, from the performance of another asset (such as a security, currency or an index of
securities). The Fund enters into forward contracts in order to “lock in” the exchange rate between the currency it will deliver and the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. In addition, the Fund may enter into forward
contracts to hedge against risks arising from securities the Fund owns or anticipates purchasing, or the U.S. dollar value of interest and dividends paid on those securities. The Fund does not intend to enter into forward contracts on a regular
or continuing basis and the Fund will not enter these contracts for speculative purposes.
Risks
Foreign currency transactions involve certain costs and risks. The Fund incurs foreign exchange expenses in converting assets from one currency to another. Forward contracts involve a risk of loss if the Adviser
are inaccurate in their prediction of currency movements. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. The precise matching of
forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved is generally not possible. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional foreign currency if the market value of the security is less than the amount of
the foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver under the forward contract and the decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of the foreign currency. The use of forward contracts as a hedging technique does not eliminate
fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a rate of exchange in advance. Although forward contracts can reduce the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged
currencies, they also limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the currencies. There is also the risk that the other party to the transaction may fail to deliver currency when due which may result in a loss to
the Fund.
Leverage Transactions
General
The Fund may use leverage to increase potential returns. The Fund does not currently intend to use leverage in excess of 15% of total assets. Leverage involves special risks and may involve speculative investment
techniques. Leverage exists when cash made available to the Fund through an investment technique is used to make additional Fund investments. Leverage transactions include borrowing for other than temporary or emergency purposes, lending
portfolio securities, entering into reverse repurchase agreements, and purchasing securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. The Fund uses these investment techniques only when the Adviser believes that the
leveraging and the returns available to the Fund from investing the cash will provide investors with a potentially higher return. (See “Risks” below.)
Borrowing. The Fund may borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes in amounts up to 331/3% of the Fund’s total assets (computed immediately after the borrowing).
Senior Securities. Pursuant to Section 18(f)(1) of the 1940 Act, the Fund may not issue any class of senior security or sell any senior security of which it is the issuer,
except that the Fund shall be permitted to borrow from any bank so long as immediately after such borrowings, there is an asset coverage of at least 300% and that in the event such asset coverage falls below this percentage, the Fund shall
reduce the amount of its borrowings, within 3 days, excluding holidays and Sundays, to an extent that the asset coverage shall be at least 300%. In accordance with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, the Fund will not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate
its assets in an amount exceeding 331/3% of the value of its total assets.
Securities Lending. The Fund may lend portfolio securities in an amount up to 10% of its total assets to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions.
In a portfolio securities lending transaction, the Fund receives from the borrower an amount equal to the interest paid or the dividends declared on the loaned securities during the term of the loan as well as
the interest on the collateral securities, less any fees (such as finders or administrative fees) the Fund pays in arranging the loan. The Fund may share the interest it receives on the collateral securities with the borrower. The terms of the
Fund’s loans permit the Fund to reacquire loaned securities on five business days’ notice or in time to vote on any important matter. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower at any time, and the borrowed
securities must be returned when the loan is terminated. The Fund may pay fees to arrange for securities loans.
The SEC currently requires that the following conditions must be met whenever the Fund’s portfolio securities are loaned: (1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower; (2) the
borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan,
as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees approved by the Board in connection with the loan; (6) while voting rights
on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, the Board must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, and (7) the Fund may not loan its portfolio
securities so that the value of the loaned securities is more than one-third of its total asset value, including collateral received from such loans. These conditions may be subject to future modification. Such loans will be terminable at any
time upon specified notice. The Fund might experience the risk of loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund. In addition, the Fund will not enter into any portfolio
security lending arrangement having a duration of longer than one year. The principal risk of portfolio lending is potential default or insolvency of the borrower. In either of these cases, the Fund could experience delays in recovering
securities or collateral or could lose all or part of the value of the loaned securities. As part of participating in a lending program, the Fund may be required to invest in collateralized debt or other securities that bear the risk of loss
of principal. In addition, all investments made with the collateral received are subject to the risks associated with such investments. If such investments lose value, the Fund will have to cover the loss when repaying the collateral.
Any loans of portfolio securities are fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily. Any securities that the Fund may receive as collateral will not become part of the Fund’s investment
portfolio at the time of the loan and, in the event of a default by the borrower, the Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except for such part thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest. During
the time securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund any accrued income on those securities, and the Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn income or receive an agreed-upon fee from a borrower that has delivered cash-equivalent
collateral.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements which are transactions in which the Fund sells a security and simultaneously agrees to
repurchase that security from the seller at an agreed upon price on an agreed upon future date, normally, one to seven days later. Such reverse repurchase agreements would represent no more than 5% of the Fund’s assets.
Securities loans, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements must be continuously collateralized and the collateral must have market value at least equal to the value of the Fund’s loaned securities,
plus accrued interest or, in the case of repurchase agreements, equal to the repurchase price of the securities, plus accrued interest. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of securities retained in lieu of sale
by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities such Fund has sold but is obliged to repurchase. If the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or
receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities. During that time, the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement effectively may be restricted.
Reverse repurchase agreements create leverage, a speculative factor and are considered borrowings for the purpose of the Fund’s limitation on borrowing.
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments. The Fund may invest in securities offered on a “when-issued” and “forward commitment” basis (including a delayed delivery
basis). Securities purchased on a “when-issued” or “forward commitment basis” are securities not available for immediate delivery despite the fact that a market exists for those securities. A purchase is made on a “delayed delivery” basis when
the transaction is structured to occur sometime in the future.
When these transactions are negotiated, the price, which is generally expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date.
Normally, the settlement date occurs within two months after the transaction, but delayed settlements beyond two months may be negotiated. During the period between a commitment and settlement, no payment is made for the securities purchased by
the purchaser and, thus, no interest accrues to the purchaser from the transaction. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or forward commitment, the Fund will record the transaction as a
purchase and thereafter reflect the value each day of such securities in determining its NAV.
Risks
Leverage creates the risk of magnified capital losses. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires the Fund to pay interest (for instance, reverse repurchase agreements) or the creation of a
liability that does not entail any interest costs (for instance, forward commitment costs).
The risks of leverage include a higher volatility of the NAV of the Fund’s securities which may be magnified by favorable or adverse market movements or changes in the cost of cash obtained by leveraging and the
yield from invested cash. So long as the Fund is able to realize a net return on its investment portfolio that is higher than interest expense incurred, if any, leverage will result in higher current net investment income for the Fund than if
the Fund were not leveraged. Changes in interest rates and related economic factors could cause the relationship between the cost of leveraging and the yield to change so that rates involved in the leveraging arrangement may substantially
increase relative to the yield on the obligations in which the proceeds of the leveraging have been invested. To the extent that the interest expense involved in leveraging approaches the net return on the Fund’s investment portfolio, the
benefit of leveraging will be reduced, and, if the interest expense incurred as a result of leveraging on borrowings were to exceed the net return to investors, the Fund’s use of leverage would result in a lower rate of return than if the Fund
were not leveraged. In an extreme case, if the Fund’s current investment income were not sufficient to meet the interest expense of leveraging, it could be necessary for the Fund to liquidate certain of its investments at an inappropriate time.
Repurchase Agreements
General
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements which are transactions in which the Fund purchases a security and simultaneously agrees to resell that security to the seller at an agreed upon price on an agreed
upon future date, normally, one to seven days later. If the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement, it will maintain possession of the purchased securities and any underlying collateral. For purposes of the 1940 Act, a repurchase agreement
is deemed to be a loan from the Fund to the seller of the security subject to the repurchase agreement. Repurchase agreements are not considered to be the making of loans for purposes of the Fund’s fundamental investment limitations.
Risks
Repurchase transactions also involve credit risk. Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty to a transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation. In the event that bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
proceedings are commenced against a counterparty, the Fund may have difficulties in exercising its rights to the underlying securities or currencies, as applicable. The Fund may incur costs and expensive time delays in disposing of the
underlying securities and it may suffer a loss of principal or a decline in interest payments regarding affected securities. Failure by the other party to deliver a security or currency purchased by the Fund may result in a missed opportunity
to make an alternative investment. Favorable insolvency laws that allow the Fund, among other things, to liquidate the collateral held in the event of the bankruptcy of the counterparty reduce counterparty insolvency risk.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). Equity REITs invest directly in real property while mortgage REITs invest in mortgages on real property. REITs may be subject to certain risks
associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating
expenses and variations in rental income. REITs pay dividends to their shareholders based upon available funds from operations. It is quite common for these dividends to exceed a REIT’s taxable earnings and profits, resulting in the excess
portion of such dividends being designated as a return of capital. The Fund intends to include the gross dividends from such REITs in its distribution to its shareholders and, accordingly, a portion of the Fund’s distributions may also be
designated as a return of capital.
Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions
Following the financial crisis that began in 2007, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Fed”) attempted to stabilize the U.S. economy and support the U.S. economic recovery by keeping the
federal funds rate at or near zero percent. In addition, the Fed purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities on the open market (“Quantitative Easing”). Because the Fed
has ended quantitative easing and may unwind these purchases, and because the Fed has begun, and may continue, to raise the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates across the U.S. financial system will continue to rise. These
policy changes may expose the market for debt instruments and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain Fund investments, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments and share price to decline.
Because the Fund may invest in derivatives tied to fixed income markets the Fund may be more substantially exposed to these risks than a fund that does not invest in derivatives. To the extent that the Fund experiences high redemptions because
of these policy changes, the Fund may experience increased portfolio turnover, which will increase the costs that the Fund incurs and may lower the Fund’s performance. The liquidity levels of the Fund’s portfolio may also be affected.
Bond markets have consistently grown over the past three decades while the capacity for traditional dealer counterparties to engage in fixed income trading has not kept pace and in some cases has decreased. As a
result, dealer inventories of corporate bonds, which provide a core indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to “make markets,” are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. Because market makers provide stability to a
market through their intermediary services, the significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be exacerbated during periods of
economic uncertainty.
Temporary Defensive Position
Under normal circumstances, the Fund may have money received from the purchase of Fund shares, or money received on the sale of its portfolio securities for which suitable investments consistent with such Fund’s
investment objectives are not immediately available. Under these circumstances, the Fund may have such monies invested in cash or cash equivalents in order to earn income on this portion of its assets. Cash equivalents include investments
such as short-term U.S. Government Securities, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, certificates of deposit, interest-bearing savings deposits of commercial banks, repurchase agreements concerning securities in which the Fund may invest and
money market mutual funds.
In addition, the Fund may reduce its holdings in equity and other securities and may invest in cash, prime quality cash equivalents such as prime commercial paper and other money market instruments, for temporary
defensive purposes, during periods in which the Adviser believe changes in economic, financial or political conditions make it advisable. Prime quality instruments are those instruments that are rated in one of the two highest short-term rating
categories by an NRSRO or, if not rated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
With respect to the Fund, the Fund may invest in municipal securities whose interest is subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax, or other securities whose interest is subject to federal tax, for temporary
defensive purposes.
Cyber Security Risk
As technology becomes more integrated into the Fund’s operations, the Fund will face greater operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and
unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. This in turn could cause the Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance
costs associated with corrective measures, and/or financial loss. Cyber security threats may result from unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding), but may also result
from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, because the Fund works closely with third-party service providers (e.g., administrators, transfer
agents, custodians), cyber security breaches at such third-party service providers may subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. The Fund may experience investment losses in the event of cyber
security breaches at any of the issuers in which the Fund may invest. While the Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there can be no assurance that such measures will succeed.
For purposes of all investment policies of the Fund: (1) the term “1940 Act” includes the rules thereunder, SEC interpretations and any exemptive order upon which the Fund may rely; and (2) the term “Code”
includes the rules thereunder, IRS interpretations and any private letter ruling or similar authority upon which the Fund may rely.
The Fund has adopted the following policies and investment restrictions as fundamental policies (unless otherwise noted), which may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a “majority” of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a
meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Except with respect to borrowing, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in
the percentage or rating resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation of the Fund’s investment restrictions. If the value of the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities at any time exceeds the
percentage limitation applicable due to subsequent fluctuations in value or other reasons, the Board will consider what actions, if any, are appropriate to maintain adequate liquidity.
Fundamental Limitations
The Fund has adopted the following investment limitations that cannot be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
|
1.
|
Borrowing Money
|
The Fund may not borrow money, except for temporary or emergency purposes (including the meeting of redemption requests) and except for entering into reverse repurchase agreements, and provided that borrowings do
not exceed 331/3% of the Fund’s total assets (computed immediately after the borrowing).
2. Concentration
The Fund may not purchase a security if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same
industry. For purposes of this limitation, there is no limit on: (1) investments in U.S. government securities, in repurchase agreements covering U.S. government securities, in tax-exempt securities issued by the states, territories or
possessions of the United States (“municipal securities”) or in foreign government securities; or (2) investments in issuers domiciled in a single jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act,
a Fund may invest in one or more investment companies; provided that, except to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(A) or (F) of the 1940 Act, the Fund treats the assets of the investment
companies in which it invests as its own for purposes of this policy.
3. Diversification
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that there is no restriction under the Investment Company Act of 1940 on how much the Fund may invest in the securities of one issuer. However, to qualify for tax
treatment as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Fund is required to comply, as of the end of each taxable quarter, with certain diversification requirements imposed by the
Code. Pursuant to these requirements, at the end of each taxable quarter, the Fund, among other things, will not have investments in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated
investment companies) of more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. In addition, the Fund, with respect to 50% of its total assets, will not have investments in the securities of any issuer equal to 5% of its total assets, and will
not purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. As a non-diversified investment companies, the Fund may be subject to greater risks than diversified companies because of the larger impact of fluctuation in
the values of securities of fewer issues.
4. Underwriting Activities
The Fund may not underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted
securities or in connection with investments in other investment companies.
5. Making Loans
The Fund may not make loans to other parties. For purposes of this limitation, entering into repurchase agreements, lending securities and acquiring any debt security are not deemed to be the making of loans.
6. Purchases and Sales of Real Estate
The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, except that, to the extent permitted by law, the Fund may (a) invest in securities or other instruments directly or indirectly secured by real estate, and (b) invest
in securities or other instruments issued by issuers that invest in real estate.
7. Purchases and Sales of Commodities
The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments issued by persons that purchase or sell commodities or commodities
contracts; but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing, selling and entering into financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates and currencies), options on financial futures contracts
(including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates and currencies), warrants, swaps, forward contracts, foreign currency spot and forward contracts or other derivative instruments that are not related to physical commodities.
8. Issuance of Senior Securities
The Fund may not issue senior securities except pursuant to Section 18 of the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and any applicable exemptive or interpretive relief.
_____
With respect to Fundamental Limitation #2, the Fund will limit investments in foreign government securities to no more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In addition, with respect to Fundamental Limitation #2,
municipal securities may include industrial development or other private activity bonds. For purposes of determining compliance with Fundamental Limitation #2, any investment by the Fund in private activity bonds that are ultimately payable by
a governmental entity (as opposed to a non-governmental entity) will be considered “municipal securities” for these purposes and therefore will not be subject to the 25% limitation discussed above.
Trustees and Executive Officers
The Board is responsible for the overall management of the Trust, including general supervision and review of the investment activities of the funds managed by the Adviser (together, the “Funds”). The Board, in
turn, elects the Officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Trust and each of the Funds. The current Trustees and Officers of the Trust, their ages and positions with the Trust, term of office
with the Trust and length of time served, their principal occupations for the past five years and other directorships held during the past five years are set forth in the following table.
|
Name, Address
And Age
|
Position with
the Trust
|
Term of Office and
Length of Time
Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustees
|
Other
Directorships
Held During
the Past 5
Years(2) |
|
Independent Trustees of the Trust(1)
|
|||||
|
Henry H. Hopkins
Age: 76
c/o Brown Advisory LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
Lead
Independent
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since 2012
Indefinite Term;
Since 2015
|
Retired; Formerly, Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (investment management firm)(1998 to 2008)
|
19
|
None
|
|
Name, Address
And Age
|
Position with
the Trust
|
Term of Office and
Length of Time
Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustees
|
Other
Directorships
Held During
the Past 5
Years(2) |
|
Kyle Prechtl Legg
Age: 67
c/o Brown Advisory LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since 2012
|
Retired; Formerly President and Chief Executive Officer, Legg Mason Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm)(2006 to 2009)
|
19
|
Director, SunTrust Banks, Inc. (bank holding company) (2011 to 2018)
Director, BrightSphere Investment Group plc (asset management holding company) (since 2014)
Director, Eastman Kodak Co. (printing equipment and supplies company) (2010 to 2013)
|
|
Thomas F. O’Neil III
Age: 62
c/o Brown Advisory LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since 2012
|
Global Compliance Officer, Cigna Corporation (health services company)(since 2017)
Formerly, President, The Saranac Group LLC (strategic consulting firm)(2010 to 2016)
Formerly, Executive Vice Chairman (previously, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary) WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (managed healthcare organization)(2008 to 2009)
Formerly, Partner and Joint Global Practice Group Leader, DLA Piper US LLP (law firm) (2002 to 2008)
|
19
|
None
|
|
Neal F. Triplett, CFA
Age: 48
c/o Brown Advisory LLC
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite Term;
Since 2012
|
President, DUMAC, Inc. (university endowment investment organization) (since 1999)
|
19
|
None
|
|
Name, Address
And Age
|
Position with
the Trust
|
Term of Office and
Length of Time
Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustees
|
Other
Directorships
Held During
the Past 5
Years(2) |
|
Name, Address
And Age
|
Position with
the Trust
|
Term of Office and
Length of Time
Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustees
|
Other
Directorships
Held During
the Past 5
Years(2) |
|
Brett D. Rogers
Age: 43
c/o Brown Advisory Incorporated
901 South Bond Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
|
Chief
Compliance
Officer
Anti-Money
Laundering Officer
|
Indefinite Term;
Since 2012
Indefinite Term:
Since 2012
|
General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Brown Advisory Incorporated and affiliates (investment management firm) (since 2009)
|
Not Applicable
|
Not
Applicable
|
|
(1)
|
The Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”).
|
|
(2)
|
The directorships disclosed in this column include only the directorships of those companies that a Trustee serves on that are required to report to the SEC
under applicable Federal securities laws including publicly traded corporations that are registered with the SEC under the 1934 Act and investment companies that are registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act, and it therefore
excludes various other types of directorships that the Trustees of the Trust may currently hold in other types of organizations, including private companies and not-for-profit organizations, which are expressly excluded from the
disclosure requirements for mutual fund board members.
|
|
(3)
|
Mr. Hankin is considered an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, because of his current position with Brown Advisory Incorporated,
the parent company of the Adviser and of Brown Advisory Limited, and Mr. Hardiman is considered an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, because of his previous position with Brown Advisory Incorporated and his
ownership interest in Brown Advisory Incorporated.
|
Additional Information Concerning the Board of Trustees
The Role of the Board
The Board oversees the management and operations of the Trust. Like all mutual funds, the day-to-day management and operation of the Trust is the responsibility of the various service providers to the Trust,
such as the Adviser, the Distributor, the Administrator, the Custodian and the Transfer Agent, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this Statement of Additional Information. The Board has appointed various senior employees of the
Adviser and Administrator as officers of the Trust, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Trust’s operations. In conducting this oversight, the Board receives regular reports from these officers and the service
providers. For example, the Treasurer reports as to financial reporting matters. In addition, the Adviser provide regular reports on the investment strategy and performance of the Funds. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who
administers the Trust’s compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters. These reports are provided as part of the Board’s regular quarterly Board Meetings, which are typically held quarterly, in person, and
involve the Board’s review of recent operations.
Board Structure, Leadership
The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to perform its oversight function effectively. It has established four standing committees – (1) an Audit Committee; (2) a Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee; (3) a Compliance Oversight Committee; and (4) a Valuation Committee – which are discussed in greater detail below under “Trust Committees.” At least a majority of the Board is comprised of Independent Trustees
who are not affiliated with the Adviser, the principal underwriter, or their affiliates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Audit Committee and Compliance Oversight Committee are each comprised entirely of Independent Trustees.
Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the designation of Chairman for Mr. Hardiman, and the designation of Lead Independent Trustee for Mr. Hopkins,
does not impose any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations or liabilities imposed on each such person as a member of the Board. Mr. Hardiman is an interested person of the Trust (as such term is
defined in the 1940 Act) based upon his former status as a member of the Board of Directors of Brown Advisory Incorporated, the parent company of the Adviser, and his ownership interest in Brown Advisory Incorporated. The Board has taken into
consideration the fact that Mr. Hardiman is an interested person of the Trust with respect to their selection of Mr. Hardiman to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Trust and the Board of Trustees has determined that the use of an
interested person as Chairman is appropriate and benefits shareholders because an interested Chairman has a personal as well as a professional stake in the management of the Trust. As noted, the majority of the Board is comprised of
Independent Trustees and the Board believes that maintaining a Board that has a majority of Independent Trustees allows the Board to operate in a manner that provides for an appropriate level of independent oversight and action. In accordance
with applicable regulations regarding the governance of the Trust, the Independent Trustees meet in a separate quarterly session in conjunction with each quarterly meeting of the Board during which they review matters relating to their
independent oversight of the Trust. In addition, each of the Board committees is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees and the Chair of each of the Board committees is an Independent Trustee. Furthermore, Mr. Hopkins serves as Lead
Independent Trustee of the Board. In his role as Lead Independent Trustee, Mr. Hopkins acts as the key liaison with the Adviser to ensure that the interests of the Independent Trustees are taken into consideration in connection with the
ongoing management and operation of the Funds. Specifically, Mr. Hopkins reviews and approves the agenda for each Board meeting, facilitates communications between the Independent Trustees and the Adviser, chairs the separate quarterly sessions
of the Independent Trustees and presides at meetings of the Board at which the Chairman of the Board is not present, among other duties. This permits the Independent Trustees to have a greater role in the leadership of the Funds. Finally, the
Independent Trustees have determined that because they comprise a majority of the Board and because they have designated a Lead Independent Trustee, they can act independently and effectively without having an Independent Trustee serving as
Chairman of the Board.
The Board reviews annually the structure and operation of the Board and its committees. The Board has determined that the composition of the Board and the function and composition of its various committees
provide the appropriate means and communication channels to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.
Board Oversight of Risk Management
As part of its oversight function, the Board of Trustees receives and reviews various risk management reports and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel. Because risk management
is a broad concept comprised of many elements (e.g., investment risk, issuer and counterparty risk, compliance risk, operational risks, business continuity risks, etc.), the oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways.
For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Treasurer and the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Trust’s financial reporting function. The Board meets
regularly with the Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance and operational risks and how they are managed. The Board also receives reports from the Adviser as to investment risks of the Funds.
Information about Each Trustee’s Qualification, Experience, Attributes or Skills
The Board believes that each of the Trustees has the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills (“Trustee Attributes”) appropriate to their continued service as Trustees of the Trust in light of the
Trust’s business and structure. In addition to a demonstrated record of business and/or professional accomplishment, each of the Trustees has demonstrated a commitment to discharging their oversight duties as trustees in the interests of
shareholders. The Board annually conducts a “self-assessment” wherein the effectiveness of the Board is reviewed.
In addition to the information provided in the chart above, below is certain additional information concerning each particular Trustee and his/her Trustee Attributes.
Mr. Hankin’s Trustee Attributes. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Brown Advisory Incorporated, the ultimate parent of the Adviser, Mr. Hankin is ultimately
responsible for the management of the Fund’s day-to-day operations. Mr. Hankin has spent over 20 years assisting a wide range of individuals and institutions on their investment and financial matters. Mr. Hankin also currently serves on the
board of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. an industrial tool and hardware company. Prior to working in the investment management industry, Mr. Hankin was a Partner with the law firm of Piper & Marbury LLP (now DLA Piper US LLP). The Board
believes that Mr. Hankin’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to
carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
Mr. Hardiman’s Trustee Attributes. Mr. Hardiman brings extensive financial, regulatory, broker-dealer, compliance and leadership experience to the Board having served as
a President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and the NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. Hardiman has expertise in investment banking, capital markets and securities distribution from, among other things,
his tenure with Alex. Brown & Sons and Soundview Technology Group, and he has extensive knowledge of the investment management business through his work on the boards of the DWS Scudder Funds and ISI Funds. Mr. Hardiman also has served as a
member of the Board of Directors of Brown Investment Advisory & Trust Company, an affiliate of the Adviser and Brown Advisory Incorporated, the ultimate parent of the Adviser, as well as on the Board of Franklin Resources, Inc., a publicly
traded investment management firm. Mr. Hardiman’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and
attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
Mr. Hopkins’ Trustee Attributes. Mr. Hopkins brings over 35 years of prior legal experience in the mutual fund industry. In particular, Mr. Hopkins served as a legal
counsel with T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., a publicly traded investment management firm, from 1972 until 2008, where he held the position of Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel from 1998 until 2008, and Mr. Hopkins served as Chair of the
firm’s Ethics Committee for 35 years. During that time, he also served in various capacities and on various committees for the Investment Company Institute, the primary mutual fund trade association and the Investment Adviser Association, the
primary investment adviser trade association. Mr. Hopkins is the former Chairman of ICI Mutual Insurance Company, the captive insurance company for the mutual fund industry. Since May 2015, Mr. Hopkins also serves as Lead Independent
Trustee. The Board believes Mr. Hopkins’ experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes
as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
Ms. Legg’s Trustee Attributes. Ms. Legg has senior executive experience in the investment management industry through her experience as the former President and Chief
Executive Officer of Legg Mason Capital Management (“LMCM”), an investment management firm. Prior to joining LMCM, Ms. Legg was a securities analyst with Alex. Brown & Sons, an investment banking firm. In total, Ms. Legg has more than 30
years of professional experience in the investment management and investment banking industries. Ms. Legg also currently serves as a director of BrightSphere Investment Group plc, an asset management holding company, and served as a director of
Sun Trust Banks, Inc., a bank holding company, and Eastman Kodak Co., a printing equipment and supplies company. The Board believes Ms. Legg’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with
those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that she possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
Mr. O’Neil’s Trustee Attributes. Mr. O’Neil is the Global Compliance Officer of Cigna Corporation since February 2017. Previously, Mr. O’Neil was the Founder and
President of The Saranac Group LLC, a strategic consulting firm that advised boards of directors, board committees and senior management in the areas of business ethics, corporate crises, governance and compliance, resolutions of complex
government controversies and monitoring. Prior to founding The Saranac Group LLC, Mr. O’Neil served in various senior management positions at WellCare Health Plans, Inc. and as a Partner and Joint Global Practice Group Leader at the
international law firm DLA Piper US LLP. The Board believes Mr. O’Neil’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the
requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
Mr. Triplett’s Trustee Attributes. Mr. Triplett is the President of DUMAC, Inc. (“DUMAC”), a professionally-staffed investment management organization controlled by Duke
University that manages the school’s endowment funds. He joined DUMAC in July 1999 and he was appointed President in January 2007. Since joining DUMAC Mr. Triplett has been directly involved with managing securities. Prior to completing
business school, Mr. Triplett was a credit officer for the corporate and real estate portfolios at Wachovia Bank. Mr. Triplett holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. The Board believes Mr. Triplett’s experience, qualifications,
attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to
the Trust.
Trust Committee
The Trust has four standing committees: (1) the Audit Committee; (2) the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; (3) the Compliance Oversight Committee; and (4) the Valuation Committee.
The Audit Committee is comprised of all of the Independent Trustees. The function of the Audit Committee is to review the scope and results of the annual audit of each of the Funds and any matters bearing on
the audit or the Fund’s financial statements and to ensure the integrity of the Fund’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee also recommends to the Board of Trustees the annual selection of the independent registered public accounting firm
for the Funds and it reviews and pre-approves audit and certain non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, the Audit Committee met three times.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, comprised of all the Independent Trustees, is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for Trustees and overseeing Board
governance matters. Although the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a policy with respect to the consideration of candidates for Trustee submitted by shareholders, if the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
determined that it would be in the best interests of the Trust to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees, and a shareholder submitted a candidate for consideration by the Board of Trustees to fill the vacancy, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee would evaluate that candidate in the same manner as it evaluates nominees identified by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Nominee recommendations may be submitted to the Secretary of the Trust at the
Trust’s principal business address. The Committee meets on an as needed basis. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met one time.
The function of the Compliance Oversight Committee is to review and monitor compliance matters relating to the Funds and to oversee the functions of the Fund’s compliance program. The Committee meets on an
as-needed basis. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, the Compliance Oversight Committee met three times.
The Valuation Committee includes all of the Independent Trustees. The function of the Valuation Committee is to review quarterly reports from the Pricing Committee over the procedures used to value securities
held by any of the Funds for which current and reliable market quotations are not readily available. The actions of the Valuation Committee are subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board. The Valuation Committee meets quarterly and also
on an as needed basis when deemed necessary. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, the Valuation Committee met four times.
The Valuation Committee has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to the Pricing Committee which is comprised of certain officers of the Trust. The function of the Pricing Committee is to value securities held
by any of the Funds for which current and reliable market quotations are not readily available, using guidelines developed by the Valuation Committee. Such securities are valued at their respective fair values as determined in good faith by
the Pricing Committee, and the actions of the Pricing Committee are subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Valuation Committee and the Board. The Pricing Committee meets on an as needed basis when deemed necessary in order to value a
security requiring a fair valuation.
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares and Other Interests
As the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, none of the Trustees beneficially own shares of the Fund. The following table shows the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in all
registered investment companies overseen by the Trustees in the family of investment companies owned by the Trustees as of December 31, 2018 using the following ranges: None, $1-$10,000, $10,001-$50,000, $50,001-$100,000, and Over $100,000.
|
Name of Fund(1)
|
Joseph R.
Hardiman
Interested
Trustee
|
Michael D.
Hankin
Interested
Trustee
|
Henry H.
Hopkins
Independent
Trustee
|
Kyle Prechtl
Legg
Independent
Trustee
|
Thomas F.
O’Neil III
Independent
Trustee
|
Neal F.
Triplett
Independent
Trustee
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Trustee in Family of
Investment Companies
|
[...]
|
[...]
|
[...]
|
[...]
|
[...]
|
[...]
|
|
(1)
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
|
Neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, own securities beneficially or of record in the Adviser, the Fund’s principal underwriter, or any of their affiliates. Accordingly, during
the two most recently completed calendar years, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, have had a direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Adviser, the Trust’s principal
underwriter or any of its affiliates.
Compensation
Trustees who are not employees of the Adviser receive a retainer fee of $60,000 per year, $6,000 for each in-person meeting attended and $1,500 for each telephonic meeting attended, as well as reimbursement for
reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings. In addition, the Board Chair, the Audit Committee Chair, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair, the Valuation Committee Chair and the Compliance
Oversight Committee Chair receive additional annual compensation of $15,000, $10,000, $10,000, $10,000 and $10,000, respectively. Furthermore, the Lead Independent Trustee receives additional annual compensation of $10,000. No other
compensation or retirement benefits are received by any Trustee or officer from the Funds. Prior to July 1, 2018, Trustees who are not employees of the Adviser received a retainer fee of $50,000 per year. The following compensation figures
represent compensation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 for each of the Trustees:
|
Name of Person/Position
|
Aggregate
Compensation
from the Funds(1)
|
Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued as
Part of Fund
Expenses
|
Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
|
Total
Compensation
from the Funds
and Fund
Complex(2) Paid to
Trustees
|
|
Henry H. Hopkins, Trustee
|
[...]
|
$0
|
$0
|
[...]
|
|
Kyle Prechtl Legg, Trustee
|
[...]
|
$0
|
$0
|
[...]
|
|
Thomas F. O’Neil III, Trustee
|
[...]
|
$0
|
$0
|
[...]
|
|
Neal F. Triplett, Trustee
|
[...]
|
$0
|
$0
|
[...]
|
|
Michael D. Hankin, Trustee
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
Joseph R. Hardiman, Trustee
|
[...]
|
$0
|
$0
|
[...]
|
|
(1)
|
Trustee fees and expenses are allocated among the Funds in the Trust.
|
|
(2)
|
The Fund Complex currently consists of the 19 Funds in the Trust.
|
Investment Adviser
Services of the Adviser
The Adviser serves as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Advisory Agreement was initially approved by the Board of Trustees
on May 2, 2012 for a two year period. After the initial two year term, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year as long as the continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Trustees or by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and (ii) by a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees. The Adviser monitors the performance of the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers its investment program,
subject to the direction of, and policies established by, the Board.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser furnishes, at its own expense, all services, facilities and personnel necessary in connection with managing the Fund’s investments and effecting portfolio transactions
for the Fund. The Adviser may also pay fees to certain brokers/dealers to have the Fund available for sale through such institutions as well for certain shareholder services provided to customers purchasing Fund shares through such
institutions.
Ownership of the Adviser
The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brown Advisory Management, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company. Brown Advisory Management, LLC is controlled by Brown Advisory Incorporated, a holding company
incorporated under the laws of Maryland in 1998. The Adviser does business under the name of Brown Advisory. The Adviser and its affiliates (“Brown Advisory”) have provided investment advisory and management services to clients for over
10 years.
Information Regarding Portfolio Managers
The following information regarding the Fund’s portfolio managers has been provided by the Adviser.
Other Accounts Under Management. The following table identifies, for each portfolio manager of the Fund, the number of accounts managed (excluding the Fund) and the total
assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts. The Fund’s portfolio managers do not provide day-to-day management of accounts with
performance-based advisory fees. Information in the table is shown as of June 30, 2019. Asset amounts are approximate and have been rounded.
|
Number of Other Accounts Managed
and Assets by Account Type
|
Number of Accounts and Assets for which
Advisory Fee is Performance Based |
|||||
|
Fund and
Portfolio Manager
|
Registered
Investment
Companies
|
Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
|
Other
Accounts
|
Registered
Investment
Companies |
Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
|
Other
Accounts
|
|
Amy Hauter
|
1
|
0
|
15
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
$127 million
|
$0
|
$9 million
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
|
Stephen M. Shutz
|
2
|
0
|
48
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
$1.2 billion
|
$0
|
$67 million
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
Conflicts of Interest for the Portfolio Managers. 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 to
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 and conducting trades on a soft dollar basis, if applicable.
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.
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.
Information Concerning Compensation of Portfolio Managers. Each portfolio manager of the Adviser receives a compensation package that includes various components, including
a base salary and variable incentive bonus. A portfolio manager who is also a member of the Adviser’s management team maintains a significant equity interest in Brown Advisory Holdings Incorporated. The incentive bonus is subjective. It takes
into consideration a number of factors including but not limited to performance, client satisfaction and service and the profitability of the Adviser’s business. When evaluating a portfolio manager’s performance the Adviser compares the pre-tax
performance of a portfolio manager’s accounts to a relative broad-based market index over a trailing 1, 3, and 5 year time period. Accounts managed in the below referenced styles are typically compared to the following indices:
|
Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
|
Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year Blended Municipal Bond Index
|
All portions of a portfolio manager’s compensation package are paid by the Adviser and not by any client account.
Portfolio Managers Ownership in the Fund. No portfolio manager ownership information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the
date of this SAI.
Advisory Fees
The Adviser’s fee is calculated as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The fee, if not waived, is accrued daily by the Fund and is assessed to each class based on average net assets for the
previous month. The Adviser’s fee is paid monthly based on average net assets for the prior month.
In addition to receiving its advisory fee from the Fund, the Adviser may also act and be compensated as investment manager for its clients with respect to assets they invested in the Fund. If you have a
separately managed account with the Adviser with assets invested in the Fund, the Adviser will credit an amount equal to all or a portion of the fees received by the Adviser against any investment management fee received from you.
The Adviser may also receive compensation from certain omnibus account providers for providing shareholder services to Fund shareholders.
No advisory fee information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Expense Limitation Agreements
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain expenses (excluding taxes, interest, portfolio transaction expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) in
order to limit the Fund’s total expenses as follows:
|
Fund
|
Institutional
Shares
|
Investor
Shares
|
Advisor
Shares
|
|
Brown Advisory Tax-Exempt Sustainable Bond Fund
|
0.55%
|
0.60%
|
0.85%
|
Under the Expense Limitation Agreement, the Adviser may recapture waived fees and expenses borne for a three-year period under specified conditions.
The Expense Limitation Agreement will remain in effect until October 31, 2021. The contractual waivers and expense reimbursements may be changed or eliminated at any time by the Board of Trustees upon 60 days’
written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser with the consent of the Board of Trustees.
Other Provisions of Advisory Agreement
The Adviser are not affiliated with Fund Services, the Trust’s administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent, or any company affiliated with Fund Services. The Advisory Agreement remains in effect for a
period of two years from the date of its initial effectiveness. Subsequently, the Advisory Agreement must be approved at least annually by the Board or by majority vote of the shareholders, and in either case by a majority of the Trustees who
are not parties to the agreement or interested persons of any such party (other than as Trustees of the Trust).
The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust with respect to the Fund on 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by a majority vote of the Board,
or by the Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement terminates immediately upon assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is not liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or in any event whatsoever except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of
its duties or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the agreement.
Distributor
Distribution Services
ALPS Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203 (“ALPS”), serves as the Fund’s principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to the distribution
agreement between the Trust and ALPS adopted on February 20, 2019 (the “Distribution Agreement”), ALPS 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. ALPS 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 Trust and ALPS 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 Trust on behalf of the Fund on a 60-day written
notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by ALPS on a 60-day written notice, and will automatically terminate in the
event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).
Distribution Plan – (Advisor Shares)
On May 2, 2012, the Trust adopted a distribution plan for their Advisor Shares pursuant to Rule 12b‑1 under the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”). Under the 12b-1 Plan, the Fund pays a fee to the Distributor for
distribution services (the “Distribution Fee”) at an annual rate of 0.25% for Advisor Shares of the Fund’s average daily net asset value of its Advisor Shares. The 12b-1 Plan provides that the Distributor may use all or any portion of such
Distribution Fee to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares, subject to the terms of the 12b-1 Plan, or to provide certain shareholder services.
The Distribution Fee is payable to the Distributor regardless of the distribution-related expenses actually incurred. Because the Distribution Fee is not directly tied to expenses, the amount of distribution
fees paid by the Advisor Shares of the Fund during any year may be more or less than actual expenses incurred pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan. For this reason, this type of distribution fee arrangement is characterized by the staff of the SEC as a
“compensation” plan.
The Distributor may use the Distribution Fee to pay for services covered by the 12b-1 Plan including, but not limited to, advertising, compensating underwriters, dealers and selling personnel engaged in the
distribution of Fund shares, the printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports, the printing and mailing of sales literature pertaining to the Fund, and obtaining whatever information, analyses and
reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable.
The 12b-1 Plan provides that it will continue from year to year upon approval by the majority vote of the Board, including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in
the 1940 Act, and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the 12b-1 Plan or in any agreement related to such plan (the “Qualified Trustees”), as required by the 1940 Act, currently cast in person at a meeting
called for that purpose, provided that such trustees have made a determination that there is a reasonable likelihood that the 12b-1 Plan will benefit the Fund and its shareholders. It is also required that the trustees who are not “interested
persons” of the Fund, select and nominate all other trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund. The 12b-1 Plan and any related agreements may not be amended to materially increase the amounts to be spent for distribution expenses
without approval of shareholders holding a majority of the Fund shares outstanding. All material amendments to the 12b-1 Plan or any related agreements must be approved by a vote of a majority of the Board and the Qualified Trustees, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on any such amendment.
The 12b-1 Plan requires that the Distributor provide to the Board, at least quarterly, a written report on the amounts and purpose of any payment made under the 12b-1 Plan. The Distributor is also required to
furnish the Board with such other information as may reasonably be requested in order to enable the Board to make an informed determination of whether the 12b-1 Plan should be continued.
As noted above, the 12b-1 Plan provides for the ability to use Fund assets to pay financial intermediaries (including those that sponsor mutual fund supermarkets), plan administrators and other service providers
to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares (distribution services) and for the provision of personal services to shareholders. The payments made by the Fund to financial intermediaries are based
primarily on the dollar amount of assets invested in the Fund through the financial intermediaries. These financial intermediaries may pay a portion of the payments that they receive from the Fund to their investment professionals. In
addition to the ongoing asset-based fees paid to these financial intermediaries under the Fund’s 12b-1 Plan, the Fund may, from time to time, make payments under the 12b-1 Plan that help defray the expenses incurred by these intermediaries for
conducting training and educational meetings about various aspects of the Fund for their employees. In addition, the Fund may make payments under the 12b-1 Plan for exhibition space and otherwise help defray the expenses these financial
intermediaries incur in hosting client seminars where the Fund is discussed.
In addition, the Fund may participate in various “fund supermarkets” in which a mutual fund supermarket sponsor (usually a broker-dealer) offers many mutual funds to the sponsor’s customers without charging the
customers a sales charge. In connection with its participation in such platforms, the Distributor may use all or a portion of the Distribution Fee to pay one or more supermarket sponsors a negotiated fee for distributing the Fund’s shares. In
addition, in its discretion, the Adviser may pay additional fees to such intermediaries from its own assets.
Any material amendment to the 12b-1 Plan must be approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a “majority” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting
securities of the applicable class or classes. The 12b-1 Plan may be terminated, with respect to a class or classes of the Fund, without penalty at any time: (1) by vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent
Trustees; or (2) by a vote of a “majority” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable class or classes.
No 12b-1 information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Shareholder Servicing Plan – (Advisor and Investor Shares)
Pursuant to the Shareholder Servicing Plan (the “Plan”) adopted by the Trust on May 2, 2012 with respect to the Advisor and Investor Shares of the Fund, the Adviser is authorized to provide, or arrange for others
to provide personal shareholder services relating to the servicing and maintenance of shareholder accounts not otherwise provided to the Fund (“Shareholder Servicing Activities”). Under the Plan, the Adviser may enter into shareholder service
agreements with securities broker-dealers and other securities professionals (“Service Organizations”) who provide Shareholder Servicing Activities for their clients invested in the Fund.
Shareholder Servicing Activities shall include one or more of the following: (1) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating for shareholders of the Fund; (2) aggregating and processing orders
involving the shares of the Fund; (3) processing dividend and other distribution payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders; (4) providing information to shareholders as to their ownership of Fund shares or about other aspects of the
operations of the Fund; (5) preparing tax reports or forms on behalf of shareholders; (6) forwarding communications from the Fund to shareholders; (7) assisting shareholders in changing the Fund’s records as to their addresses, dividend
options, account registrations or other data; (8) providing sub-accounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by shareholders, or the information to the Fund necessary for sub-accounting; (9) responding to shareholder inquiries relating
to the services performed; (10) providing shareholders with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; and (11) providing such other similar services as the Adviser may
reasonably request to the extent the Service Organization is permitted to do so under applicable statutes, rules or regulations.
As compensation for the Shareholder Servicing Activities, the Fund pays the Adviser a fee of up to 0.05% of average daily net assets for Shareholder Servicing Activities.
No shareholder servicing fee information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Business Management Services
Pursuant to the Business Management Agreement, the Adviser also provides certain business management services to the Fund, including, without limitation, monitoring of the Fund’s relationships with third-party
service providers, and assisting with necessary and appropriate services to the Board of the Trust. For these services, the Adviser is entitled to receive a fee from the Fund at a rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
No business management services fee information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Securities Lending Activities
No securities lending information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Other Fund Service Providers
Administrator and 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 to the Fund pursuant to an
administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”). 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 Trust of all documents required to be filed for compliance by the Trust and the Fund with applicable laws and
regulations excluding those of the securities laws of various states; arranging for the computation of performance data, including NAV and yield; responding to shareholder inquiries; and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the
Fund, and providing, at its own expense, office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary to carry out its duties. In this capacity, 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 Administration Agreement, the Administrator will receive a portion of fees from the Fund as part of a bundled-fees agreement for services performed as fund administrator, fund accountant and
transfer agent to the Trust.
No administration fee information is provided for Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Custodian
U.S. Bank, National Association is the custodian for the Fund (the “Custodian”) 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.
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP, 1900 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[ ] is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, providing audit services, tax services and assistance with respect to the preparation of filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund and for the placement of the Fund’s securities business, the negotiation of the commissions to be paid on such transactions and the
allocation of portfolio brokerage and principal business.
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 its 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 are usually no stated brokerage commissions paid for these securities, but the price usually includes an undisclosed commission or markup.
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 in order 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
No brokerage commissions information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Adviser Responsibility for Purchases and Sales
The Adviser place 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 their best judgment and in a manner deemed to be in the best interest of
the Fund rather than by any formula.
The Adviser seek “best execution” for all portfolio transactions. This means that the Adviser seek 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 take 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.
Obtaining Research from Brokers
The Adviser, as appropriate, have 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 research will directly benefit clients and the Fund’s investors.
No soft-dollar arrangement information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
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 Trust.
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. 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 in order to obtain any price advantages available to large denomination purchases or sales.
Portfolio Turnover
The frequency of portfolio transactions of the Fund (the portfolio turnover rate) will vary from year to year depending on many factors. From time to time, the Fund may engage in active short-term trading to take
advantage of price movements affecting individual issues, groups of issues or markets. An annual portfolio turnover rate of 100% would occur if all the securities in the Fund were replaced once in a period of one year. Higher portfolio
turnover rates may result in increased brokerage costs to the Fund and a possible increase in short-term capital gains or losses.
No portfolio turnover information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
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.
No ownership information of regular broker-dealers is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Portfolio Holdings
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted a portfolio holdings disclosure policy that governs the timing and circumstances of disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund. The Adviser has also adopted a
policy with respect to disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund (the “Adviser’s Policy”). Information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings will not be distributed to any third party except in accordance with the Trust’s portfolio holdings
policies and the Adviser’s Policy as applicable (the “Disclosure Policies”). The Adviser and the Board considered the circumstances under which the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed under the Disclosure Policies and the actual and
potential material conflicts that could arise in such circumstances between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and the interests of the Adviser, the distributor or any other affiliated person of the Fund. After due consideration, the
Adviser and the Board determined that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for disclosing portfolio holdings to persons described in the Disclosure Policies, including mutual fund rating or statistical agencies, or persons performing
similar functions, and internal parties involved in the investment process, administration or custody of the Fund. Pursuant to the Disclosure Policies, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), President and Treasurer are each authorized
to consider and authorize dissemination of portfolio holdings information to additional third parties, after considering the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders and potential conflicts of interest in making such disclosures. The
Disclosure Policies are each consistent with the Trust’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy and are used in furtherance of the Trust’s policy.
The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Disclosure Policies, Codes of Ethics and other relevant
policies of the Fund and its service providers by the Trust’s CCO, (2) by considering reports and recommendations by the Trust’s CCO concerning any material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act), and (3) by
considering to approve any amendment to the Disclosure Policies. The Board reserves the right to amend the Disclosure Policies at any time without prior notice to shareholders in its sole discretion.
Disclosure of the Fund’s complete holdings is required to be made after the periods covered by the Fund’s Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form
N-PORT. These reports are available, free of charge, on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund will disclose its complete portfolio holdings on their website at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com within 10 business days
after the calendar month-end. Portfolio holdings information posted on the Fund’s website may be separately provided to any person, commencing on the day after it is first published on the Fund’s website. In addition, the Fund may provide its
complete portfolio holdings at the same time that it is filed with the SEC.
In the event of a conflict between the interests of the Fund and the interests of the Adviser and an affiliated person of the Adviser, the CCO of the Adviser, in consultation with the Trust’s CCO, shall make a
determination in the best interests of the Fund, and shall report such determination to the Board at the end of the quarter in which such determination was made. Any employee of the Adviser who suspects a breach of this obligation must report
the matter immediately to the Adviser’s CCO or to his or her supervisor.
In addition, material non-public holdings information may be provided without lag as part of the normal investment activities of the Fund to each of the following entities, which, by explicit agreement or by
virtue of their respective duties to the Fund, are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed, including a duty not to trade on non-public information: the fund administrator, fund accountant, custodian, transfer
agent, auditors, counsel to the Fund or the Board, broker-dealers (in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities), distributor, proxy services, printers, liquidity,
classification agents, and regulatory authorities. Portfolio holdings information not publicly available with the SEC or through the Fund’s website may only be provided to additional third parties, including mutual fund ratings or statistical
agencies, in accordance with the Disclosure Policies, when the Fund has a legitimate business purpose and the third-party recipient is subject to a confidentiality agreement that includes a duty not to trade on non-public information.
Service providers are subject to a duty of confidentiality pursuant to contract, applicable policies and procedures, or professional code and may not disclose non-public portfolio holdings information unless
specifically authorized. In some cases, a service provider may be required to execute a non-disclosure agreement. Non-disclosure agreements include the following provisions:
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The recipient agrees to keep confidential any portfolio holdings information received.
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The recipient agrees not to trade on the non-public information received
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The recipient agrees to refresh its representation as to confidentiality and abstention from trading upon request from the Adviser.
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Portfolio holdings disclosure may also be made pursuant to prior written approval by the CCO. Prior to approving any such disclosure, the CCO will ensure that procedures, processes and agreements are in place to
provide reasonable assurance that the portfolio holdings information will only be used in accordance with the objectives of the Disclosure Policies.
In no event shall the Adviser, their affiliates or employees, the Fund, or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio
holdings.
There can be no assurance that the Disclosure Policies will protect the Fund from potential misuse of portfolio holdings information by individuals or entities to which it is disclosed.
From time to time, the Adviser may make additional disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings on the Fund’s website. Shareholders can access the Fund’s website at www.brownadvisoryfunds.com for additional
information about the Fund, including, without limitation, the periodic disclosure of their portfolio holdings.
The information provided below supplements the information contained in the Prospectus regarding the purchase and redemption of the Fund’s shares.
How to Buy Shares
In addition to purchasing shares directly from the Fund, you may purchase shares of the Fund through certain financial intermediaries and their agents that have made arrangements with the Fund and are authorized
to buy and sell shares of the Fund (collectively, “Financial Intermediaries”). Investors should contact their Financial Intermediary directly for appropriate instructions, as well as information pertaining to accounts and any service or
transaction fees that may be charged. If you transmit your order to these Financial Intermediaries before the Fund’s close, which is the close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on a day that the NYSE is open for business,
your order will be priced based on the Fund’s NAV next computed after it is received by the Financial Intermediary. Investors should check with their Financial Intermediary to determine if it participates in these arrangements.
Shares are purchased at the Fund’s NAV next determined after Fund Services receives your order in proper form, as discussed in the Fund’s Prospectus. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will be deemed to have
received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee receives the order. In order to receive that day’s NAV, Fund Services must receive your order in proper form before the close
of regular trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. 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 and redemption orders until, and calculate the Fund’s NAV as of, the normally scheduled close of regular trading on
the NYSE for that day, so long as the Adviser believes there remains an adequate market to meet purchase and redemption orders for that day. On any business day when the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the
bond markets close trading early, the Fund reserves the right to close at such earlier closing time, and therefore accept purchase and redemption orders until, and calculate the Fund’s NAV as of, such earlier closing time.
The Trust reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the continued offering of the Fund’s shares, (ii) to reject purchase orders in whole or in part when in the judgment of the Adviser or the
distributor such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund, and (iii) to reduce or waive the minimum for initial and subsequent investments for certain fiduciary accounts or under circumstances where certain economies can be achieved in
sales of the Fund’s shares.
In addition to cash purchases, the Fund’s shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of shares of stock, bonds or other securities. Any securities used to buy the Fund’s shares must be
readily marketable, their acquisition consistent with the Fund’s objective and otherwise acceptable to the Adviser and the Board.
Automatic Investment Plan
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund provides an Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”) for the convenience of investors who wish to purchase shares of the Fund on a regular basis. All record keeping and
custodial costs of the AIP are paid by the Fund. The market value of the Fund’s shares is subject to fluctuation. Prior to participating in the AIP, the investor should keep in mind that this plan does not assure a profit nor protect against
depreciation in declining markets.
How to Sell Shares and Delivery of Redemption Proceeds
You can sell your Fund shares any day the NYSE is open for regular trading, either directly to the Fund or through your Financial Intermediary.
Payments to shareholders for shares of the Fund redeemed directly from the Fund will be made as promptly as possible, but no later than seven days after receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent of the written request
in proper form, with the appropriate documentation as stated in the Prospectus, except that the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment during any period when (a) trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined
by the SEC or the NYSE is closed for other than weekends and holidays; (b) an emergency exists as determined by the SEC making disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the Fund not reasonably practicable; or (c) for such
other period as the SEC may permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders. Under unusual circumstances, the Fund may suspend redemptions, or postpone payment for more than seven days, but only as authorized by SEC rules.
The value of shares on redemption or repurchase may be more or less than the investor’s cost, depending upon the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time of redemption or repurchase.
Telephone Redemptions
Shareholders with telephone transaction privileges established on their account may redeem the Fund’s shares by telephone. Upon receipt of any instructions or inquiries by telephone from the shareholder the Fund
or its authorized agents may carry out the instructions and/or to respond to the inquiry consistent with the shareholder’s previously established account service options. For joint accounts, instructions or inquiries from either party will be
carried out without prior notice to the other account owners. In acting upon telephone instructions, the Fund and its agents use procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that such instructions are genuine. These include recording all
telephone calls, requiring pertinent information about the account and sending written confirmation of each transaction to the registered owner.
Fund Services will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine. If Fund Services fails to employ reasonable procedures, the Fund and Fund Services may be
liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. If these procedures are followed, however, that to the extent permitted by applicable law, neither the Fund nor its agents will be liable for any loss, liability, cost or
expense arising out of any redemption request, including any fraudulent or unauthorized request. For additional information, contact Fund Services.
Redemptions In-Kind
The Trust has filed an election under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act committing to pay in cash all redemptions by a shareholder of record up to amounts specified by the rule (in excess of the lesser of (i) $250,000
or (ii) 1% of the Fund’s assets). The Fund has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of its shares in excess of the amounts specified by the rule, either totally or partially, by a distribution in-kind of portfolio securities (instead
of cash). The securities so distributed would be valued at the same amount as that assigned to them in calculating the NAV for the shares being sold. If a shareholder receives a distribution in-kind, the shareholder could incur subsequent
brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash. A redemption in-kind is treated as a taxable transaction and a sale of the
redeemed shares, generally resulting in capital gain or loss to you, subject to certain loss limitation rules.
The Fund does not intend to hold any significant percentage of its portfolio in illiquid securities, although the Fund, like virtually all mutual funds, may from time to time hold a small percentage of securities
that are illiquid. In the unlikely event the Fund were to elect to make an in-kind redemption, the Fund expects that it would follow the normal protocol of making such distribution by way of a pro rata distribution based on its entire
portfolio. If the Fund held illiquid securities, such distribution may contain a pro rata portion of such illiquid securities or the Fund may determine, based on a materiality assessment, not to include illiquid securities in the in-kind
redemption. The Fund does not anticipate that it would ever selectively distribute a greater than pro rata portion of any illiquid securities to satisfy a redemption request. If such securities are included in the distribution, shareholders may
not be able to liquidate such securities and may be required to hold such securities indefinitely. Shareholders’ ability to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind may be restricted by resale limitations or substantial restrictions on
transfer imposed by the issuers of the securities or by law. Shareholders may only be able to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind at a substantial discount from their value, and there may be higher brokerage costs associated with any
subsequent disposition of these securities by the recipient.
Distributions
Distributions of net investment income will be reinvested at the Fund’s NAV (unless you elect to receive distributions in cash) as of the payment date. Distributions of capital gain will be reinvested at the NAV
of the Fund (unless you elect to receive distributions in cash) on the payment date for the distribution. Cash payments may be made more than seven days following the date on which distributions would otherwise be reinvested.
Additional Payments to Dealers
The Adviser, out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or other compensation to certain financial intermediaries who sell shares of
the Fund. You may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to the Fund’s shares.
Set forth below is a list of the member firms of FINRA to which the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates made payments out of their revenues in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the
Fund or for services to the Fund and its shareholders in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 (“Additional Payments”). (Such payments are in addition to any amounts paid to such FINRA firms in the form of fees for shareholder servicing or
distribution. The payments are discussed in further detail in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Choosing a Shares Class - Additional Payments to Dealers”. Any additions, modification, or deletions to the member firms identified in this
list that have occurred since June 30, 2019, are not reflected:
FINRA MEMBER FIRMS:
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Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
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Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company, Inc.
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Goldman Sachs & Co.
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
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Morgan Stanley & Co.
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National Financial Services, LLC
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Pershing LLC
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Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC
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TD Ameritrade, Inc.
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TIAA-CREF Individual and Institutional Services, LLC
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UBS Financial Services Inc.
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Vanguard Marketing Corporation
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Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
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The prospect of receiving, or the receipt of, additional payments or other compensation as described above by financial intermediaries may provide such intermediaries and/or their salespersons with an incentive
to favor sales of shares of the Fund, and other mutual funds whose affiliates make similar compensation available, over sale of shares of mutual funds (or non-mutual fund investments) not making such payments. You may wish to take such payment
arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to Fund shares.
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 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. In order to qualify to be taxed as a regulated
investment company, generally the Fund must satisfy the following requirements:
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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, plus 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 (the
“Distribution Requirement”)).
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The Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks, securities,
and currencies, or other income (including gains from options and futures contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stocks, securities, and currencies and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded
partnerships.
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The Fund must satisfy the following asset diversification tests 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.
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While the Fund presently intends to make cash distributions (including distributions reinvested in Fund shares) for each tax year of 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. The Fund that uses equalization accounting will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment
company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions 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 tax 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 for tax treatment 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.
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. These distributions are taxable to you as ordinary income.
A portion of the Fund’s distributions may be treated as “qualified dividend income,” taxable to individuals, under current law, at 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, the distributions are not treated as
qualified dividend income. The Fund’s distributions of dividends that it received from REITs generally do not constitute “qualified dividend income.”
A portion of the Fund’s distributions, to the extent derived from dividends from domestic corporations, may be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction if certain holding period and other
requirements are met.
A 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 redemptions 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 are taxable to you 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 may have capital loss carryovers (unutilized capital losses from prior years).
No capital loss carryover information is provided because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
The Fund operates using a fiscal and taxable year ending on June 30 of each year.
Distributions by the Fund that do not constitute ordinary income dividends 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 would have been received instead of such shares.
Individuals (and certain other non-corporate entities) are generally eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to taxable ordinary dividends from REITs and certain taxable income from publicly traded
partnerships. Currently, there is not a regulatory mechanism for RICs to pass-through the special character of this income to shareholders.
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 tax year in which they are received. However, a distribution declared in October, November or December of any 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.
Distributions
The Code permits the character of tax-exempt interest distributed by a regulated investment company to “flow through” as tax-exempt interest to its shareholders, provided that 50% or more of the value of its
assets at the end of each quarter of its taxable year is invested in state, municipal or other obligations the interest on which is exempt under Section 103(a) of the Code. The Fund intends to satisfy the 50% requirement to permit its
distributions of tax-exempt interest to be treated as such for regular Federal income tax purposes in the hands of their shareholders. Exempt-interest dividends must be taken into account by individual shareholders in determining whether their
total incomes are large enough to result in taxation of up to 85% of their social security benefits and certain railroad retirement benefits. None of the income distributions of the Fund is expected to be eligible for the reduced individual
tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or the corporate dividends-received deduction.
Although a significant portion of the distributions by the Fund generally is expected to be exempt from Federal income taxes, the Fund may under certain circumstances invest in obligations the interest from which
is fully taxable, or, although exempt from the regular Federal income tax, is subject to the alternative minimum tax. Similarly, gains from the sale or exchange of obligations the interest on which is exempt from regular Federal income tax
will constitute taxable income to the Fund. Taxable income or gain may also arise from taxable investments including securities lending transactions, repurchase agreements and options and futures transactions and from municipal obligations
acquired at a market discount. Accordingly, it is possible that a significant portion of the distributions of the Fund will constitute taxable rather than tax-exempt income in the hands of a shareholder. Furthermore, investors should be aware
that tax laws may change, and issuers may fail to follow applicable laws, causing a tax-exempt item to become taxable. Any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the shares of the Fund to which exempt-interest
dividends is allocated is not deductible.
In addition, as discussed below, a sale, exchange or redemption of shares in the Fund will be a taxable event, and may result in a taxable gain or loss to a shareholder. Shareholders should be aware that
redeeming shares of the Fund after tax-exempt interest has been accrued by the Fund but before that income has been declared as a dividend may be disadvantageous. This is because the gain, if any, on the redemption will be taxable, even though
such gains may be attributable in part to the accrued tax-exempt interest which, if distributed to the shareholder as a dividend rather than as redemption proceeds, might have qualified as an exempt-interest dividend.
Exempt-interest dividends, ordinary dividends, if any, and capital gains distributions from the Fund, and any capital gains or losses realized from the sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to state and
local taxes, although, in certain states, exempt interest dividends may be exempt from taxation in that state to the extent derived from tax-exempt interest on municipal securities issued by that state.
Opinions relating to the validity of municipal securities and the exemption of interest thereon from Federal income tax are rendered by bond counsel to the issuers. The Fund, the Adviser and its affiliates and
the Fund’s counsel make no review of proceedings relating to the issuance of state or municipal securities or the bases of such opinions.
Section 147(a) of the Code prohibits exemption from taxation of interest on certain governmental obligations to persons who are “substantial users” (or persons related thereto) of facilities financed thereby. No
investigation has been made as to the users of the facilities financed by bonds in the Fund’s portfolios. Persons who may be “substantial users” (or “related persons” of substantial users) of facilities financed by private activity bonds
should consult their tax advisors before purchasing shares of the Fund since the acquisition of shares of the Fund may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
Certain Tax Rules Applicable to the Fund’s 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 the
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. Federal income tax rules are not
entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue 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 in order 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 be 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 be 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.
Certain rules may affect the timing and character of gain if the Fund engages in transactions that reduce or eliminate its risk of loss with respect to appreciated financial positions. If the Fund enters into
certain transactions in property while holding substantially identical property, the Fund would be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the property and would be taxed on any gain (but not loss) from the constructive sale. The
character of gain from a constructive sale would depend upon the Fund’s holding period in the property. Loss from a constructive sale would be recognized when the property was subsequently disposed of, and its character would depend on the
Fund’s holding period and the application of various loss deferral provisions of the Code.
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, certain financial contracts or options 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, generally 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 which may be classified under the Internal Revenue Code as passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”). In general, a foreign corporation is classified 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 taxable years and an interest factor will be added to the
tax, as if the tax had been payable in such prior taxable 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 classified 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 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 tax year (as well as on certain other dates as prescribed in the Code), 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 the Fund that did not invest in PFIC shares.
The Fund or some of the REITs in which the Fund may invest will be permitted to hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMIC”s). Under Treasury regulations not yet issued, but that
may apply retroactively, a portion of the Fund’s income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a REMIC (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. These
regulations are expected to provide that excess inclusion income of a RIC, such as the Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by shareholders, with the same consequences as if shareholders
held the related REMIC residual interest directly.
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), (ii) will constitute unrelated business
taxable income 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 unrelated business income, thereby potentially requiring such an entity
that is allocated excess inclusion income, and that otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in
U.S. federal withholding tax.
If at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (as defined in the Code) is a record holder of a share in a RIC, then the RIC will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess
inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. It is not expected that a substantial portion of the Fund’s assets will be
residual interests in REMICs. Additionally, the Fund does not intend to invest in REITs in which a substantial portion of the assets will consist of residual interests in REMICs.
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; plus (3) all ordinary taxable
income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during such years. 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: (1) reduces 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) excludes
foreign currency gains and losses (and certain other ordinary gains and losses) incurred after October 31 of any year in determining the amount of ordinary taxable income for the current calendar year. The Fund will include foreign currency
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 excise tax liability.
Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Shares
In general, you will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange or redemption of shares of the Fund in an amount equal to the difference between the proceeds of the sale, exchange or redemption 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) Fund shares within 30 days before or after the sale, exchange or redemption (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 redemption of shares of the Fund 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 redemption 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 year are deductible only to the extent of capital gains plus, in the case of a non-corporate taxpayer, $3,000 of ordinary income.
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 redemption of shares after the settlement date of the redemption. 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 redemptions 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 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 the Fund from sources within foreign countries 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 taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, or if at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total
assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable year is represented by interests in other regulated investment companies, 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 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.
The Fund is required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends and (effective January 1, 2019) redemption proceeds and certain capital gain dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities
that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide
additional information to the Fund to enable the Fund to determine whether withholding is required.
Control Persons and Principal Shareholders
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. 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.
No information about ownership of the Fund by the Trustees and officers, as a group, is provided because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
No principal shareholder information is provided for the Fund because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
Proxy Voting Procedures
The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Trust Proxy Voting Policies”) on behalf of the Trust which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser, as applicable, subject to
the Board’s continuing oversight. The Trust Proxy Voting Policies require that the Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Adviser has adopted its own separate Proxy
Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies”) copies of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies.
The Adviser recognize that under certain circumstances they 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
the respective 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 the Fund and their shareholders in how proxies of that particular issuer are voted. The Adviser will comply with the Trust Proxy Voting Procedures as they relate to the resolution of
conflicts of interest with respect to voting shares of the Fund.
The Trust will file a Form N-PX containing 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 (800) 540-6807 (toll free) or (414) 203-9064 and also on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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 Trust’s registration statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 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.
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.
Capital Stock
The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of Trustees to issue an unlimited number of shares, which are shares of beneficial interest. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of Trustees to
divide or redivide any unissued shares of the Trust into one or more additional series by setting or changing in any one or more respects their respective preferences, conversion or other rights, voting power, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, and to establish separate classes of shares. Shares have no subscription or preemptive rights and only such conversion or exchange rights as the Board of Trustees may grant in
its discretion. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus and this SAI, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable.
The Board of Trustees has authorized three separate classes of shares for the Fund - Institutional Shares, Investor Shares and Advisor Shares. The shares of each class of the Fund represent an interest in the
same portfolio of investments of the Fund. Some classes may currently not be available for sale by the Fund.
With respect to voting rights of shareholders, each share outstanding entitles the holder to one vote. On certain issues, such as the election of Trustees, all shares of the Trust vote together. The
shareholders of the Fund, however, would vote separately on issues affecting only that Fund, such as the approval of a change in a fundamental investment restriction for the Fund. Also, the shareholders of a particular class will vote
separately on issues affecting only that particular class.
With respect to dividend rights, the shareholders of each class of the Fund are entitled to receive dividends or other distributions declared by the Fund for each such class. No shares of the Fund have priority
or preference over any other shares of the Fund with respect to distributions. Distributions will be made from the assets of the Fund and will be paid pro rata to all shareholders of a particular class according to the number of shares of the
class held by shareholders on the record date. The amount of dividends per share may vary between separate share classes of the Fund based upon differences in the net asset values of the different classes and differences in the way that
expenses are allocated between share classes pursuant to a multiple class plan approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Financial Statements
Financial statements certified by an independent registered public accounting firm will be submitted to shareholders at least annually. The Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of
this SAI and does not yet have financial statements.
Once available, copies of the Annual Report to Shareholders may be obtained, without charge, upon request by contacting U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC at the address or telephone number listed on
the cover of this SAI.
Short-Term Credit Ratings
An S&P Global Ratings short-term issue credit rating is generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the
relevant market. The following summarizes the rating categories used by S&P Global Ratings for short-term issues:
“A-1” – A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is strong.
Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
“A-2” – A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating
categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.
“A-3” – A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s
capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
“B” – A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments;
however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
“C” – A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial
commitments on the obligation.
“D” – A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are
not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The “D”
rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to
“D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Ratings – S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. A foreign currency
rating on an issuer will differ from the local currency rating on it when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.
Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial
obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.
Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
“P-1” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
“P-2” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
“P-3” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
“NP” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated issuer.
Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term
vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity.
Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for
obligations in U.S. public finance markets. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:
“F1” – Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+”
to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
“F2” – Securities possess good short-term credit quality. This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
“F3” – Securities possess fair short-term credit quality. This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
“B” – Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near
term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
“C” – Securities possess high short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.
“RD” – Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable
to entity ratings only.
“D” – Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
Plus (+) or minus (-) – The “F1” rating may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show the relative status within that major rating category.
“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated issue of a rated issuer.
The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt
rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking
of claims. The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.
The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:
“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment
of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.
“R-1 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs
from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.
“R-1 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is
not as favorable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.
“R-2 (high)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall
due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.
“R-2 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is
acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.
“R-2 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall
due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.
“R-3” – Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.
May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.
“R-4” – Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.
“R-5” – Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations
as they fall due.
“D” – Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the
exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.
Long-Term Credit Ratings
The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P Global Ratings for long-term issues:
“AAA” – An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.
“AA” – An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.
“A” – An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the
obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.
“BBB” – An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to
meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” – Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation
and “C” the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.
“BB” – An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or
economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
“B” – An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
“CCC” – An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial
commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
“CC” – An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a
virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
“C” – An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations
that are rated higher.
“D” – An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made
on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The “D” rating also
will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is
subject to a distressed exchange offer.
Plus (+) or minus (-) – The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
“NR” – This indicates that a rating has not been assigned, or is no longer assigned.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. An issuer’s foreign
currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.
Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original
maturity of one year or more. Such ratings reflect both on the likelihood of default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. The following summarizes
the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:
“Aaa” – Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
“Aa” – Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
“A” – Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
“Baa” – Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
“Ba” – Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
“B” – Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
“Caa” – Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
“Ca” – Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
“C” – Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.” The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of
its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
“NR” – Is assigned to unrated obligations.
The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch:
“AAA” – Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity
for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
“AA” – Securities considered to be of very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial
commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
“A” – Securities considered to be of high credit quality. “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This
capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
“BBB” – Securities considered to be of good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is
considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
“BB” – Securities considered to be speculative. “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or
economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.
“B” – Securities considered to be highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.
“CCC” – A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.
“CC” – A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.
“C” – A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.
Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings but are instead rated in the “CCC” to “C” rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant
characteristics. Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.
Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate
finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.
“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated issue of a rated issuer.
The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default. That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy
its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims. All rating
categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”. The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category. The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS
for long-term debt:
“AAA” – Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future
events.
“AA” – Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small
degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.
“A” – Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.” May be vulnerable to
future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.
“BBB” – Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.
“BB” – Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is
uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.
“B” – Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.
“CCC”, “CC” and “C” – Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference
between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range. Obligations in respect of which
default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.
“D” – A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute
or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed
exchange”.
Municipal Note Ratings
An S&P Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and
market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type
of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings’ analysis will review the following considerations:
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Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
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Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
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Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:
“SP-1” – A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+)
designation.
“SP-2” – A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the
notes.
“SP-3” – A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
“D” – This rating is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed exchange offer, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where
default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.
Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to five years
maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term
rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels – “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”. The following summarizes the ratings used by
Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:
“MIG-1” – This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to
the market for refinancing.
“MIG-2” – This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
“MIG-3” – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
“SG” – This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated obligation.
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents
Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”). The second
element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale. The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity
support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.
“VMIG-1” – This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal
protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
“VMIG-2” – This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections
that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
“VMIG-3” – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal
protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
“SG” – This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade
short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated obligation.
About Credit Ratings
An S&P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors,
insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet
its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial
obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities.
Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends,
repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch’s
credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign financial, bank, insurance, and public finance entities (including supranational and sub-national entities) and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as
structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.
Credit ratings provided by DBRS are forward-looking opinions about credit risk which reflect the creditworthiness of an issuer, rated entity, and/or
security. Credit ratings are not statements of fact. While historical statistics and performance can be important considerations, credit ratings are not based solely on such; they include subjective considerations and involve expectations for
future performance that cannot be guaranteed. To the extent that future events and economic conditions do not match expectations, credit ratings assigned to issuers and/or securities can change. Credit ratings are also based on approved and
applicable Methodologies (“Methodologies”), which are periodically updated and when material changes are deemed necessary, this may also lead to rating changes.
Credit ratings typically provide an opinion on the risk that investors may not be repaid in accordance with the terms under which the obligation was issued. In some cases, credit ratings may also include
consideration for the relative ranking of claims and recovery, should default occur. Credit ratings are meant to provide opinions on relative measures of risk and are not based on expectations of any specific default probability, nor are they
meant to predict such.
The data and information on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS, although DBRS conducts a reasonableness review of information received and relied upon in accordance with its
Methodologies and policies.
DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market, but there are a limited number of rating categories for the possible slight risk differentials that exist across the rating
spectrum and DBRS does not assert that credit ratings in the same category are of “exactly” the same quality.
BROWN ADVISORY LLC AND BROWN ADVISORY LIMITED
PROXY VOTING POLICY ON SECURITIES
The firm receives proxy ballots on behalf of clients and shall vote such proxies consistent with this Policy, which sets forth the firm’s standard approach to voting on common proxy questions.1 In general, this Policy is designed to ensure that the firm votes proxies in the best interest of clients, so as to promote the long-term economic value of the
underlying securities.
Clients may, at any time, opt to change their proxy voting authorization. Upon notice that a client has revoked the firm’s authority to vote proxies, the firm will forward any relevant research the firm obtains
to the party that will assume proxy voting authority, as identified by the client.
To facilitate the proxy voting process, the firm has engaged Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”), an unbiased, unaffiliated, third-party proxy voting service, to provide proxy research and voting
recommendations. In addition, the firm subscribes to Glass Lewis’s proxy vote management system, which provides a means to receive and vote proxies, as well as services for record-keeping, auditing, reporting and disclosure regarding votes.
On a regular basis, the firm’s portfolio managers are supplied with a list of upcoming proxies issued for companies that are actively recommended by the firm. Except in situations identified as presenting
material conflicts of interest, the portfolio manager who follows an issuer may make the final voting decision based on a variety of considerations, including their review of relevant materials, their knowledge of the company, and Glass Lewis
recommendations. In circumstances where the firm’s managers do not provide a vote recommendation, proxies will be voted according to Glass Lewis recommendations, unless specific guidelines provided to Glass Lewis by the firm specify
otherwise. Proxies are generally voted in accordance with Glass Lewis recommendations for all client types, as described further herein.
In keeping with its fiduciary obligations to clients, the firm considers each proxy voting proposal on its own merits and an independent determination is made based on the relevant facts and circumstances. Proxy
proposals include a wide range of matters. The firm generally votes with management on routine matters and takes a more case-by-case approach regarding non-routine matters. For socially responsible investing (“SRI” or “green”) clients, the
firm follows Glass Lewis guidelines that focus on enhanced environmental, social and governance practices (“ESG Guidelines”). For Taft-Hartley clients, the firm follows the Glass Lewis Taft-Hartley Guidelines. Although Glass Lewis guidelines
are generally followed, the firm may depart from these guidelines when it deems such departure necessary in the best interest of the client.
Below is a summary of guidelines, based on the Glass Lewis approach, for voting on common proxy questions. Given the dynamic and wide-ranging nature of corporate governance issues that may arise, this summary is
not intended to be exhaustive.
Management Recommendations
Since the quality and depth of management is a primary factor considered when investing in an issuer, the recommendation of the issuer’s management on any issue will be given substantial weight. Although proxies
with respect to most issues are voted in line with the recommendation of the issuer’s management, the firm will not blindly vote in favor of management.
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1. The firm votes proxies on behalf of separate account clients, firm-managed
mutual fund shareholders, and, where applicable, employee benefit plan participants and beneficiaries.
The firm will not support proxy proposals or positions that compromise clients’ best interests or that the firm determines may be detrimental to the underlying value of client positions.
Routine Matters
Election of Directors.
Although proxies will typically be voted for a management-proposed slate of directors, the firm may vote against (or withhold votes for) such directors if there are compelling corporate governance reasons for
doing so. Some of these reasons include where a director: attends less than 75% of board and relevant committee meetings; is the CEO of a company where a serious restatement occurred after the CEO certified the financial statements; served at
a time when a poison pill was adopted without shareholder approval within the prior year; is the CFO of the company; has an interlocking directorship; has a perceived conflict of interest (or the director’s immediate family member has a
perceived conflict of interest); or serves on an excessive number of boards.
The firm generally supports independent boards of directors comprised of members with diverse backgrounds, a breadth and depth of relevant experience, and a track record of positive performance. Management
proposals to limit director liability consistent with state laws and director indemnification provisions will be supported because it is important for companies to be able to attract qualified candidates.
Separation of the roles of Chairman and CEO is supported, but the firm will not typically vote against a CEO who serves as chairman or director. In the absence of an independent chairman, however, the firm
supports the appointment of a lead director with authority to conduct sessions outside the presence of the insider chairman.
The firm will typically vote against any inside director seeking appointment to a key committee (audit, compensation, nominating or governance), since the service of independent directors on such committees best
protects and enhances the interests of shareholders. Where insufficient information is provided regarding performance metrics, or where pay is not tied to performance (e.g., where management has excessive discretion to alter performance terms
or previously defined targets), the firm will typically vote against the chair of the compensation committee.
Voting
The firm generally supports proposals to require a majority vote standard for the election of directors, rather than plurality voting. Proposals seeking to allow cumulative voting will be supported where the
issuer does not have majority voting for the election of directors. Annual election of directors is supported, whereas the firm will vote against efforts to created staggered or classified boards. The firm supports a simple majority voting
structure, since supermajority vote requirements impede shareholder action on important ballot items.
Appointment and Rotation of Auditors
Management recommendations regarding selection of an auditor shall generally be supported, but the firm will not support the ratification of an auditor when there is a lack of independence, accounting
irregularity or negligence by the auditor. Some examples include: when an auditing firm has other relationships with the company that may suggest a conflict of interest; when the auditor bears some responsibility for a restatement by the
company; when a company has aggressive accounting policies or lack of transparency in financial statements; and when a company changes auditors as a result of disagreement between the company and the auditor regarding accounting principles or
disclosure issues. The firm will generally support proposals for mandatory auditor rotation with reasonable frequency (usually not less than five to seven years).
Changes in State of Incorporation or Capital Structure
Management recommendations about reincorporation are generally supported unless the new jurisdiction in which the issuer is reincorporating has laws that would dilute the rights of shareholders of the issuer.
The firm will generally vote against reincorporation where the financial benefits are minimal and there is a decrease in shareholder rights. Shareholder proposals to change the company’s place of incorporation will only be supported in
exceptional circumstances.
Proposals to increase the number of authorized shares will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Because adequate capital stock is important to the operation of a company, the firm will generally support the
authorization of additional shares, unless the issuer has not disclosed a detailed plan for use of the shares, or where the number of shares far exceeds those needed to accomplish a detailed plan. Additionally, if the issuance of new shares
will limit shareholder rights or could excessively dilute the value of outstanding shares, then such proposals will be supported only if they are in the best interest of the client.
Non-Routine Matters
Corporate Restructurings, Mergers and Acquisitions
These proposals should be examined on a case-by-case basis because they are an extension of an investment decision.
Proposals Affecting Shareholder Rights
The firm favors proposals that are likely to promote shareholder rights and/or increase shareholder value. Proposals that seek to limit shareholder rights, such as the creation of dual classes of stock,
generally will not be supported.
Anti-takeover Issues
Measures that impede takeovers or entrench management will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the rights of shareholders, since the financial interest of shareholders regarding buyout
offers is so substantial. Although the firm generally opposes anti-takeover measures because they tend to diminish shareholder rights and reduce management accountability, the firm supports proposals that allow shareholders to vote on whether
to implement a “poison pill” plan (shareholder rights plan). In certain circumstances, the firm will support a limited poison pill to accomplish a particular objective, such as the closing of an important merger, or a pill that contains a
reasonable ‘qualifying offer’ provision. The firm supports anti-greenmail proposals, which prevent companies from buying back company stock at significant premiums from a large shareholder.
Shareholder Action
The firm supports proposals that allow shareholders to call special meetings, with a minimum threshold of shareholders (e.g., 10-15%) requesting such a meeting. Proposals that allow shareholders to act by
written consent are also supported, if there is a threshold of the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting at which all shareholders entitled to vote were present and voting.
Executive Compensation.
Although management recommendations should be given substantial weight, proposals relating to executive compensation plans, including stock option plans and other equity-based compensation, should be examined on
a case-by-case basis to ensure that the long-term interests of management and shareholders are properly aligned. Share count and voting power dilution should be limited.
The firm generally favors the grant of options to executives, since options are an important component of compensation packages that link executives’ compensation with their performance and that of the company.
The firm typically opposes caps on executive stock options, since tying an executive’s compensation to the performance of the company provides incentive to maximize share value. The firm also supports equity grants to directors, which help
align the interests of outside directors with those of shareholders, although such awards should not be performance-based, so that directors are not incentivized in the same manner as executives.
Proposals to reprice or exchange options are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but are generally opposed. The firm will support a repricing only in limited circumstances, such as if the stock decline mirrors the
market or industry price decline in terms of timing and magnitude and the exchange is not value destructive to shareholders.
Although matters of executive compensation should generally be left to the board’s compensation committee, proposals to limit executive compensation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The firm typically
opposes caps on executive stock options, since tying an executive’s compensation to the performance of the company provides incentive to maximize share value.
The firm generally supports shareholder proposals to allow shareholders an advisory vote on compensation. Absent a compelling reason, companies should submit say-on-pay votes to shareholders every year, since
such votes promote valuable communication between the board and shareholders regarding compensation. Where there is an issue involving egregious or excessive bonuses, equity awards or severance payments (including golden parachutes), the firm
will generally vote against a say-on-pay proposal. The firm may oppose the election of compensation committee members at companies that do not satisfactorily align executive compensation with the interests of shareholders.
Environmental, Social and Governance Issues
Shareholder proposals regarding environmental, social and governance issues are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In general, such proposals will not be supported if they are not supported by management, unless
they would have a clear and direct positive financial effect on shareholder value and would not be burdensome or impose unnecessary or excessive costs on the issuer. Although policy decisions are typically better left to management and the
board, the firm may vote in favor of a reasonable shareholder proposal if supporting the proposal will mitigate significant risk to long-term shareholder value stemming from governance practices, environmental regulation, or legal and
reputational issues. Companies should disclose such risks and efforts to mitigate them. In egregious cases where a company has not adequately mitigated such risks, the firm may vote against directors.
Given that the firm’s SRI clients may approach environmental, social and governance issues from a different perspective, the firm follows Glass Lewis ESG Guidelines when voting proxies for SRI clients.
Taft-Hartley Clients and Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) Clients
For Taft-Hartley clients, the firm follows the Glass Lewis Taft-Hartley Guidelines, which entail an additional level of analysis relevant to the fiduciary responsibility of Taft-Hartley investors. These
guidelines comply with the fiduciary duties imposed by the Taft Hartley Labor Act and ERISA, and the guidelines are consistent with American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (“AFL-CIO”) guidelines and annual Key Vote
Survey. Similarly, for SRI clients, the firm follows the Glass Lewis ESG Guidelines, which focus on disclosure and mitigation of company risk with regard to environmental, social and governance issues. Both sets of guidelines generally
support proposals relating to compliance with environmental laws, health and safety regulations, nondiscrimination laws, and international labor or human rights standards, including proposals that tie executive compensation to such issues. For
example, the ESG guidelines recognize that environmental, social and governance performance factors should be an important component in evaluating executive performance and compensation.
Companies’ labor practices, including compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) requirements and treatment of union members, are considered when evaluating director performance for
Taft-Hartley clients and determining whether to support various shareholder proposals. Increased diversity in board membership is also generally supported. For SRI clients, proposals that seek to evaluate overall director performance based on
environmental and social criteria are generally supported, including evaluating directors’ commitment to establishing broad sustainable business practices with regard to reporting on and mitigating environmental, social and governance risks.
For both types of clients, International Labor Organization standards are supported and companies are encouraged to adopt such standards. Where a company has violated international human rights standards, review
of director performance and oversight is warranted. Further, if directors have not provided adequate oversight to ensure that basic human rights standards are met, or if a company is subject to regulatory or legal action due to human rights
violations, the firm will consider voting against certain directors on behalf of its Taft Hartley and SRI clients.
Proposed mergers or acquisitions are examined somewhat differently for Taft Hartley clients and SRI clients than for other clients. Whereas the firm generally examines whether a transaction is likely to maximize
shareholder return, for Taft Hartley clients and SRI clients, the firm will support shareholder proposals seeking the company to consider effects of the transaction on the company’s stakeholders.
Further, for SRI clients and Taft Hartley clients, consideration is given to a company’s impact on the environment, so the firm will consider withholding votes from, or voting against, directors who do not
exercise their fiduciary duty as it relates to environmental risk. Indeed, any proposal requesting that a company adopt a policy concerning these matters will be scrutinized to ensure it seeks enhanced environmental disclosure or practices and
does not limit environmental disclosure or consideration. For SRI clients, proposals are scrutinized if they request that a company adopt a policy concerning bioengineering or nanotechnology. Further, consideration is given to a company’s
impact on the environment, as well as the regulatory risk a company may face by not adopting environmentally responsible policies.
For both Taft Hartley clients and SRI clients, proposals requesting the following actions will generally be supported:
Governance & Business Ethics
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increased disclosure of a company’s business ethics and code of conduct, as well as of its activities that relate to social welfare;
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development of sustainable business practices, such as animal welfare policies, human rights policies, and fair lending policies; and
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disclosure of a company’s lobbying practices and political and charitable spending.
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Labor Standards & Human Rights
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enhanced rights of workers, and consideration of the communities and broader constituents in the areas in which companies do business;
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increased disclosure regarding impact on local stakeholders, workers’ rights and human rights;
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adherence to codes of conduct relating to labor standards, human rights conventions and corporate responsibility; and
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independent verification of a company’s contractors’ compliance with labor and human rights standards.
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Environment, Health & Safety
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adoption of the Equator Principles – a benchmark regarding social and environmental risk in project financing;
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improved sustainability reporting and disclosure about company practices which impact the environment;
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increased disclosure of environmental risk, compliance with international environmental conventions and adherence to environmental principles;
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development of greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, recycling programs, and other proactive means to mitigate a company’s environmental impact;
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consideration of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in a company’s development and business strategy;
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increased disclosure regarding health and safety issues, including the labeling of the use of genetically modified organisms, the elimination or reduction of toxic emissions and use of toxic chemicals
in manufacturing, and the prohibition of tobacco sales to minors;
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reporting on a company’s drug reimportation guidelines, as well as on ethical responsibilities relating to drug distribution and manufacture; and
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additional safety standards regarding these matters.
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International Corporate Governance
For actively recommended issuers domiciled outside the United States, the firm may follow Glass Lewis’s international proxy voting guidelines, including, in certain circumstances, country-specific guidelines.
Conflicts of Interest
A “conflict of interest” means any circumstance when the firm or one of its affiliates (including officers, directors and employees), or in the case where the firm serves as investment adviser to a Brown Advisory
Fund, when the Fund or the principal underwriter, or one or more of their affiliates (including officers, directors and employees), knowingly does business with, receives compensation from, or sits on the board of, a particular issuer or
closely affiliated entity (including officers and directors thereof), and, therefore, may appear to have a conflict of interest between its own interests and the interests of clients or Fund shareholders in how proxies of that issuer are
voted. For example, a perceived conflict of interest may exist if an employee of the firm serves as a director of an actively recommended issuer, or if the firm is aware that a client serves as an officer or director of an actively recommended
issuer. Conflicts of interest will be resolved in the best interest of the client.
The firm should vote proxies relating to such issuers in accordance with the following procedures:
Routine Matters and Immaterial Conflicts
The firm may vote proxies for routine matters, and for non-routine matters that are considered immaterial conflicts of interest, consistent with this Policy. A conflict of interest will be considered material to
the extent that it is determined that such conflict has the potential to influence the firm’s decision-making in voting a proxy. Materiality determinations will be made by the Chief Compliance Officer, in consultation with counsel, based upon
an assessment of the particular facts and circumstances.
Material Conflicts and Non-Routine Matters
If the firm believes that (a) it has a material conflict and (b) that the issue to be voted upon is non-routine or is not covered by this Policy, then to avoid any potential conflict of interest:
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i)
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in the case of a Fund, the firm shall contact the Fund board for a review and determination;
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ii)
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in the case of all other conflicts or potential conflicts, the firm may “echo vote” such shares, if possible, which means the firm will vote the shares in the same proportion as the vote of all other
holders of the issuer’s shares; or
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iii)
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in cases when echo voting is not possible, the firm may defer to Glass Lewis recommendations or confer with counsel to ensure that the proxy is voted in the best interest of the client.
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If the aforementioned options would not ameliorate the conflict or potential conflict, then the firm may abstain from voting, as described below.
Abstention
In recognition of its fiduciary obligations, the firm generally endeavors to vote all proxies it receives. However, the firm may abstain from voting proxies in certain circumstances. For example, the firm may
determine that abstaining from voting is appropriate if voting may be unduly burdensome or expensive, or otherwise not in the best economic interest of the clients, such as (by example and without limitation) when foreign proxy issuers impose
unreasonable or expensive voting or holding requirements or when the costs to effect a vote would be uneconomic relative to the value of the client’s investment in the issuer.
BROWN ADVISORY FUNDS
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits.
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(a)
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(1)
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Certificate of Trust was previously filed with the Registrant’s Initial Registration on Form N-1A on May 7, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
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(2)
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Declaration of Trust dated May 1, 2012 was previously filed with the Registrant’s Initial Registration on Form N-1A on May 7, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
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(A) Amended Schedule A to Declaration of Trust – to be filed by amendment.
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(b)
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By-Laws were previously filed with the Registrant’s Initial Registration on Form N-1A on May 7, 2012 and are incorporated by reference.
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(c)
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Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders – See relevant portions of Certificate of Trust, Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.
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(d)
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(1)
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Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory LLC was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is
incorporated by reference.
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(2)
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Amended Schedule A to Investment Advisory Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
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(3)
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Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Registrant’s Brown Advisory – WMC Strategic European Equity Fund between Brown Advisory LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP (formerly, Wellington
Management Company, LLP) was previously filed with Post‑Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 21, 2013 and is incorporated by reference.
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(4)
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Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Registrant’s Brown Advisory Global Leaders Fund between Brown Advisory LLC and Brown Advisory Limited was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No.
26 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on May 7, 2015 and is incorporated by reference.
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(5)
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Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Registrant’s Brown Advisory – Beutel Goodman Large-Cap Value Fund between Brown Advisory LLC and Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd. was previously filed with
Post‑Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on February 13, 2018 and is incorporated by reference.
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(6)
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Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Registrant’s Brown Advisory Emerging Markets Select Fund between Brown Advisory LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP – filed herewith.
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(7)
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Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Registrant’s Brown Advisory Emerging Markets Select Fund between Brown Advisory LLC and Pzena Investment Management, LLC – filed herewith.
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(e)
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(1)
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Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and ALPS Distributors, Inc. – filed herewith.
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(2)
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Amendment 1 to the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and ALPS Distributors, Inc. – filed herewith.
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(f)
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Bonus, profit sharing contracts – None
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(g)
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(1)
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Second Amended and Restated Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association was previously filed with Post‑Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on
July 25, 2018 and is incorporated by reference.
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(2)
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First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association – filed herewith.
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(h)
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(1)
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Amended and Restated Fund Administration Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC was previously filed with Post‑Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A on July 25, 2018 and is incorporated by reference.
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(2)
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First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Fund Administration Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC – filed herewith.
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(3)
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Amended and Restated Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC was previously filed with Post‑Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A on July 25, 2018 and is incorporated by reference.
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(4)
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First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC – filed herewith.
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(5)
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Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC – to be filed by amendment.
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(6)
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Amended and Restated Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC was previously filed with Post‑Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A on July 25, 2018 and is incorporated by reference.
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(7)
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First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC – filed herewith.
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(8)
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Business Management Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory LLC was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is
incorporated by reference.
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(A) Amended Schedule A to Business Management Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
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(9)
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Operating Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Advisory LLC was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is
incorporated by reference.
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(A) Amended Schedule A to Operating Expense Limitation Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
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(10)
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Shareholder Servicing Plan was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
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(A) Amended Appendix A to Shareholder Servicing Plan – to be filed by amendment.
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(i)
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Opinion and Consent of Counsel – to be filed by amendment.
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(j)
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – not applicable.
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(k)
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Financial statements omitted from prospectus – None
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(l)
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Initial Capital Agreement was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
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(m)
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(1)
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Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan pursuant to Rule 12b‑1 was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is incorporated by
reference.
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(2)
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Amended Schedule A to Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan – to be filed by amendment.
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(n)
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(1)
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Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
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(2)
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Amended Appendix A to Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan – to be filed by amendment.
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(o)
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Reserved
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(p)
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(1)
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Code of Ethics of Brown Advisory Funds was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is incorporated by reference.
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(2)
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Code of Ethics of Brown Advisory LLC and Brown Advisory Limited was previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 22, 2012 and is incorporated by
reference.
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(3)
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Code of Ethics of Wellington Capital Management LLP was previously filed with Post‑Effective Amendment No. 38 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 15, 2017 and is incorporated by reference.
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(4)
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Code of Ethics of Pzena Investment Management, LLC – filed herewith.
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(5)
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Code of Ethics of ALPS Distributors, Inc. – filed herewith.
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(6)
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Code of Ethics of Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd. was previously filed with Post‑Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on February 13, 2018 and is incorporated by reference.
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(7)
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Powers of Attorney were previously filed with the Registrant’s Initial Registration on Form N-1A on May 7, 2012 and are incorporated by reference.
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Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant
None.
Item 30. Indemnification
Reference is made to Article VII, Section III of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust. The general effect of this provision is to indemnify the Trustees, officers, employees and other agents of the Trust who are
parties pursuant to any proceeding by reason of their actions performed in their scope of service on behalf of the Trust.
Pursuant to Rule 484 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Registrant furnishes the following undertaking: “Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.”
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
Brown Advisory LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Maryland, is an investment adviser registered as such with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission having its having its
principal place of business at 901 South Bond Street, Suite 400, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, and serves as investment adviser to the Registrant. Brown Advisory LLC is primarily engaged in providing investment management services. Additional
information regarding Brown Advisory LLC, and information as to the officers and directors of the firm, including information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by those officers and directors
during the past two years, is included in its Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration on Form ADV, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 801-38826), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Brown Advisory Limited, an entity organized under the laws of the United Kingdom, is an investment adviser registered as such with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission having its principal place of business at
6-10 Bruton Street, Third Floor, London, W1J6PX, United Kingdom, and serves as sub-investment adviser to the Registrant’s Brown Advisory Global Leaders Fund. Brown Advisory Limited is primarily engaged in providing investment management services.
Additional information regarding Brown Advisory Limited, and information as to the officers and directors of the firm, including information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by those officers
and directors during the past two years, is included in its Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration on Form ADV, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 801-80609), which is incorporated herein by
reference.
Wellington Management Company LLP, a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, is an investment adviser registered as such with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
having its principal place of business at 280 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, and serves as sub-investment adviser to the Registrant’s Brown Advisory – WMC Strategic European Equity Fund and to the Registrant’s Brown Advisory Emerging
Markets Select Fund. Wellington Management Company LLP is primarily engaged in providing investment management services. Additional information regarding Wellington Management Company LLP, and information as to the officers and directors of the
firm, including information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by those officers and directors during the past two years, is included in its Uniform Application for Investment Adviser
Registration on Form ADV, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 801-15908), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Pzena Investment Management, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, is an investment adviser registered as such with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission having its
principal place of business at 320 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10022, and serves as sub-investment adviser to the Registrant’s Brown Advisory Emerging Markets Select Fund. Pzena Investment Management, LLC is primarily engaged in
providing investment management services. Additional information regarding Pzena Investment Management, LLC, and information as to the officers and directors of the firm, including information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment
of a substantial nature engaged in by those officers and directors during the past two years, is included in its Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration on Form ADV, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (File
No. 801-50838), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Canada, is an investment adviser registered as such with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission having its principal place of
business at 20 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 2000, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4R 1K8, and serves as sub-investment adviser to the Registrant’s Brown Advisory – Beutel Goodman Large-Cap Value Fund. Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd. is primarily
engaged in providing investment management services. Additional information regarding Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd., and information as to the officers and directors of the firm, including information as to any business, profession, vocation
or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by those officers and directors during the past two years, is included in its Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration on Form ADV, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (File No. 801-64420), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 32. Principal Underwriter
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(a)
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Affiliates of the Distributor include, but are not limited to the following entities:
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ALPS Advisers, Inc., ALPS Fund Services, Inc., ALPS Holdings, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., and DST Systems, Inc.
The Distributor of the Funds acts as the distributor for the following funds:
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ALPS Distributors, Inc. acts as the distributor for the Registrant and the following investment companies: 1290 Funds, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs, Acacia Trust, ALPS Series Trust, The
Arbitrage Funds, AQR Funds, Barings Funds Trust, BBH Trust, Brandes Investment Trust, Broadstone Real Estate Access Fund, Broadview Funds Trust, Brown Capital Management Mutual Funds, Centre Funds, CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund,
Columbia ETF Trust, Columbia ETF Trust I, Columbia ETF Trust II, Cortina Funds, Inc., CRM Mutual Fund Trust, CSOP ETF Trust, Cullen Funds Trust, DBX ETF Trust, Flat Rock Opportunity Fund, Financial Investors Trust, Firsthand Funds, FS
Credit Income Fund, FS Energy Total Return Fund, FS Series Trust, Goehring & Rozencwajg Investment Funds, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Griffin Institutional Access Credit Fund, Griffin Institutional Access Real Estate Fund, Hartford Funds
Exchange-Traded Trust, Hartford Funds NextShares Trust, Harvest Volatility Edge Trust, Heartland Group, Inc., Henssler Funds, Inc., Holland Series Fund, Inc., Index Funds, IndexIQ Active ETF Trust, Index IQ ETF Trust, IVY NextShares Trust,
James Advantage Funds, Janus Detroit Street Trust, Lattice Strategies Trust, Litman Gregory Funds Trust, Longleaf Partners Funds Trust, M3Sixty Funds Trust, Mairs & Power Funds Trust, Meridian Fund, Inc., Natixis ETF Trust, Northern
Lights Fund Trust (on behalf of the 13D Activist Fund), NorthStar Real Estate Capital Income Fund, NorthStar Real Estate Capital Income Fund-ADV, NorthStar Real Estate Capital Income Fund-C, NorthStar Real Estate Capital Income Fund-T,
NorthStar/Townsend Institutional Real Estate Fund, Pax World Series Trust I, Pax World Funds Trust III, Principal Exchange-Traded Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust, Resource Credit Income Fund, Resource Real Estate Diversified Income Fund,
RiverNorth Funds, Segall Bryant & Hamill Trust, Sierra Total Return Fund, Smead Funds Trust, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust, Stadion Investment Trust, Stone
Harbor Investment Funds, Stone Ridge Trust, Stone Ridge Trust II, Stone Ridge Trust III, Stone Ridge Trust IV, Stone Ridge Trust V, Total Income + Real Estate Fund, USCF ETF Trust, USCF Mutual Funds Trust, Wasatch Funds, WesMark Funds, ,
and Wilmington Funds.
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(b)
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To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of ALPS Distributors, Inc., are as follows:
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Name*
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Positions with Underwriter
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Positions with Fund
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Edmund J. Burke
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Director
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None
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Jeremy O. May
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President, Director
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None
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Bradley J. Swenson
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Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
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None
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Robert J. Szydlowski
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Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer
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None
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Eric T. Parsons
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Vice President, Controller and Assistant Treasurer
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None
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Joseph J. Frank
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Secretary
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None
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Patrick J. Pedonti
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Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
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None
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Douglas W. Fleming**
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Assistant Treasurer
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None
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Richard C. Noyes
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Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Assistant Secretary
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None
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Steven Price
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Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer
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None
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Liza Orr
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Vice President, Senior Counsel
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None
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Jed Stahl
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Vice President, Senior Counsel
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None
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Josh Eihausen
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Vice President, Associate Senior Counsel
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None
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James Stegall
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Vice President
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None
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Gary Ross
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Senior Vice President
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None
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Kevin Ireland
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Senior Vice President
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None
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Mark Kiniry
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Senior Vice President
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None
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Tison Cory
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Vice President, Intermediary Operations
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None
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Stephen J. Kyllo
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Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
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None
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Hilary Quinn
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Vice President
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None
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Jennifer Craig
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Assistant Vice President
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None
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* Except as otherwise noted, the principal business address for each of the above directors and executive officers is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100,
Denver, Colorado 80203.
** The principal business address for Mr. Fleming is 333 W. 11th Street, 5th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.
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(c)
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Not applicable.
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Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
The books, accounts and other documents required by Section 31(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained at the offices of:
Brown Advisory LLC, 901 South Bond Street, Suite 400, Baltimore, Maryland 21231 (records relating to its function as investment adviser of the Brown Advisory Funds)
Brown Advisory Limited, 6-10 Bruton Street, London, W1J6PX, United Kingdom (records relating to its function as investment sub-adviser of the Brown Advisory Global Leaders Fund)
Wellington Management Company LLP, 280 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210 (records relating to its function as investment sub-adviser of the Brown Advisory – WMC Strategic European Equity Fund and the Brown
Advisory Emerging Markets Select Fund)
Pzena Investment Management, LLC, 320 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10022 (records relating to its function as investment sub-adviser of the Brown Advisory Emerging Markets Select Fund)
Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd. 20 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 2000, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4R 1K8 (records relating to its function as investment sub-adviser of the Brown Advisory – Beutel Goodman Large-Cap
Value Fund)
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 (records relating to its function as administrator, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent)
U.S. Bank, N.A., 1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212 (records relating to its function as custodian)
ALPS Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203 (records relating to its function as distributor)
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland on September 18, 2019.
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Brown Advisory Funds
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|
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By: /s/ Paul J. Chew
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Paul J. Chew
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President
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
* By: /s/ Patrick W.D. Turley
Patrick W.D. Turley
As Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to Powers of Attorney previously filed and incorporated by reference.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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Exhibit No.
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Description of Exhibit
|
|
(d)(6)
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Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Registrant’s Brown Advisory Emerging Markets Select Fund between Brown Advisory LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP
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(d)(7)
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Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Registrant’s Brown Advisory Emerging Markets Select Fund between Brown Advisory LLC and Pzena Investment Management, LLC
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|
(e)(1)
|
Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and ALPS Distributors, Inc.
|
|
(e)(2)
|
Amendment 1 to the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and ALPS Distributors, Inc.
|
|
(g)(2)
|
First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association
|
|
(h)(2)
|
First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Fund Administration Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
|
|
(h)(4)
|
First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
|
|
(h)(7)
|
First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
|
|
(p)(4)
|
Code of Ethics of Pzena Investment Management, LLC
|
|
(p)(5)
|
Code of Ethics of ALPS Distributors, Inc.
|
C-10
